Gypsy Rose Blanchard :: Captive Since 1991
If you look up the definition of a gypsy, you will see that it is defined as a “free – spirited person.” Gypsy Rose Blanchard has never had the opportunity to be a free spirit. But after 19 years of being captive by her mother and another 8 being captive by the legal system, it’s her time to be the free spirited Gypsy she was always meant to be.
Not sure who Gypsy Rose is, you can read the full story here or you can watch one of the below documentaries / series that lays the story and timeline out in a variety of ways. I’ve seen them all. They are all worth the watch.
- Mommy Dead and Dearest – HBO
- Gypsy’s Revenge – Investigation Discovery
- 20/20 The Story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard – Hulu
- The Act (dramatization) – Hulu
- Snapped: Gypsy Rose and Nick – A Love to Die For – Peacock
- NEW: The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard – Lifetime
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- Pro Tip – Episodes 1 and 2 from Part 1 are now available with no sign in required until January 16th. Episodes 3 and 4 from Part 2 as well as Episodes 5 and 6 from Part 3 are also available to stream now in the Lifetime app but will require a TV provider subscription to sign in. (Trust me, it is worth it)
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Long story short…
Gypsy was a perfectly healthy child growing up. You would have never known since Gypsy’s mother essentially held her daughter prisoner, forcing her to use a wheelchair and feeding tube. Her mother claimed she was ill with leukemia and muscular dystrophy, but she did not actually have any health issues.
Her mother had Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a psychological disorder in which parents or caregivers seek sympathy through the made-up illnesses of their children. Her mother also used Hurricane Katrina as an excuse for “loss of medical records;” therefore, her mother was able to convince doctors that Gypsy was ill and had been treated for years before the hurricane. I can only imagine that those who were actually impacted by Hurricane Katrina get extremely annoyed by the mother’s use of such a horrific event, especially when her story is full of lies. Gypsy was subjected to years of unnecessary medical treatment and abuse. Having been through that her entire life, Gypsy decided to take the law into her own hands. She confessed to persuading and conspiring with her boyfriend to have her mother killed.
Gypsy, in my non-legal, humble opinion, should have never been imprisoned. She has been mentally abused since she was a little girl and (to me) should have been deemed unable to either plead guilty or face imprisonment. Why do real, non-mentally ill murderers get off with being morally incompetent to stand trial but with Gypsy, it wasn’t even an option?
Yes, it’s illegal to kill another. Yes, there were other ways to handle it.
Would the police have believed her?
Would her mother be able to lie and get away with it as she had for years?
Would Gypsy have been subjected to more physical abuse if she tried to contact anyone for help?
The answers are probably not, probably yes, and absolutely yes.
Gypsy needed mental health services and doctors to see her and treat her for the issues she really had; not the ones her mother fabricated her entire life. Why was she not offered mental health assistance? Why would she be imprisoned where she would potentially be subjected to more abuse? The system failed her. Her mother failed her. We failed her.
While in prison, Gypsy Rose has maintained that she was a victim of abuse and has become an advocate for other victims of abuse, particularly those affected by Munchausen syndrome by proxy. Survivors of this type of abuse often suffer from betrayal trauma and PTSD. Trauma-focused psychotherapies such as Cognitive Processing Therapy and EMDR may be helpful in recovery. Research also shows that having familial support is crucial in order for these victims to recover. If you are following this story, you’ll know that Gypsy actually got married while in prison and was able to rekindle her relationship with her biological father. Hopefully, this support will bode well since her freedom began on December 28, 2023.
Cheers to your new life, Gypsy!
