Missouri Woman Convicted of Murdering Abusive Mother Set to be Released from Prison

Gypsy Rose Blanchard, a Missouri woman who pleaded guilty to plotting to murder her abusive mother in 2015, is scheduled to be released from prison on Thursday. Blanchard, now 32 years old, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for second-degree murder in 2016 when she was 24. However, under Missouri law, she became eligible for parole after serving 85% of her sentence.

Blanchard's case gained significant attention due to the disturbing nature of her upbringing. Experts believe that her mother, Claudine 'Dee Dee' Blanchard, suffered from Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a psychological illness in which a person pretends that another person is ill in an effort to receive attention or material items. In this case, Dee Dee pretended that Gypsy was seriously ill, leading to a lifetime of medical abuse and manipulation.

Dee Dee convinced Gypsy that she had multiple illnesses, including leukemia, and manipulated her into believing that she was much younger than her actual age. Gypsy was forced to use a wheelchair, take unnecessary medication, have her hair shaved, her teeth removed, and even be fed through a tube in her stomach. The community in Missouri, unaware of the abuse, rallied around the mother and daughter, providing them with support and attention.

Gypsy's attorney, Mike Stanfield, expressed his involvement in the case and his role in reuniting the family. In a recent LinkedIn post, he stated, "Eight and a half years ago, I handled the most difficult case of my career. In doing so, I helped reunite a family enduring horrible circumstances." Stanfield also mentioned that he would be present with Gypsy, her father Rod Blanchard, and her stepmother Kristy Blanchard as they begin their new life together.

Blanchard's story has captivated audiences and has been the subject of various documentaries and feature films. HBO's "Mommy Dead and Dearest," Investigation Discovery's "Gypsy's Revenge," and Hulu's “The Act” are just a few examples. Penguin Random House is also set to release an e-book titled "Released: Conversations on the Eve of Freedom," co-authored by Blanchard, Melissa Moore, and Michele Matrisciani. The memoir is described as an "exclusive collection of interview transcripts and journal entries, plus [Blanchard's] own illustrations and photos."

As the day of her release approaches, Gypsy Rose Blanchard's story continues to shed light on the devastating effects of Munchausen syndrome by proxy and the long-lasting impact it has on survivors.