Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s Dad Was Only 17 When She Was Born
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On December 28 2023, Gypsy Rose Blanchard was released from prison after serving eight years of her 10-year sentence for her involvement in the murder of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard. Gypsy was a victim of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, meaning Dee Dee pretended Gypsy had a whole slew of medical conditions.
For years, Gypsy believed she was sick when she was actually a healthy child. And she wasn't the only one. Gypsy's dad, Rod Blanchard, was also led to believe Gypsy was sick her whole life, as he stated in a 2017 Change.org petition advocating for Gypsy's release. "I always provided financial and moral support to them even after Gypsy turned 18 I continued to pay $1,200 a month in child support payments because I was convinced that Gypsy was disabled and Dee Dee spent all of her time caring for Gypsy," Rod wrote. "...Dee Dee always coached, filtered and monitored Gypsy and I's communications."
Eventually, in 2015, Gypsy convinced her then-boyfriend, Nick Godejohn, to kill Dee Dee so she could be free of her mother. In 2016, she plead guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 10 years at Chillicothe Correctional Center in Missouri, per People.
Since her release, Gypsy has been spending time with her husband, Ryan Anderson, her father, Rod, her stepmom, Kristy, and her stepsister, Mia. On New Year’s Eve, Gypsy shared in an Instagram video that she was ringing in 2024 with her family. "I'm back to celebrating with my family," she said. "So, we’re looking to ring in the new year together. It’s going to be really awesome to have some family time after so long."
Here's everything you need to know about Gypsy Rose's dad, Rod Blanchard, and their relationship.
Rod and Dee Dee weren't together for very long.
In his Change.org petition, Rod said, "Dee Dee and I were married then separated during her pregnancy. I was 17 Dee Dee was 23." Sometime after his divorce from Dee Dee, Rod married his current wife, Kristy Blanchard.
But Rod was in Gypsy's life until she was 10.
Rod and Kristy regularly visited Gypsy and even brought her gifts until Dee Dee eventually separated them.
Dee Dee moved with Gypsy from Louisiana to Springfield, Missouri after Hurricane Katrina (and after Rod and Dee Dee's families became suspicious of her claims, per the Springfield News-Leader).
In the HBO documentary Mommy Dead and Dearest, Kristy said that she and Rod planned visits to Springfield on several occasions, but every time, Dee Dee wouldn't respond to calls or texts during the days leading up to the trips. Weeks later, Dee Dee would tell them that Gypsy had been in the hospital.
"We were very intimidated about her medical conditions," Rod said in an interview with the Springfield News-Leader. "Dee Dee was explicit that she had to be by her side 24-7. So we never did get to build that bond."
Rod has two other children.
According to Rod's Change.org petition, Gypsy has a younger brother, Dylan, and a younger sister, Mia.
Rod appeared in Mommy Dead and Dearest.
Gypsy's dad opened up about his side of the story in the 2017 documentary.
He later shared on Dr. Phil's podcast, Analysis of a Murder, that he didn't have much of a relationship with Gypsy Rose growing up. "I never lived with Dee Dee and Gypsy," said Rod. "We never got to experience that—Gypsy and I. She [Dee Dee] was a buffer...Birthdays, holidays, it was very hard."
Rod and Gypsy reconnected when she went to prison.
When Gypsy was charged with Dee Dee's murder, she called her dad from prison. "You know I love mama and you know that I would never hurt her. Just know that I am innocent and I'm still your little girl," Gypsy said during her phone call, according to Mommy Dead and Dearest.
During Gypsy's prison sentence, the pair were able to develop a pretty great father-daughter relationship. "It’s a hundred times better, honestly," Rod told Fox News in 2018. "We email each other. She can call me anytime, and she does. I’m keeping tabs on all of her accomplishments in school. She’s getting her GED. … It’s wonderful. I can’t wait for her to get out so we can build on that foundation that we started here."
Rod petitioned to get Gypsy released from prison.
Gypsy Rose served the majority of her 10-year sentence for pleading guilty to second-degree murder of Dee Dee, but her dad didn't give up hope that she'd be released sooner. He made a Change.org petition titled 'Free Gypsy Rose Blanchard,' asking 150,000 people to sign (which reached its goal).
Rod wrote in his petition statement that he's "petitioning for any relief to Gypsy's 10-year sentence, a shorter sentence, perhaps relocation to a mental facility where she can get the better help she needs."
Now, Rod and Gypsy are celebrating her release together.
Not only did Gypsy and her dad ring in the new year together, and he also attended a party to celebrate her homecoming, per People.
Gypsy’s stepsister, Mia, also shared a series of family pictures from Gypsy's homecoming party. In the first photo, the two sisters smile in front of gold balloons that read, “Welcome Home.” In the next, Gypsy, Mia, Rod, and Kristy all stand together. The post even includes a video of the family popping champagne bottles filled with colorful confetti.
“the sweetest hello, welcome home sister🤍,” Mia wrote in the caption.
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