Freshly released from incarceration, Gypsy Rose Blanchard is contemplating the trajectory of her life beyond prison walls. As one of the world’s most renowned parolees, she is determined to wield any influence she may possess for positive change.
Expressing her commitment to effecting change, Gypsy shared her aspirations in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE just before her release. Following seven years of imprisonment in Missouri for the murder of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, who was fatally stabbed in 2015, Gypsy is widely perceived as a victim of Munchausen by proxy. This form of child abuse involves a guardian exaggerating or inducing illness in a child to garner sympathy.
Gypsy Rose Blanchard (Credits: PEOPLE)
Dee Dee, having convinced those around her that her daughter was terminally ill, subjected Gypsy to unnecessary and painful medical treatments. In 2016, Gypsy admitted to the murder perpetrated with her then-boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn. Pleading guilty to second-degree murder, she received a 10-year prison sentence and was granted parole earlier this year. Godejohn, found guilty of first-degree murder in 2019, is serving a life sentence without parole.
While still incarcerated last year, Gypsy married Ryan Scott Anderson, a special education teacher from Louisiana, who picked her up at 3:30 a.m. upon her release from Chillicothe Correctional Center.
Gypsy’s case garnered national attention, leading to multiple documentaries and series that propelled her to an unexpected level of fame. Despite being aware of the potentially infamous label attached to her, Gypsy insists she isn’t seeking celebrity.
In an interview with PEOPLE, she emphasizes her lack of desire for fame, expressing her childhood dream of making a meaningful difference rather than seeking the spotlight. Now, as she embarks on her post-prison life, Gypsy aims to achieve just that. She plans to leverage her Instagram and TikTok accounts to build a following and define her platform.
Acknowledging her unique position, she emphasizes her intention to create positive change by raising awareness about Munchausen by proxy. Her verified Instagram account, boasting over 4.7 million followers, states her commitment to advocating for awareness about the syndrome.
Reflecting on her past actions, Gypsy acknowledges the gravity of her choices, emphasizing that the decision to commit murder was never the right one. Her current mission is to use her experiences, both hers and her mother’s, to bring attention to Munchausen by proxy and focus on mental health.
In addition to her social media advocacy, Gypsy is set to release a new ebook titled “Released: Conversations on the Eve of Freedom” and will share her story in the Lifetime docuseries, “The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard,” premiering on January 5 at 8 p.m. Eastern.
