After spending the best part of eight years behind bars for her role in her mother's murder, Gypsy Rose Blanchard has been released from prison.
TMZ has confirmed the release of Gypsy Rose.
Gypsy's story gained worldwide attention back in 2015 and has since been the subject of widespread intrigue due to the unique circumstances surrounding the case.
Gypsy's mother, Clauddine "Dee Dee" Blanchard, was murdered in 2015 at the hands of Gypsy's boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, whom she met on an online Christian dating website.
The saga unraveled a disturbing history of forced pretenses, with Dee Dee falsely claiming that Gypsy suffered from leukemia, muscular dystrophy, and other serious illnesses.
Gypsy was, in fact, perfectly healthy and not developmentally delayed, contrary to the belief of friends and well-wishers. Her mother, later diagnosed with Munchausen syndrome by proxy, sought attention through fabricated illnesses in her daughter.
The elaborate ruse extended to encounters with country star Miranda Lambert, charitable donations, a Disney World trip, and even a home near Springfield from Habitat for Humanity. Dee Dee's ability to deceive extended to medical professionals, manipulating them by claiming Gypsy's records were lost in Hurricane Katrina, per AP.
Gypsy underwent unnecessary medical procedures, including the removal of her salivary glands, all orchestrated by her mother. Gypsy's lack of contact with the outside world and limited education further facilitated the deception.
Under her mother's control, Gypsy sought the assistance of Nicholas, whom she met on a Christian dating website, to carry out her mother's murder.
In June 2015, Nicholas fatally stabbed Dee Dee while she slept.
At Nicholas's trial, his attorney argued that he was manipulated due to his love and obsession for Gypsy, citing his autism diagnosis. Prosecutors countered, claiming his motivation was driven by sexual desire and a wish to be with Gypsy.
In a 2019 interview, Nicholas referred to Blanchard as his "soulmate" and expressed that their time together was "the best days of [his] life," as per People.
Gypsy pleaded guilty in 2016 to second-degree murder, receiving a 10-year sentence in exchange for her testimony against her then-boyfriend.
The Missouri Department of Corrections announced Gypsy's parole in September, with an expected release date of December 28, 2023, according to TMZ.
Reportedly, she has plans to document her childhood and experiences during her time in prison in a forthcoming book.
Concerns have arisen among family friends as her release approaches. Fancy Marcelli and Titania Gisclair have expressed worries about Gypsy's reluctance to embrace counseling and the potential impact of her manipulated past on her imminent freedom.
Marcelli voiced her apprehension, stating: "She’s supposed to get out in 2025, but I worry about what’s going to happen to her," per In Touch.
With her newfound freedom, the Department of Corrections has announced that no in-person coverage of Gypsy's release will be allowed, citing the "interest of protecting safety, security, and privacy."
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