Midwest

Gypsy Rose Blanchard becomes overnight internet star after prison release

Published

2 years ago

January 6, 2024

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Gypsy Rose Blanchard becomes overnight internet star after prison release

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There aren’t many social media stars who have been convicted of second-degree murder, but Gypsy Rose Blanchard has amassed millions of followers, seemingly overnight, since she was released from a decade-long prison sentence last week.

Blanchard, 32, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in 2016, when she was 24, for her role in plotting to kill her abusive mother, Claudine “Dee Dee” Blanchard, in their Missouri home in 2015 with help from her former boyfriend at the time.

“Hey everyone, this is Gypsy. I’m finally free!” Blanchard said in a video posted to her Instagram page, which now has 6.1 million followers, after her release. “I just want to send a quick video to thank everyone for the massive amount of support that I’ve been getting on social media. Everyone has been really, really nice and supportive. I really appreciate that.”

Blanchard has also been promoting her upcoming book with co-authors Melissa Moore and Michele Matrisciani titled “Released: Conversations on the Eve of Freedom,” set to be released Jan. 9, as well as her three-night Lifetime special, “The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard,” set to premiere between Friday and Sunday.

GYPSY ROSE BLANCHARD TAKES TO SOCIAL MEDIA AFTER PRISON RELEASE: ‘FINALLY FREE’

Gypsy Rose Blanchard, 32, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in 2016, when she was 24, for her role in plotting to kill her abusive mother, Claudine “Dee Dee” Blanchard, in their Missouri home in 2015 with help from her former boyfriend at the time. (Lifetime/A&E)

“After a lifetime of silence, I finally get to use my voice to share my story and speak my truth,” Blanchard said in an October statement announcing the show. “As a survivor of relentless child abuse, this docuseries chronicles my quest for liberation and journey through self-discovery. I am unapologetically myself and unafraid to expose the hidden parts of my life that have never been revealed until now.”

The 32-year-old has posted photos of herself with her new husband, Ryan Anderson, whom she married while in prison, and even defended him from online “haters.”

GYPSY ROSE BLANCHARD, WHO PLOTTED THE MURDER OF HER ABUSIVE MOTHER, RELEASED FROM PRISON

Gypsy Rose Blanchard has amassed millions of followers on Instagram and TikTok. (Lifetime/A&E)

“Ryan, don’t listen to the haters. I love you, and you love me. We do not owe anyone anything. Our family is who matters. If you get likes and good comments great, if you get hate then whatever because THEY DON’T MATTER. I love you,” she wrote in a comment on her husband’s Instagram page.

Experts believe Dee Dee Blanchard had Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a psychological illness in which Dee Dee projected fake illnesses onto her daughter in an effort to receive attention or material items out of sympathy for the victim.

Dee Dee convinced Gypsy that she had a litany of illnesses, including leukemia, and was years younger than her actual age.

She also forced her daughter to sit in a wheelchair, made her take medication she did not need, shaved her hair, removed her teeth and fed her through a tube in her stomach.

The recent social media star has also been receiving tens of thousands of comments on her social media praising her for her bravery and quick return to her new life.

Dee Dee convinced Gypsy that she had a litany of illnesses, including leukemia, and was years younger than her actual age. (Lifetime/A&E)

“She may be out of prison but she’s still serving 24/7,” reads one Instagram comment on a selfie Blanchard posted Tuesday.

Others have taken to defending Blanchard from those calling her a “murderer.”

GYPSY ROSE BLANCHARD TELLS DR. PHIL ABOUT GRIM MOMENT HER MOTHER WAS MURDERED: ‘IT ALL WENT QUIET’

Dee Dee forced her daughter to sit in a wheelchair, made her take medication she did not need, shaved her hair, removed her teeth and fed her through a tube in her stomach. (Investigation Discovery)

“I’m really sick of all the people calling her a murderer when she wasn’t even the one that actually killed her mom and it was self-defense,” one Instagram user wrote. “She felt there was nothing else she could do. her mom was literally abusing her, beating her, chaining her to the bed just for wanting to live a normal life as a teenager.”

CLICK HERE FOR MORE TRUE CRIME FROM FOX NEWS

Blanchard and her ex-boyfriend, Nicholas Paul Godejohn, were arrested in connection with Dee Dee’s fatal stabbing in 2015. The next year, Blanchard was sentenced to a decade behind bars, while Godejohn was sentenced to life.

Blanchard’s case has been the subject of several documentaries and feature films. (Investigation Discovery)

Greene County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Patterson said at the time that “while the evidence in this case clearly established that Gypsy Blanchard was guilty of murder and that the murder was neither justifiable nor excusable, the amended charge and 10-year sentence fairly and justly holds Gypsy Blanchard accountable to the law while also taking into account the extreme mitigating circumstances of the nearly two decades of systematic and purposeful abuse of Gypsy Blanchard by her mother to facilitate her mother’s fraudulent schemes.”

Blanchard’s case has been the subject of several documentaries and feature films, including HBO’s “Mommy Dead and Dearest,” “Gypsy’s Revenge” by Investigation Discovery, Hulu’s “The Act” and most recently, Lifetime’s “The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard.”

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Illinois

Illinois bill to expand sale of raw milk fails as advocates continue push

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17 minutes ago

March 24, 2026

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Illinois bill to expand sale of raw milk fails as advocates continue push – CBS Chicago

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The state health department warns against drinking unpasteurized milk because it can make people sick.

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Indiana

Indianapolis police investigate shooting near downtown canal

Published

23 minutes ago

March 24, 2026

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Indianapolis police investigate shooting near downtown canal

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — One person was taken to the hospital Monday night after a shooting near the canal in downtown Indianapolis.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers responded just before 8 p.m. to a shooting in the 300 block of West 9th Street. That’s an address within the 9 on Canal apartments near North St. Clair Street and West Senate Avenue.

Officers entered an apartment building and found a male who had been shot. He was taken to Eskenazi Health in stable condition.

A police report obtained by News 8 identifies the suspect as a male.

Police did not say what led to the shooting. No arrests have been made.

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Iowa

4 thoughts from Iowa women’s abrupt NCAA exit vs Virginia | Leistikow

Published

28 minutes ago

March 24, 2026

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4 thoughts from Iowa women’s abrupt NCAA exit vs Virginia | Leistikow

IOWA CITY — The Iowa women’s basketball team was playing with fire down the stretch of its season.

And in the always-tense round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament, the second-seeded Hawkeyes got burned.

Stagnant offense, missed free throws and continued woes from 3-point range were too much for Iowa to overcome in a disheartening, 83-75 double-overtime loss to 10th-seeded Virginia before 14,332 fans at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on March 23.

Though there were 50 minutes of court action, this was still an abrupt end of the season — similar to Iowa’s loss to No. 10 seed Creighton in the round of 32 in 2022.

“We didn’t deserve to win,” Iowa head coach Jan Jensen said. “We took 20 more shots (84 to 63). We out-rebounded them (50 to 42). Free throws were bad. Three-point percentage, bad. Hats off to Virginia. … That’s a great, great story. Players made shots. Players made plays. We didn’t make enough of them.

“Even with all of that … one little free throw by someone.”

And … yeah, that’s why it was so frustrating.

Iowa was favored by 13½ points and looked like it finally got things together, taking a 52-43 lead with 8:07 remaining. But Iowa scored only five points in the rest of regulation, with Chit-Chat Wright missing a wild 2-pointer on the final possession.

But probably the biggest blown opportunity came with 22 seconds left in the first overtime. With a tie score, 63-63, Iowa was awarded two free throws and the ball after a flagrant-1 foul on Virginia’s Sa’Myah Smith for connecting with Hannah Stuelke in the neck.

Iowa could choose anyone to shoot the foul shots, and Wright – an 86% free-throw shooter – knocked down 1-of-2. She was fouled again, and hit just 1-of-2. Instead of a potential four-point lead, Iowa’s lead was two … and Kymora Johnson scored to force Iowa’s first double-overtime game in six years.

“I practice free throws day in and day out,” Wright said. “I really expected myself to make those two that I missed. Just got to get in the gym and get better.”

Iowa shot 5-of-29 from 3-point range and 8-of-16 from the foul line. Those aren’t winning numbers against almost any opponent. The Hawkeyes were 1-of-13 from 3 and 17-of-29 from the foul line in a precarious NCAA Tournament opener against Fairleigh Dickinson.

“We have to make shots. That’s basketball,” said sophomore Taylor Stremlow, who was 1-for-10 from 3. “That’s what we’re here for.”

Add it up, and Iowa was 14.3% from 3 (6-for-42) and 55.6% from the line (25-for-45) in two games here this week. Tack those numbers onto the 45-point outing in the Big Ten championship game vs. UCLA, and the Hawkeyes’ final three games were disappointing.

“There’s not many excuses you can make,” said senior Kylie Feuerbach, who was 1-for-7 from 3. “You can’t let up. I personally didn’t hit the shots that were open. We had the crowd behind us. We had the energy. We had everything in our favor. We weren’t able to maximize those opportunities.”

Three duds don’t take away from what was an overachieving season.

But appreciating the season needs a little time.

“It’s been a great year,” Jensen said. “It’s just when it ends like this, it’s a dagger.”

Chit-Chat Wright reflects on missed free throws, first season at Iowa

The sophomore transfer eyes next season after Iowa’s 83-75 double-overtime loss to Virginia in the NCAA Tournament.

Assertive Chit-Chat, cramping Chit-Chat

That was the missive from Jensen coming into this round-of-32 matchup, to get Wright to be more aggressive on the offensive end of the floor.

Wright uncorked a 3-pointer on Iowa’s first possession and was Iowa’s leading scorer in the first half, scoring eight points on 4-of-10 shooting. Wright’s tendency has been to shrink when her shot is off, but she kept firing — which was important, especially as the Hawkeyes got only 8:48 of playing time from Heiden in the opening 20 minutes.

Wright’s 3-pointer with 5:43 left pushed Iowa to a 55-51 lead. But shortly thereafter, she was pulled with cramps — an issue she has dealt with during the late part of the season. Wright came out of the game, sucked down some applesauce and pickle juice and quickly returned after 40 seconds on the bench.

The cramping returned in both overtimes but she battled through it to play 49:20.

“It was in and out,” Wright said. “It would go away and come back.”

For the game, Wright finished with 21 points on 8-of-22 shooting with five rebounds, three assists and five turnovers. The misfire at the end of regulation was a relapse of being a bit too indecisive. Jensen said that was on her as a coach to bring Wright along this offseason.

“We drew it up. But there was so much hesitancy,” Jensen said. “I think that was the youth. Again, it goes to the deference. ‘Should I be looking for Ava?’ Well, no, you had it wide open.”

Tearful goodbyes to Kylie Feuerbach, Hannah Stuelke

The toughest part about the loss was seeing two program stalwarts who were part of two Final Four runs end their Hawkeye careers.

Feuerbach had four points and five assists before fouling out. Stuelke set career highs in minutes (48:34) and rebounds (19) to go with 15 points and six assists in her final game.

“Those are two of my best friends,” Stremlow said. “It’s hard knowing we won’t get another opportunity to play with them. It’s just hard. They’ve meant so much to our program.”

Both players were instrumental to this 27-7 season. By the end, Jensen really had only six players she could trust in crunch-time situations. These seniors provided stability.

Stuelke battled through multiple injuries and played wherever Jensen needed her.

Feuerbach was the ultimate defensive stopper, earning all-defense honors in the Big Ten.

“Surreal,” Feuerbach said of her five years at Iowa. “It would be impossible to list off everything right now. This moment really is hard, but then you can look back at all the highs that you’ve had, and they surpass everything else.”

Stuelke was a starter on the 2024 team that reached the national-title game. She outscored Caitlin Clark that year in the national semifinals as Iowa beat UConn. She once scored 47 points in a game.

She was a massive part of Jensen’s first two seasons at the helm as she looks to build it back up to where it was when Clark moved on to the WNBA in 2024.

“It’ll be trending upwards,” Stuelke said. “The young girls on this team are really great. If they keep growing, they’re going to be spectacular. I’m excited to keep watching them and cheering them on. Hopefully they’ll text me if they need any advice.”

Hear from Ava Heiden after Iowa women’s basketball season ends vs. Virginia

Ava Heiden scores 55 points in two NCAA games, but has regrets

Heiden had a clean look to win the game at the end of the first overtime off a putback, but didn’t take it. Stremlow’s in-and-out 3, with the score 65-65, bounded into Heiden’s hands, about 6 feet away from the hoop. Instead of going back up for a shot, she looked to kick it out. She said in postgame interviews that she thought she had more time. Once she realized the clock was about to expire, she put up a wild shot that wasn’t close.

“That’s on me,” Heiden said. “I could’ve probably been more aware of the clock. That’s something I’ll grow into. I haven’t quite been in those late-game situations where I’m the one getting the (last shot).”

That set up the second fateful overtime.

Heiden was once again Iowa’s best player even though she missed 11:12 of the first half with two early fouls. This was the epitome of a learning experience for a sophomore who had a great season, but whose best play is undoubtedly yet to come.

“That first five minutes, we were kind of rolling,” Jensen said. “She did some of the things she did earlier (in the season), fouling 94 feet away. That (second) one was such a bizarre one how she got it, still learning about her body control.”

Heiden confessed after scoring 29 of Iowa’s 58 points in its first-round win that she wasn’t fully comfortable being the go-to player in key moments. That should come.

Heiden finished with a team-high 26 points in 36:20.

“It’s just hard,” Heiden said. “There are some things that all of us could’ve done better at. Definitely things I wanted to do better. We’ll grow from it and apply it to next year.”

Heiden finished her year with 614 points, third in Iowa program history among sophomores behind the uncatchable Caitlin Clark (863) and Megan Gustafson (628). Pretty elite company. And a centerpiece to build around for the next two years.

Hawkeyes columnist Chad Leistikow has served for 31 years with The Des Moines Register and USA TODAY Sports Network. Chad is the 2023 INA Iowa Sports Columnist of the Year and NSMA Co-Sportswriter of the Year in Iowa. Join Chad’s text-message group at HawkCentral.com/HawkeyesTexts. Follow @ChadLeistikow on X.

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