Clauddine "Dee Dee" Pitre Blanchard Murder Victim

Born on May 3, 1967, in Chackbay, Louisiana, USA, Dee Dee Blanchard life was a complex and tragic tale, marked by manipulation, abuse, and ultimately, a violent end.

Dee Dee’s early life was already tinged with troubling behavior. Family members described her as a problematic child who often resorted to theft and deceit. Her stepmother even accused her of attempting to poison her with weed killer.

Dee Dee’s adult life was dominated by her relationship with her daughter, Gypsy Rose Blanchard. From a young age, Dee Dee subjected Gypsy to unnecessary medical treatments, convincing doctors and the public that Gypsy suffered from a host of severe illnesses, including leukaemia, muscular dystrophy, and developmental issues.

This behavior is now recognized as Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a mental health disorder where a caregiver fabricates or induces illness in a person under their care to gain attention and sympathy.

The facade Dee Dee maintained was meticulous. She moved with Gypsy to Springfield, Missouri, after Hurricane Katrina, where they lived in a house built by Habitat for Humanity. Dee Dee continued to exploit Gypsy’s supposed illnesses for financial gain, receiving donations, free trips, and even a home from charitable organizations. Gypsy was confined to a wheelchair and fed through a feeding tube, despite being physically healthy.

As Gypsy grew older, she began to realize the extent of her mother’s deception and the abuse she was enduring.

● In 2015, desperate for freedom, Gypsy conspired with her online boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, to murder Dee Dee.

● On June 10, 2015, Godejohn stabbed Dee Dee to death in their home. The crime was discovered when friends and neighbors saw alarming posts on Dee Dee’s Facebook account, leading police to find her body and arrest Gypsy and Godejohn.

The subsequent investigation revealed the extent of Dee Dee’s abuse and manipulation. Gypsy, who had been portrayed as severely ill and disabled, was found to be in good health and capable of walking. The public’s perception of Dee Dee shifted dramatically, from a devoted mother to a manipulative abuser. Gypsy pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to ten years in prison, while Godejohn received a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

Dee Dee Blanchard’s life and death highlight the devastating impact of Munchausen syndrome by proxy and the lengths to which some individuals will go to maintain control and garner sympathy. Her story is a chilling reminder of the hidden abuses that can occur behind closed doors and the resilience of those who seek to break free from such control.

Her life took a tragic turn when she was found dead on June 14, 2015, in her house in Greene County, Missouri. She was discovered face down in a pool of blood from stab wounds, several days after the incident occurred. Her daughter, Gypsy Rose Blanchard, initially thought to be missing due to her chronic health conditions, was later found in Wisconsin with her boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn.

However, investigations revealed shocking truths about the Blanchards' lives. It emerged that Gypsy Rose, despite her mother's claims, did not have the multitude of illnesses she was purported to have. Dee Dee had fabricated Gypsy Rose's medical conditions, manipulated her daughter into unnecessary medical treatments and surgeries, controlled her through abuse, and made her pretend to be disabled.

Dee Dee had a history of deceitful behavior and manipulated others, including doctors, charities, and the community, into believing her daughter's fabricated illnesses. She used various means, including changing identities and falsifying documents, to perpetuate the deception. The case gained widespread attention due to the revelation of the abuse Gypsy Rose endured.

Gypsy Rose pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and served eight years of a ten-year sentence. She was granted parole in September 2023 and released from prison on December 28, 2023. Nicholas Godejohn, convicted of first-degree murder for his role in the killing, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The case drew significant media coverage and has been depicted in various documentaries, TV shows, and films, shedding light on the complex and tragic circumstances surrounding the Blanchard family.