SOLVED: Gypsy Rose 2

Summary

Podcast Summary: Murder: True Crime Stories

Episode: SOLVED: Gypsy Rose 2

Release Date: October 9, 2025
Host: Carter Roy
Production: Crime House, PAVE Studios

---

Main Theme & Episode Overview

This episode concludes a two-part exploration of the infamous Gypsy Rose Blanchard case—the murder of Claudine “Dee Dee” Blanchard orchestrated by her daughter, Gypsy, and Gypsy’s online boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn. The show dissects the dynamic between Dee Dee and Gypsy, the years of Munchausen by proxy abuse, Gypsy’s desperate attempts to escape, the subsequent murder and investigation, and its legal and cultural aftermath. The episode focuses not just on the crime, but on the people most impacted, challenging listeners to reconsider justice and victimhood.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Illusion of the Perfect Life (05:18–07:29)

• After surviving Hurricane Katrina, Dee Dee and Gypsy appear to lead an inspirational life in Springfield, Missouri, bolstered by charity and community support.
  • Their home is specially designed for Gypsy’s supposed disabilities, creating a picture-perfect family.
• The community is unaware of Dee Dee’s deception regarding Gypsy’s medical conditions and age.

2. Gypsy’s Realization and First Escape Attempt (06:18–15:48)

• Gypsy discovers Dee Dee lied about her age (real birth year: 1991, not 1995), making Gypsy a legal adult.
  • "If she couldn't trust Dee Dee to tell her the truth about this, she couldn't trust her with anything." (06:57)
• Gypsy's social circle is tightly controlled by Dee Dee; Gypsy is isolated and homeschooled.
• Begins an online relationship with "Dan," plans a runaway, and leaves home, realizing she can walk and eat on her own.
• Dee Dee tracks Gypsy down, manipulates her into returning, then violently punishes her—smashing electronics, restraining her with a dog leash and handcuffs, and enforces further isolation.

3. Online Relationships & Escalating Desperation (16:20–25:03)

• Gypsy creates a secret online social life:
  • Meets Nicholas Godejohn (Wisconsin), who has his own disabilities and social difficulties.
  • Their relationship quickly becomes serious, with mutual sharing of secrets (Gypsy reveals she can walk; Nick shares belief in having multiple personalities).
  • The couple's fantasy life is a stark escape from Gypsy's abusive reality.
• The abuse from Dee Dee worsens; Gypsy experiences routine violence and questions about her medications—leading to outright resistance.

4. The Murder Plot (25:17–33:25)

• Nick pledges to protect Gypsy ("He would do anything to keep her safe." 24:46).
• After an unsuccessful attempt to integrate Nick into her and Dee Dee’s life (a failed "Cinderella movie" meet-cute), Gypsy feels running away again will never work.
• Gypsy proposes the idea of murder: She tells Nick, "As long as Dee Dee was alive, Gypsy would never be free." (29:57–30:22)
• Detailed planning follows—Gypsy obtains an 11-inch hunting knife, mails money to Nick, and coordinates their roles (Nick as the killer, using his alter ego "Victor").

5. Dee Dee’s Murder (33:25–34:21; 35:50–37:00)

• On June 9, 2015, Nick stabs Dee Dee 17 times while Gypsy hides in the bathroom.
• The couple flees the scene together, spending time in a motel and traveling to Wisconsin.
• Gypsy posts from Dee Dee’s Facebook account—"that bitch is dead." (38:08)—to prompt discovery of Dee Dee’s body.

6. The Investigation & Arrest (38:23–41:38)

• Police discover Dee Dee’s body, notice all Gypsy’s wheelchairs remain at the home, and begin searching for Gypsy, assuming she’s in danger.
• The Facebook post quickly leads authorities to Nick in Wisconsin, where they find Gypsy unharmed and walking.
• Under questioning, both initially feign ignorance, but Nick soon confesses to the killing at Gypsy’s request. Digital evidence of their lengthy planning is uncovered.

7. Trial, Legal Fallout & Aftermath (42:01–47:26)

• Both are charged with first-degree murder.
• Public and family are shocked to see Gypsy walking and appearing healthy.
• Medical records reveal years of medical child abuse (Munchausen by proxy) by Dee Dee, confirmed by pediatric neurologist Dr. Bernardo Flasterstein in 2007. (45:03)
• Gypsy accepts a plea deal—guilty to second-degree murder, sentenced to 10 years. Nick is found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole.
• Gypsy begins to recover in prison, receives therapy, and later testifies at Nick’s trial, taking full responsibility for initiating the murder.

8. Cultural Impact & Final Reflections (47:35–49:07)

• Nick’s appeal for a new trial is denied.
• Gypsy is paroled after serving 7 years, authors memoirs, and stars in a Lifetime reality show.
• The case brings awareness to Munchausen by proxy and prompts debate about justice, victimhood, and the blurred lines between good and evil.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On deception:
  "If she couldn't trust Dee Dee to tell her the truth about this, she couldn't trust her with anything." (Narrator, 06:57)

• On Dee Dee’s abuse:
  "She said awful things, calling Gypsy a tramp and telling her that she was evil." (Narrator, 15:10)

• Gypsy’s desperation:
  "She wanted to know if Nick would protect her from anyone." (Narrator, 24:53)
  "As long as Dee Dee was alive, Gypsy would never be free." (Co-narrator, 30:14)

• On collaboration in murder:
  "He was very clear that the only reason he'd done it was because Gypsy asked him to." (Co-narrator, 41:38)

• Gypsy’s freedom in prison:
  "Prison turned out to be pretty good for Gypsy. She was finally able to eat freely, speak freely, and make some decision for herself." (Narrator, 46:14)

• Moral ambiguity:
  "True crime isn't black and white. Sometimes the line between good and bad can become blurred and it's on us to look at the whole picture and decide what justice looks like." (Narrator & Co-narrator, 48:55–49:07)

---

Timeline of Major Events

• 2011: Gypsy discovers Dee Dee lied about her age.
• 2012–2015: Secret online relationship with Nicholas Godejohn develops.
• 2015, March: Failed attempt to integrate Nick into Dee Dee and Gypsy’s life.
• June 9, 2015: Murder of Dee Dee Blanchard.
• June 15, 2015: Gypsy and Nick arrested.
• July 5, 2016: Gypsy sentenced to 10 years in prison.
• November 15, 2018: Gypsy testifies at Nick's trial.
• February 22, 2019: Nick sentenced to life in prison.
• December 28, 2023: Gypsy paroled at age 32.

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• "Perfect" Home in Springfield: 05:18–06:18
• Gypsy Discovers Age Deception: 06:18–06:57
• First Escape with Dan: 07:33–11:54
• Violent Parental Control After Return: 13:14–16:20
• Meeting Nicholas Godejohn and Online Relationship: 17:13–20:32
• Revealing the Ability to Walk: 22:08–22:24
• Cinderella Theater Meeting, Failed Plan: 26:43–29:18
• Gypsy Proposes Murder: 30:14–31:04
• Murder Night: 33:15–34:21 and 35:50–37:00
• Discovery and Arrest: 38:23–41:12
• Trial and Sentencing: 43:05–47:26
• Gypsy’s Release & Cultural Impact: 47:49–48:44
• Final Reflections on Justice: 48:55–49:07

---

Tone and Language

The narration mixes gripping storytelling with empathy, often employing vivid metaphors (“real-life Barbie Dream House,” “nightmare”), while keeping a sensitive tone regarding both Gypsy and Dee Dee’s suffering. The show is careful not to sensationalize, framing the story as multilayered rather than black-and-white.

---

Concluding Reflection

This sobering episode offers both a case study in extreme child abuse and a meditation on justice, trauma, and the limits of the legal system. By spotlighting Gypsy Rose’s journey from controlled child to notorious defendant, the podcast challenges listeners to question easy narratives of villain and victim—and consider the complex human realities at the heart of true crime.

Transcript

[Narrator]

Crime House has the perfect news show for spooky season Twisted Tales Hosted by Heidi Wong, each episode of Twisted Tales.

[Co-narrator]

Is perfect for late night scares and.

[Narrator]

Daytime frights, revealing the disturbing real life events that inspired the world's most terrifying.

[Co-narrator]

Blockbusters and the ones too twisted to make it to screen.

[Narrator]

Twisted Tales is a Crime House original powered by Pave Studios. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes out every Monday. This is Crime House. We've all heard the saying looks can.

[Co-narrator]

Be deceiving, and no one was a.

[Narrator]

Better example of that than Dee Dee and Gypsy Rose Blanchard. The mother daughter duo had weathered countless storms from Hurricane Katrina to Gypsy's many illnesses. Through it all, their smiles never wavered. Anyone who met them would tell you they were the sweetest people ever.

[Co-narrator]

Their house really completed the picture built just for them.

[Narrator]

It had everything they could a ramp and extra wide doors for a Gypsy's wheelchair, lower light switches that Gypsy could reach herself, and a Jacuzzi bathtub to bring Gypsy more comfort.

[Co-narrator]

It was even bubblegum pink, Gypsy's favorite.

[Narrator]

Color, making it a real life Barbie Dream House.

[Co-narrator]

But no one imagined the horrors that went on inside.

[Narrator]

The truth was Gypsy was living a Nightmare and by 2015 she couldn't bear it any longer. What happened next shocked the world and made people realize Gypsy wasn't as helpless as she looked. People's lives are like a story.

[Co-narrator]

There's a beginning, a middle and an.

[Narrator]

End, but you don't always know which part you're on.

[Co-narrator]

Sometimes the final chapter arrives far too soon and we don't always get to know the real ending. I'm Carter Roy and this is True.

[Narrator]

Crime Stories, a Crime House original powered by Pave Studios that releases every Tuesday.

[Co-narrator]

And Thursday at Crime House. We want to express our gratitude to you, our community, for making this possible. Please support us by rating, reviewing and following Murder True Crime Stories wherever you get your podcasts and to enhance your.

[Narrator]

Murder True Crime Stories listening experience, subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts. You'll get ad free listening, early access.

[Co-narrator]

To every two part series, and exciting bonus content. This is the second of two episodes on the Twisted case of Claudine Dee Dee Blanchard and her daughter Jennifer. Gypsy Rose Last time we learned how.

[Narrator]

Dee Dee dedicated herself to caring for.

[Co-narrator]

Gypsy as she faced a string of life threatening illnesses.

[Narrator]

It seemed like it was them against the world until 2005 when local charity.

[Co-narrator]

Organizations decided to step in. Thanks to their help, the pair was given a fresh start in Springfield, Missouri. But that's when everything started to unravel.

[Narrator]

Today we'll see how Dee Dee and Gypsy's relationship began to crumble as Gypsy became desperate to create her own life.

[Co-narrator]

Dee Dee turned to violence to maintain control. Eventually, things reached a boiling point and in 2015, 23 year old gypsy decided to take matters into her own hands. All that and more coming up.

[Sponsor - Cars.com]

This episode is brought to you by cars.com on cars.com you can shop over 2 million cars. That means over 2 million new car possibilities. Like making space for your growing family, becoming the type of person who takes spontaneous weekend camping trips or upgrading your commute wherever life takes you next. Or whoever you're looking to be. There's a car for that on cars.com visit cars.com to discover your next possibility.

[Sponsor - New Balance]

At New Balance. We believe if you run, you're a runner however you choose to do it. Because when you're not worried about doing things the right way, you're free to discover your way. And that's what running is all about. Run your [e-mail] Running.

[Narrator]

After years of instability, 44 year old Claudine Dee Dee Blanchard and her daughter Gypsy Rose had finally made a home for themselves in 2011. They were living in Springfield, Missouri, and.

[Co-narrator]

They'D made a big splash when they moved there six years earlier after Hurricane Katrina.

[Narrator]

Dee Dee was a single mother and full time caretaker for Gypsy, who seemed to have a host of serious medical issues.

[Co-narrator]

According to Dee Dee, she had muscular dystrophy cancer and needed a feeding tube to eat.

[Narrator]

When the Springfield community heard their story, they rallied around the duo. Volunteers sent them gifts and the local hospital gave them a new house. Eventually, they'd even caught the eye of national organizations like Make a Wish. Through it all, Gypsy and Dee Dee had remained incredibly close. The outside attention was nice, but what.

[Co-narrator]

Really mattered was the trust they had in one another. Or so gypsy thought. In 2011, gypsy was rifling through her mom's things when she made a startling discovery. Dee Dee had been lying about Gypsy's age. According to Dee Dee, Gypsy was born in 1995, which made her 15 going on 16 years old.

[Narrator]

However, Gypsy's Medicaid card listed her date of birth as July 27, 1991.

[Co-narrator]

Four years might not seem like that big of a difference, but in this.

[Narrator]

Case it was huge. It meant Gypsy wasn't a minor. She was 19 going on 20 and a legal adult. Gypsy wondered, how could her mother lie to her about something so important? And why was she even sick at all if she couldn't trust Dede to Tell her the truth about this. She couldn't trust her with anything. That's when Gypsy decided she needed to escape.

[Co-narrator]

To do that, Gypsy needed help.

[Narrator]

But the list of people she could.

[Co-narrator]

Turn to was very short.

[Narrator]

Dee Dee had ensured that Gypsy's circle was incredibly small. She homeschooled Gypsy and never let her go anywhere alone. Which meant that anyone Gypsy knew Dee.

[Co-narrator]

Dee knew, too, and they'd probably tell her. Whatever Gypsy was planning, Gypsy didn't even consider reaching out to her dad, Rod Blanchard, who was back in Louisiana.

[Narrator]

Thanks to Dee Dee, they didn't have.

[Co-narrator]

Much of a relationship growing up.

[Narrator]

Dee Dee had told her that Rod.

[Co-narrator]

Was a bad man who never loved her or her mother.

[Narrator]

There was one person who might be.

[Co-narrator]

Able to help her, though. This guy Gypsy had been talking to online. His name was Dan. They'd met earlier that year at a pop culture convention called Visioncon in Springfield. Of course, Dee Dee had accompanied Gypsy.

[Narrator]

So she'd met Dan, too. But after the convention, Gypsy friended him on her secret Facebook account.

[Co-narrator]

Although Dan was in his 30s and thought Gypsy was 16, they'd been chatting ever since.

[Narrator]

They had shared interests, and Gypsy thought he was funny. More importantly, he listened attentively when Gypsy.

[Co-narrator]

Told him how controlling Dee Dee was. It seemed like he cared, which is why Gypsy felt like she could tell him the truth. After talking for a few months, Gypsy told Dan her real age. Hearing she was actually 19, he immediately.

[Narrator]

Offered to help her run away to his home state of Arkansas.

[Co-narrator]

Dee Dee would never find her there. Gypsy's heart soared.

[Narrator]

She felt like she'd finally found her prince, just like all Disney princesses she loved.

[Co-narrator]

If only real life were that simple. For starters, Dan didn't have a car.

[Narrator]

Which meant Gypsy would have to find.

[Co-narrator]

A way to get to him. That complicated things.

[Narrator]

But she could figure it out. At the moment, he was staying with friends in Springfield, Missouri, where she lived.

[Co-narrator]

He sent her the address.

[Narrator]

Gypsy quickly packed a bag with clothes and toiletries. She stole a thousand dollars from Dee Dee's wallet, along with a bottle of Vicodin. And then Gypsy ran out the door without a wheelchair. At this point, Gypsy knew she could walk on her own. And she also knew she didn't need a feeding tube to eat. Beyond that, she still believed she was sick with cancer and had other medical issues, including seizures.

[Co-narrator]

But none of that seemed to matter now.

[Narrator]

The most important thing was getting away before Dee Dee realized she was gone.

[Co-narrator]

When she first stepped outside, Gypsy was terrified.

[Narrator]

She'd never been out on her own. She could hear Dee Dee's voice in her head telling her how weak and helpless she was. Gypsy pushed the thoughts out of her mind and kept moving. And the farther she got, the freer she felt. This was it, the start of her brand new life. But eventually she realized, well, she had no idea how to actually get to Dan's place. She'd never been on public transport and wasn't sure how to navigate the streets of Springfield. After thinking it over, she decided to hitchhike. Eventually, she made it to Dan. That's when she realized there was another problem.

[Co-narrator]

They couldn't go to Arkansas, at least not right away.

[Narrator]

He couldn't leave the state of Missouri.

[Co-narrator]

Because of the terms of his parole. Gypsy didn't know why Dan was in trouble with the law or what it meant for someone to be on parole. But she was worried. The longer she stayed in Missouri, the more likely it was that Dee Dee would find her. Still, it was late and Gypsy was tired.

[Narrator]

She went to sleep and hoped they could figure things out in the morning.

[Co-narrator]

Hours later, Gypsy and Dan woke up to pounding on the door. They went to answer it and came face to face with Dee Dee. She was furious. She'd woken up in the middle of the night to find Gypsy gone. She searched the house and discovered Gypsy's cell phone.

[Narrator]

It had fallen out of Gypsy's bag.

[Co-narrator]

On her way out, Dee Dee opened the phone and saw her messages with Dan. She looked up the address of the house where he was staying and raced over. Dee Dee demanded that Gypsy go back with her. But Gypsy had come this far, and she had no plans of giving in.

[Narrator]

She told Dee Dee she knew the truth. She was 19 and legally an adult. Dee Dee didn't react. Instead, she calmly asked Gypsy about the.

[Co-narrator]

Money and pills she'd stolen. Gypsy couldn't deny that. She retrieved the items and gave them.

[Narrator]

Back to Dee Dee. From there, Dee Dee asked if they.

[Co-narrator]

Could go talk on the porch. Gypsy was suspicious. Dee Dee seemed eerily calm.

[Narrator]

But then, when they were alone, Dee Dee looked at her with such love. It seemed like she understood how important.

[Co-narrator]

It was for Gypsy to have her own life.

[Narrator]

Dee Dee said they could make a deal.

[Co-narrator]

If Gypsy came home with her now, she could keep seeing Dan.

[Narrator]

Gypsy was blown away. Finally, she'd gotten through to her mother. Maybe things were going to be okay after all. She went back inside to gather her things, then left with Dee Dee. Although Gypsy was feeling hopeful, there were still several things she needed her mom to address. In the car, she confronted Dee Dee about her age again, but Dede insisted That Gypsy was wrong.

[Co-narrator]

She must have misread the Medicaid card.

[Narrator]

She said the Gypsy was born in 1995.

[Co-narrator]

She was definitely 16 years old.

[Narrator]

Then Dee Dee made a sharp turn and pulled up to an office supply store.

[Co-narrator]

She didn't explain what she was doing.

[Narrator]

She just went inside, leaving Gypsy alone in the car. When she returned, she handed Gypsy a copy of her birth certificate.

[Co-narrator]

The date of birth read July 27, 1995. There was something strange about it, though. The numbers looked kind of smudged.

[Narrator]

But before Gypsy could take a closer look, Dee Dee snatched the paper back.

[Co-narrator]

She announced the matter was settled, and that was that. Gypsy was quiet for the rest of the drive home. As soon as they stepped inside, Dee Dee flew into a rage. Gypsy had never seen her mom this angry and mean. She said awful things, calling Gypsy a.

[Narrator]

Tramp and telling her that she was evil. Before Gypsy could even try to defend herself, Dee Dee stormed off. She returned a moment later carrying a hammer. Gypsy flinched as Dee Dee smashed her laptop to pieces. Then she moved on to Gypsy's cell phone. Gypsy cowered in terror as Dee Dee stalked toward her, still holding the hammer. Gypsy wondered if this was it, the moment her life would come to an end. Instead, Dee Dee slapped her hard across the face.

[Co-narrator]

If Gypsy thought that was the worst of it, she was wrong.

[Narrator]

Dee Dee proceeded to tie Gypsy to.

[Co-narrator]

The bed with a dog leash and handcuffs.

[Narrator]

She kept Gypsy there for the next two weeks, trapped and completely at her mercy.

[Co-narrator]

If she so much as wanted to go to the bathroom, Dee Dee had to take her. Finally, Dee Dee seemed to calm down.

[Narrator]

She removed the leash and cuffs, but.

[Co-narrator]

Gypsy was anything but free. She spent the next few months trying to win back Dee Dee's trust.

[Narrator]

She knew what to say and do to make Dee Dee think she'd learned her lesson. Eventually, it worked. They got a new shared computer that Gypsy was only allowed to use when.

[Co-narrator]

Dee Dee was watching.

[Narrator]

Unlike before, Gypsy simply waited until Dee Dee took her nightly sleeping pill and went to bed.

[Co-narrator]

Then she logged on.

[Narrator]

Somehow, Gypsy found out about a free.

[Co-narrator]

Dating site for Christians. Even after her experience with Dan, who she was no longer speaking to, Gypsy still desperately wanted a boyfriend. Someone to love and protect her. So she signed up and started browsing profiles.

[Narrator]

Sometime in October 2012, a 23 year old man named Nicholas Godijan caught her eye.

[Co-narrator]

He lived in Wisconsin, and Gypsy thought.

[Narrator]

He was really cute.

[Co-narrator]

She sent him a message and he replied almost instantly. When she saw his name pop up on her screen. Gypsy got butterflies.

[Narrator]

Even then, Gypsy had a feeling that.

[Co-narrator]

Nick was going to change her life. Little did she know they were about to set off on a very dark path. One that she'd never Recover from. In October 2012, 21 year old gypsy Rose Blanchard started chatting with 24 year old Nicholas Godejohn on a Christian dating website. And the more she learned about him, the stronger her feelings became. Nick was born and raised in Waukesha, Wisconsin. His parents divorced when he was around three years old.

[Narrator]

Like Gypsy, he also grew up with.

[Co-narrator]

A single mom and didn't seem close to his dad.

[Narrator]

He told Gypsy he was a quiet.

[Co-narrator]

Kid who kept to himself and didn't have many friends. But he really started to struggle in elementary school. Nick wasn't sure how exactly, but he knew he was different from the other kids. After some testing, he was diagnosed with autism. It's not clear how severe Nick's case.

[Narrator]

Was, but he was placed in special.

[Co-narrator]

Education classes all the way through high school.

[Narrator]

Even with the support he was able to receive, socializing continued to be a challenge for Nick.

[Co-narrator]

No matter how much he tried, he.

[Narrator]

Just couldn't seem to make friends. At least not in person. Online, it was a different story. He found it much easier to communicate.

[Co-narrator]

When there was a screen in front of him. Soon he was spending most of his time on the Internet.

[Narrator]

And before long, he realized he was fascinated by computers themselves.

[Co-narrator]

After graduating high school sometime around 2006.

[Narrator]

Nick enrolled in a training course to.

[Co-narrator]

Become a computer repair man. It didn't go well for him though.

[Narrator]

Nick couldn't keep up with the demands.

[Co-narrator]

Of the program and was let go. He didn't really try to do anything else after that.

[Narrator]

Instead, he continued to live at home with his mom. Aside from his family, the only human.

[Co-narrator]

Interactions he had were online. By the time Nick and Gypsy started talking in 2012, he was just as starved for affection as she was. After Nick opened up to her, Gypsy decided to do the same.

[Narrator]

She was worried what he might think about her using a wheelchair, but Nick.

[Co-narrator]

Promised it didn't change his feelings.

[Narrator]

If anything, it was another thing that.

[Co-narrator]

Made them perfect for each other.

[Narrator]

Nick knew what it was like to live with a disability and feel different from everyone else. Now that they'd found each other, they'd.

[Co-narrator]

Never have to feel alone again.

[Narrator]

Pretty soon, they were talking for hours.

[Co-narrator]

Every night after Dede went to sleep.

[Narrator]

It wasn't long until they decided to make things official. Within a week of their first conversation, the pair decided to be boyfriend and girlfriend.

[Co-narrator]

This was the fairytale love that 21 year old gypsy had been waiting for.

[Narrator]

She was sure of wasn't always easy.

[Co-narrator]

To sneak around, though.

[Narrator]

Even though she took sleeping pills, Dee Dee was still a light sleeper. There were nights when it didn't feel.

[Co-narrator]

Safe for Gypsy to log on.

[Narrator]

Other times, Dee Dee would reset the.

[Co-narrator]

Password on the laptop without telling Gypsy.

[Narrator]

To get around that Gypsy stole a.

[Co-narrator]

Cell phone from a big box store. Shoplifting wasn't new to Gypsy. In fact, it was one of the only skills Dee Dee actually taught her.

[Narrator]

The phone didn't have service, so she couldn't make calls, but Gypsy was able.

[Co-narrator]

To connect to Wi Fi and chat with Nick over Facebook and other apps.

[Narrator]

After a year of talking in Secret, sometime in 2013, Gypsy felt like she was ready to trust Nick with a huge secret. One that she'd never dared to admit out loud. Even though she used a wheelchair every day, she could walk on her own.

[Co-narrator]

To Gypsy's surprise, Nick took the news in stride.

[Narrator]

Actually, he said that he already knew she could walk. When she asked how, he told her it was because they were soulmates. That meant he already knew everything about her.

[Co-narrator]

Plus, he had psychic powers. It's not clear if Gypsy believed he.

[Narrator]

Was psychic, but she did believe they were soulmates. And since she'd trusted him with such a big secret, Nick wanted to tell her one of his own. He admitted that he had multiple personalities.

[Co-narrator]

Today, the condition is known as dissociative.

[Narrator]

Identity disorder, something Nick was never formally diagnosed with.

[Co-narrator]

But even without a diagnosis, it was very real to Nick, and he thought.

[Narrator]

It would be great if each of.

[Co-narrator]

His personalities had their own girlfriends.

[Narrator]

So he described each one to Gypsy, and she invented characters that matched. It came pretty naturally to Gypsy, who.

[Co-narrator]

Already loved to dress up and play pretend.

[Narrator]

The role playing quickly turned sexual. Nick requested pictures and videos from Gypsy's.

[Co-narrator]

Personalities that were more and more risque.

[Narrator]

Together, they created an intricate fantasy life.

[Co-narrator]

That was nothing like Gypsy's reality. In her real life, Gypsy was still seeing doctor after doctor.

[Narrator]

Although she'd started to suspect that she wasn't actually sick, Dee Dee insisted she still had cancer and a whole bunch of other medical conditions. As for her relationship with Dee Dee.

[Co-narrator]

Not much had changed. Except now physical violence was common and almost casual. If gypsies said or did something that Dee Dee didn't like, she got slapped across the face or pulled, punched in the thigh. Dee Dee would become especially angry if Gypsy dared question her decisions now that she was older.

[Narrator]

Gypsy asked about the medications her mother gave her. She even tried to resist taking them.

[Co-narrator]

From time to time, which always set Dee off. Each Fight left Gypsy feeling more desperate and pushed her closer to Nick. One night, she and Nick were chatting when Gypsy made a confession. She told him the only thing she wanted was someone to protect her.

[Narrator]

Nick quickly assured her that he would.

[Co-narrator]

Do anything to keep her safe. Gypsy was thrilled to hear that, but.

[Narrator]

She wanted to know if Nick would.

[Co-narrator]

Protect her from anyone.

[Narrator]

When he said yes, Gypsy admitted that the most dangerous person in her life.

[Co-narrator]

Was her own mother. Finally, Gypsy unloaded everything. Dee Dee wasn't just overprotective. She controlled everything about Gypsy's life.

[Narrator]

What she wore, what she ate, who she talked to. She insisted that Gypsy was sick, even though Gypsy herself felt fine. Dee Dee was the reason she and Nick couldn't be together anywhere but online. Nick was upset to hear all this, but when Gypsy started describing the physical abuse, he was enraged. Gypsy felt like a weight had been lifted. Not only was Nick aware of her situation, but he was determined to get her away from Dee Dee. Gypsy knew it wasn't going to be easy, but together, she and Nick would figure it out.

[Co-narrator]

There was a small problem though. While Gypsy and Nick were busy planning.

[Narrator]

Their future together, they'd never actually met in person. In March of 2015, after two years of dating, 23 year old gypsy decided.

[Co-narrator]

It was time to change that.

[Narrator]

But it wouldn't be so simple. Since she never let Gypsy out of her sight, Dee Dee would have to be there too. If that wasn't bad enough, Gypsy wasn't supposed to be using the computer without Dee Dee's knowledge. Which meant gypsy and 25 year old Nick would have to pretend they didn't already know each other. After thinking it over, Gypsy came up.

[Co-narrator]

With the perfect plan.

[Narrator]

And Nick would take the bus from.

[Co-narrator]

Waukesha, Wisconsin to Springfield, Missouri, where Gypsy lived. She and Dee Dee planned to go.

[Narrator]

See the new live action remake of Cinderella. That month, Nick would just happen to be seeing the same movie and strike up a conversation with Dee Dee. Since she and Gypsy loved all things Disney, Dee Dee was sure to be in a good mood. From there, Gypsy imagined that Nick and Dee Dee could become friends. Then, when Gypsy and Nick revealed they were dating, Dee Dee would not only be supportive, but maybe even happy for them. Gypsy's plan was detailed, and it also.

[Co-narrator]

Hinged on a lot of what ifs.

[Narrator]

Unfortunately, when the night arrived, things didn't.

[Co-narrator]

Go how she'd hoped. When they got to the movie theater, Gypsy's stomach was doing flips.

[Narrator]

She was dressed in a full Cinderella costume, complete with a big curly blonde wig. As Dee Dee bought their tickets Gypsy searched the lobby for her Prince Charming.

[Co-narrator]

And then she saw him. Nick had dressed nicely, too, wearing a white collared shirt and a blue tie that perfectly matched her dress. Gypsy's heart fluttered as he came closer.

[Narrator]

It was the moment she'd been dreaming of for years, but she had to play it cool. Nick said hello to Dee Dee, then turned to Gypsy. Gypsy took Nick's outstretched hand, shaking it like he was just some guy she was meeting for the first time. But in her head, she could hear romantic music swelling. She'd barely said hi when Dee Dee.

[Co-narrator]

Yanked her away, pushing her chair down the hall to the auditorium.

[Narrator]

Nick followed as they all found their seats.

[Co-narrator]

When the lights went down, he sat next to Gypsy. It was dark enough that they held hands as the film started. When the movie ended, Dee Dee made sure they left the theater as quickly as possible. Gypsy didn't have to ask what she'd thought of Nick.

[Narrator]

Dee Dee went on and on about.

[Co-narrator]

How she did not like that guy.

[Narrator]

She thought he was creepy. It wasn't normal for a grown man to be at a kids movie alone.

[Co-narrator]

And he'd been way too interested in them.

[Narrator]

Gypsy tried to defend Nick, but that.

[Co-narrator]

Just started a bigger argument. Her heart shattered. Gypsy's plan had failed miserably. But she wasn't giving up just yet.

[Narrator]

She needed to come up with a new idea.

[Co-narrator]

And this time there was no room for error. Gypsy messaged Nick while he was on the bus back to Wisconsin.

[Narrator]

She told him they had to get creative. Gypsy briefly considered getting pregnant, but the more she thought about it, even that could go wrong.

[Co-narrator]

It was possible that Dee Dee would just make her get an abortion.

[Narrator]

Nick suggested running away, but Gypsy reminded him that she'd tried, that Dee Dee would always find her. It seemed like as long as Dee Dee was alive, Gypsy would never be free.

[Co-narrator]

That's when Gypsy had an epiphany. Maybe that was the problem.

[Narrator]

They had to get rid of Dee Dee.

[Co-narrator]

Nick asked if she was serious, and Gypsy said yes. Just like that, he was on board. But Gypsy said she couldn't stomach the.

[Narrator]

Idea of doing it herself. She didn't have it in her to kill anyone, let alone her own mother. She asked Nick to do it for.

[Co-narrator]

Her, and he agreed.

[Narrator]

After all, he'd once promised to do anything it took to protect Gypsy. It wouldn't be that hard. All he had to do was unleash Victor.

[Co-narrator]

Victor was one of Nick's multiple personalities. He was a 500-year-old vampire and a killing machine.

[Narrator]

Victor was always filling Nick's head With.

[Co-narrator]

Thoughts of violence, fantasizing about doing all sorts of terrible things.

[Narrator]

He was Nick's darkest side.

[Co-narrator]

He would get the job done. Now that they decided who would do.

[Narrator]

It, they needed to figure out how. Gypsy wanted it to be fast. Just because Dee Dee needed to die didn't mean that Gypsy wanted her to suffer. Gypsy suggested a gun, but Nick said it would be too loud.

[Co-narrator]

The neighbors would hear it, and they wouldn't be able to get away fast enough. That's when Nick suggested a knife. It would be quick and quiet. It took time for them to make their preparations.

[Narrator]

Gypsy stole an 11 inch hunting knife from Walmart. Then she started taking small amounts of.

[Co-narrator]

Money from Dee Dee's wallet. Over time, when she had enough for a bus ticket and a few nights.

[Narrator]

In a motel, Gypsy mailed the cash to Nick in Wisconsin.

[Co-narrator]

As soon as he got the money, Nick bought a bus ticket to Springfield. He left on June 8. The drive was 17 hours and went overnight.

[Narrator]

So he arrived in the early morning.

[Co-narrator]

Hours of June 9, 2015. As soon as he stepped off the.

[Narrator]

Bus, he texted Gypsy that he'd made it. She responded yay.

[Co-narrator]

Like this was just a regular visit. All that was left for Nick to do was wait for Gypsy's signal. So he checked into a motel and bided his time. Her job was much harder. She had to spend the entire day with Dee Dee, pretending like everything was normal. The hours ticked by slowly until finally the sun began to set. Settling in for the night, Dee Dee.

[Narrator]

And Gypsy put on a movie and painted each other's nails. It was pretty late by the time the movie finished. Afterwards, Dee Dee took her sleeping pill.

[Co-narrator]

And went to bed. Gypsy said I love you and pretended to do the same. Then she texted Nick that it was time. He took a cab from the motel, just like they planned. Gypsy met him at the door with a knife and some gloves. She shut herself in the bathroom as Nick made his way to Dee Dee's bedroom. Even with the door shut and her hands over her ears, Gypsy could hear Dee Dee screaming her name. She begged for help. Then everything was silent. It was done, and Gypsy felt she was free.

[Sponsor - WhatsApp]

When did making plans get this complicated? It's time to streamline with WhatsApp, the secure messaging app that brings the whole group together. Use polls to settle dinner plans, send event invites and pin messages so no one forgets mom's six 60th and never miss a meme or milestone. All protected with end to end encryption. It's time for WhatsApp message privately with everyone. Learn [e-mail].

[Sponsor - Netflix]

This episode is brought to you by Netflix. Everyone is telling her she dreamt it, but in the woman in cabin 10 Lo Blacklock is determined to uncover the truth in the gripping new thriller coming to Netflix October 10th. Keira Knightley plays a journalist to board a luxury yacht who witnesses a crime she can't unsee. Adapted from Ruth Ware's best selling novel, directed by Simon Stone. Watch the woman in Cabin 10 only on Netflix on October 10th.

[Promo Voice]

In 2013, the murders of Claudia Maupin and Chip Northup left their town of Davis, California paralyzed in fear.

[Co-narrator]

The victims were an elderly couple. It was up close and personal.

[Promo Voice]

Even more chilling, the prime suspect was a teenager.

[Narrator]

He's I think the word is psychotic.

[Promo Voice]

From 48 hours binge the full series 15 inside the Daniel Marsh Murders now on the Free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Co-narrator]

On June 9, 2015, 23 year old Gypsy Rose Blanchard led her boyfriend, 26 year old Nicholas Godejohn, into the house she shared with her mother. She handed him the knife she'd stolen and pointed him in the direction of.

[Narrator]

48 year old Dee Dee's room.

[Co-narrator]

Then Gypsy hid in the bathroom while Nick killed her mom. There was a lot of noise, screaming and thuds. After about five minutes of silence, Nick knocked on the bathroom door.

[Narrator]

When Gypsy opened up, Nick was covered in blood. In total, he'd stabbed Dee Dee 17.

[Co-narrator]

Times in the back and neck.

[Narrator]

While the majority of the blood was Dee Dee's, Nick was also bleeding.

[Co-narrator]

He'd cut his finger during the attack. Gypsy knew they couldn't leave his DNA.

[Narrator]

Around, so she did her best to.

[Co-narrator]

Clean up the droplets. Then they gathered her things and Gypsy walked out the door for the last time.

[Narrator]

They took a cab back to Nick's.

[Co-narrator]

Hotel room and spent the next day in bed together.

[Narrator]

It was almost like they were on their honeymoon.

[Co-narrator]

Afterwards, they went to the bus station to head back to Nick's home in Wisconsin where he lived with his mom and stepdad. Gypsy spent the drive looking out the window and imagining her future with Nick.

[Narrator]

She didn't care that he still lived at home, but she did care that.

[Co-narrator]

He didn't have a job. How are they supposed to start a new life together? Slowly but surely, reality set in and Gypsy worried she was in over her head. It felt eerily similar to the first time she tried to run away, only now Dee Dee wasn't going to come get her.

[Narrator]

Gypsy didn't regret what she and Nick.

[Co-narrator]

Had done, but a part of her already missed her mom Days passed, and there was no news about Dee Dee. It broke Gypsy's heart to think about her dead and alone, with no one coming to find her.

[Narrator]

So on June 14, five days after the murder, Gypsy logged into Dee Dee's.

[Co-narrator]

Facebook account and wrote a post. It was simple and sensational that said, that bitch is dead.

[Narrator]

When Deedee's friend Kim saw the post.

[Co-narrator]

She called the Blanchard residence to check in. Deedee didn't answer, so Kim and her husband Dave went to check in on her and Gypsy. From the outside, everything looked normal. The house was closed up and quiet, and Dee Dee's car was in the driveway. Kim knocked on the front door and no one answered.

[Narrator]

Dave tried to look in through the.

[Co-narrator]

Windows, but they were tinted and hard to see through.

[Narrator]

Finally, they called the police for a wellness check.

[Co-narrator]

There was an issue, though. There were no signs of a break in or anything to indicate that something was wrong, which meant the police couldn't just barge inside. While they were all standing around wondering.

[Narrator]

What to do, Dave noticed that the kitchen window was unlocked. He asked the officers if there was.

[Co-narrator]

Anything preventing him from going in to look around. They gave him the go ahead.

[Narrator]

So Dave climbed in.

[Co-narrator]

Inside, nothing looked out of place.

[Narrator]

The only thing that worried him was that all three of Gypsy's wheelchairs were.

[Co-narrator]

Still in the house. By the time he came out to tell officers what he'd seen, there was a small crowd gathering around. The responding officers started interviewing neighbors as they stopped by. That's when they realized that no one had seen or heard from Dee Dee or Gypsy for days. That was definitely concerning. At that point, the authorities prepared a warrant to search the house. It came through at around 10:45 that night. Once they were in the house, it didn't take long before they found 48 year old Dee Dee on her bed.

[Narrator]

In a pool of blood. The investigators figured that whoever had killed.

[Co-narrator]

Dee Dee had also kidnapped Gypsy to try to track the killer down. They traced the Facebook post, the one saying Dee Dee was dead. It led them straight to Nick's door. And the very next day, June 15, the Waukesha County Police Department surrounded Nick's house. They weren't sure what they were going to find. Based on the scene at the Blanchard residence, Nick was potentially dangerous.

[Narrator]

They didn't know if he had Gypsy.

[Co-narrator]

With him or what state she might be in. No one was expecting Gypsy to come walking out on her own two feet.

[Narrator]

She was completely unharmed and there with Nick of her own free will. Nick followed her out, and they were.

[Co-narrator]

Both taken into custody at the station. The police put them in separate rooms for questioning. An officer sat down with Gypsy and told her that Dee Dee was dead. Gypsy acted shocked and burst into tears. That was the plan she and Nick.

[Narrator]

Had come up with. They would tell the authorities that Dee Dee kicked Gypsy out, which was why.

[Co-narrator]

She was in Wisconsin with him. After that, they didn't know anything about what happened to Dee Dee. Nick also stuck to the plan at first. But as the interview wore on, Nick started to cave. After only 20 minutes, he confessed to killing Dee Dee.

[Narrator]

And he was very clear that the.

[Co-narrator]

Only reason he'd done it was because Gypsy asked him to. The evidence backed him up. Sheriffs back in Springfield had gotten access to Gypsy's computer, which meant they had found all the messages between her and Nick where they discussed and planned the murder together. That alone would have been enough for the arraignment.

[Narrator]

But when the Waukesha PD searched Nick's.

[Co-narrator]

Room, they found the bloody murder weapon in his closet, right where he told them it would be.

[Narrator]

On June 16, Gypsy and Nick were.

[Co-narrator]

Formally charged with first degree murder.

[Narrator]

The news hit Gypsy and Dee Dee's.

[Co-narrator]

Friends and family like a bull bombshell.

[Narrator]

All they could do was watch the footage of Gypsy walking into the Wisconsin courtroom.

[Co-narrator]

She looked nothing like the sick little girl they'd all known.

[Narrator]

At this point, Gypsy seemed to know the full extent of Dee Dee's lies. She didn't have muscular dystrophy and she didn't have cancer. In fact, she wasn't sick at all. For Gypsy's father, Rod Blanchard, it was bittersweet. He was relieved to see that Gypsy was healthy. But now she was being charged with murder. What would the rest of her life look like? When Gypsy told him she was innocent, Rod believed her.

[Co-narrator]

But then her messages were shown in Court.

[Narrator]

On July 24, 2015, 24 year old.

[Co-narrator]

Gypsy went before a judge for a preliminary hearing. She was back in Springfield, so Rod and her stepmom Kristi were able to attend in person. As the prosecution entered the chats into evidence, Gypsy stole glances at her family. There was no lying her way out of this now. It was clear she was guilty. Rod was at a crossroads on Although.

[Narrator]

Gypsy had lied to him, he knew.

[Co-narrator]

There must have been a very good reason for her actions.

[Narrator]

Hopefully her legal team would prove it.

[Co-narrator]

However, he couldn't afford to hire her a fancy attorney. All they could do is hope the state appointed one could handle the case.

[Narrator]

Gypsy's public defender was named Mike Stanfield.

[Co-narrator]

And he was up for the challenge. He started with the most obvious the wheelchair.

[Narrator]

If Dee Dee had made Gypsy lie about needing one, what else was she hiding?

[Co-narrator]

He couldn't have imagined just how far she really went.

[Narrator]

Tracking down all of Gypsy's medical records was slow going. When Mike eventually got access, his office was flooded with thick files from every.

[Co-narrator]

Doctor Gypsy had ever seen. There must have been hundreds.

[Narrator]

As he compared all the records, Mike became the first person besides Gypsy to.

[Co-narrator]

Get a clear picture of Dee Dee's deception. For example, during a visit to Gypsy's cardiologist, Dee Dee lied and said that most of her family had died of heart disease, even though that wasn't true. And then there was the information from Dr. Bernardo Flasterstein, Gypsy's pediatric neurologist. In 2007, he wrote a letter saying.

[Narrator]

He suspected Dee Dee had Munchausen by.

[Co-narrator]

Proxy syndrome, or mbps. It's a condition in which the primary caretaker of a child fakes or induces symptoms to make that child seem sick. MBPS is considered both a mental disorder and child abuse. It's fairly rare and hard to diagnose.

[Narrator]

But Gypsy's records painted a clear picture. Even if it somehow wasn't mbps, There was more than enough evidence to show that Dee Dee was guilty of medical child abuse.

[Co-narrator]

In early 2016, Mike presented the records as mitigation evidence on Gypsy's behalf. The prosecution looked it over and quickly agreed to a plea deal. Gypsy would not stand trial. On July 5, 2016, a little over a year after her mother was killed.

[Narrator]

24 year old gypsy pleaded guilty to second degree murder. She was sentenced to the minimum 10.

[Co-narrator]

Years and sent to Chillicothe Correctional center in Ohio.

[Narrator]

Prison turned out to be pretty good for Gypsy. She was finally able to eat freely, speak freely, and make some decision for herself. Most importantly, she was able to get.

[Co-narrator]

Therapy to process everything that had happened.

[Narrator]

Which was part of the reason that Gypsy agreed to testify on behalf of Nick's defense.

[Co-narrator]

She was two years into her sentence and wanted to take accountability for her part. On November 15, 2018, Gypsy took the stand.

[Narrator]

She told the jury that it was.

[Co-narrator]

Entirely her idea to kill Dee Dee.

[Narrator]

And that she'd asked Nick to do it for her.

[Co-narrator]

Unfortunately, her honesty didn't work out the way the defense hoped. The difference between Gypsy and Nick came down to choice. There was a mountain of evidence to.

[Narrator]

Show that Gypsy truly believed she was out of options.

[Co-narrator]

But Nick wasn't under the same duress, and he still chose to kill. So on February 22, 2019, 29 year old Nick was found guilty of first.

[Narrator]

Degree murder and sentenced to life in.

[Co-narrator]

Prison without the opportunity for parole. He is currently serving that sentence at the Potosi Correctional center in Missouri.

[Narrator]

In 2022, he filed a motion for.

[Co-narrator]

A retrial based on ineffective counsel, but it was denied.

[Narrator]

Unlike Nick, Gypsy was allowed to seek parole.

[Co-narrator]

She won her parole hearing and was released from prison on December 28, 2023 at the age of 32. She has since released multiple memoirs and starred in in several documentaries.

[Narrator]

In 2024, Gypsy received her own reality TV show on the Lifetime network called Gypsy Life After Lockup.

[Co-narrator]

There are many people who still wonder whether justice was really served in this case. Lundini might have been a victim, but her life wasn't the only one that was stolen. So was Gypsies.

[Narrator]

It's not that simple though. While Gypsy was never actually sick, Dee Dee was.

[Co-narrator]

As tragic as this story is, it shed light on Munchausen by proxy. In the years since, there's been much more awareness of this little known condition.

[Narrator]

Hopefully Gypsy's story has helped other victims.

[Co-narrator]

Of MBPS escape the abuse she endured. But this case highlight something else.

[Narrator]

True crime isn't black and white.

[Co-narrator]

Sometimes the line between good and bad can become blurred and it's on us.

[Narrator]

To look at the whole picture and.

[Co-narrator]

Decide what justice looks like. Thanks so much for listening. I'm Carter Roy and this is True Crime Stories.

[Narrator]

Come back next week for the story.

[Co-narrator]

Of a new murder and all the people it affected.

[Narrator]

True Crime Stories is a Crime House.

[Co-narrator]

Original powered by Pave Studios. Here at Crime House, we want to thank each and every one of you for your support. If you like what you heard today.

[Narrator]

Reach out on social Media Crime house.

[Co-narrator]

On on TikTok and Instagram.

[Narrator]

Don't forget to rate, review and follow.

[Co-narrator]

Murder True Crime Stories wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback truly makes a difference and to enhance your Murder True Crime Stories.

[Narrator]

Listening experience, subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts. You'll get every episode ad free and.

[Co-narrator]

Instead of having to wait for each episode of a two part series, you'll get access to both at once once plus exciting bonus content. We'll be back next Tuesday. Murder True Crime Stories is hosted by me, Carter Roy and is a Crime House original powered by Pave Studios.

[Narrator]

This episode was brought to life by the Murder True Crime Stories team. Max Cutler, Ron Shapiro, Alex Benedon, Natalie.

[Co-narrator]

Pertofsky, Sarah Camp, Megan Hannam, Hania Said and Russell Nash. Thank you for listening.

[Narrator]

Twisted Tales with Heidi Wong is perfect for spooky season. Dive into the real life events behind the world's most terrifying blockbusters and beyond. Twisted Tales is a crime house original. Listen wherever you get your podcasts new.

[Co-narrator]

Episodes out every Monday.