Midwest
Gypsy Rose Blanchard becomes overnight internet star after prison release
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.
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. (Lifetime/A&E)
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.”
Read the full article from Here
Illinois
Two charged after severed arm with Packers tattoo found in Illinois lake, police say
ILLINOIS – A severed arm with a distinctive Green Bay Packers tattoo led investigators to identify a Plainfield man whose remains were recovered from Lake Mattoon, and two people have now been charged in the case, including the man’s mother, Illinois State Police said.
James Adams, 26, and Robin Turner, 62, are each charged with concealment of a homicidal death, a Class 3 felony, and dismembering a human body, a Class X felony.
Two charged after severed arm with Packers tattoo found in Illinois lake, police say
The backstory:
Boaters found part of a human arm floating in Lake Mattoon on the evening of June 28, according to Illinois State Police. The arm had several distinctive tattoos, including a skeleton holding a Green Bay Packers helmet and an unidentified letter or number.
Severed arm found in Illinois lake belonged to Plainfield man, police say (Illinois State Police)
Authorities searched the lake and recovered additional human remains. The victim was later identified as 38-year-old Dalewayne Turner of Plainfield.
Investigators executed a search warrant Wednesday at a home in the 2400 block of Ruth Fitzgerald Drive in Plainfield, where Adams and Robin Turner were taken into custody, state police said. Robin is reportedly Dalewayne’s mother.
Police said investigators also recovered additional evidence from the home but have not disclosed what was found.
What’s next:
Illinois State Police presented the case Thursday to the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office, which approved the charges.
Adams and Turner remain in custody as the investigation continues. State police said additional charges are expected.
The Source: The information in this article was provided by Illinois State Police and previous FOX Chicago reporting.
Indiana
Warden resigns from Indiana prison housing hundreds of ICE detainees
What to know about the ‘Speedway Slammer’ ICE detainee facility in Indiana
Miami Correctional Facility can house up to 1,000 ICE detainees.
The warden of an Indiana prison that serves as one of the Midwest’s largest Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers has departed his role as head of the maximum security facility.
Brian English, who ran Miami Correctional Facility in Bunker Hill, announced his exit on LinkedIn.
“After much reflection, I’ve decided to take the next step in my career and will be transitioning out of my role at the Miami Correctional Facility,” he wrote. “Closing this chapter has reminded me just how much can change when a team decides to move forward together.”
English’s announcement described the prison as a “difficult place” recovering from lockdowns, strained community relations and severe staffing shortages when he first took over in October 2022.
“Over the past three years and nine months, we’ve strengthened operations of a maximum-security prison, with a minimum-security unit, infirmary unit and a newly opened 1,000‑bed ICE detention facility,” he wrote. “We rebuilt community relations, expanded partnerships with law enforcement and Grissom Air Force Base, doubled volunteer engagement, grew programming, and improved staffing and retention in meaningful ways.”
English confirmed in a telephone call to IndyStar that Friday, June 26, was his last day on the job.
“I no longer work there,” he said via phone. “I don’t really have any comment about it. I’m just taking some time off, and I’ll be pursuing other opportunities.”
When asked if he was leaving on his own or had forced out, English told IndyStar the decision was “totally his decision.”
“That’s all I’m going to really comment about,” he said. “It was my decision to go.”
The prison, which Trump administration officials nicknamed the “Speedway Slammer” despite local protestations, has continued to suffer from serious problems during English’s tenure. An IndyStar investigation found that violence and drug use were rampant at the facility before it began accepting ICE detainees in October.
Last summer, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that the prison would become an ICE detention site, housing up to 1,000 detainees, as part of President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigration. Two detainees have since died at the facility, which as of last month housed more than 600 immigration detainees in addition to about 1,800 state prisoners.
Concerns about conditions at the prison have prompted calls to shut down ICE detention at the facility from U.S. Rep. André Carson, faith leaders and civil liberty advocates. They say detainees have complained of inadequate medical care, inconsistent food service and difficulties maintaining their hygiene.
Although state officials have said the arrangement with ICE will be profitable, delayed payments from the federal government have resulted in expenditures exceeding revenue. Prison officials have said they expect that to change as the arrangement continues.
It’s unclear who will run the prison in the interim or if a new warden has been identified. The Indiana Department of Correction did not immediately respond to an IndyStar inquiry about English’s departure. Neither did ICE.
Contact IndyStar investigative reporter Alexandria Burris at aburris@indystar.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, at @allyburris and on Bluesky at@allymburris.bsky.social.
Iowa
One Year In, the Largest Tax Cuts in American History Are Delivering for Iowa
IOWA – Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) today marked the one-year anniversary of the Working Families Tax Cuts becoming law, highlighting the real savings and tax relief the legislation has delivered for Iowa families, workers, farmers, seniors, and small businesses.
Signed into law one year ago, the Working Families Tax Cuts have lowered taxes, increased take-home pay, and helped hardworking Americans keep more of what they earn.
“One year later, the Working Families Tax Cuts are delivering exactly what they promised: lower taxes, bigger paychecks, stronger family budgets, and real savings for hardworking Americans,” said Congresswoman Miller-Meeks. “Whether it is tax relief for seniors, workers earning overtime, families raising children, or farmers passing their operations on to the next generation, these policies are making a real difference. I will continue fighting for policies that put Iowans first.”
Background
One year after becoming law, the Working Families Tax Cuts continue to provide meaningful relief for millions of Americans through provisions including No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Overtime, tax relief for seniors, permanent protections for family farms, incentives to strengthen American manufacturing, and new $1,000 Baby Investment Accounts for eligible newborns.
Since enactment, the Working Families Tax Cuts have delivered:
- Tax refunds increased by 11%, putting more money back into the pockets of hardworking Americans.
- No Tax on Tips: More than 7.5 million Americans have claimed the deduction, with an average tax benefit of over $7,000. By allowing workers to deduct up to $25,000 in qualified tip income, servers, bartenders, hospitality workers, and others who rely on tips are keeping more of what they earn.
- No Tax on Overtime: More than 29 million Americans have claimed the deduction, saving an average of over $3,100. This provision helps police officers, firefighters, nurses, EMTs, corrections officers, and countless other workers keep more of their overtime pay.
- Social Security Tax Deduction: More than 35 million seniors have claimed the new deduction, receiving an average tax benefit of over $7,500. Eligible seniors can claim a $6,000 deduction, while married couples can receive up to $12,000, helping them afford everyday necessities and enjoy greater peace of mind after a lifetime of hard work.
- Enhanced Child Tax Credit: Nearly 40 million families have claimed the expanded $2,200 Child Tax Credit, helping parents cover the costs of raising children and providing additional financial stability.
-
Doubled Standard Deduction: The law preserves the doubled standard deduction, benefiting over 90% of taxpayers and allowing families to keep more of their hard-earned income.
-
Protection for Family Farms: Delivered permanent relief from the ‘Death Tax’ and helps protect family farms ensuring there farms are passed down to kids and grandkids not sold to pay the IRS.
-
No Tax on Car Loan Interest: Allows eligible Americans to deduct interest on qualifying loans for new American-made vehicles.
-
Small Business Tax Deduction: Makes the 20% small business deduction permanent, giving Main Street businesses the certainty they need to invest, hire, and grow.
-
$1,000 Baby Investment Accounts: Provides eligible newborns with a $1,000 investment account, helping families begin building long-term financial security from the start of their child’s life.
###
-
Arkansas5 minutes agoAugust special primary set for vacant southeast Arkansas state Senate seat | Arkansas Democrat Gazette
-
California8 minutes ago
California returns stretch of coast to Indigenous tribes. ‘This is beyond huge’
-
Colorado13 minutes agoDouglas County, Colorado, celebrates Independence Day without fireworks
-
Connecticut20 minutes agoConnecticut 250, 251, 252, 253 . . . – New Haven Independent
-
Delaware23 minutes agoWilmington fire displaces 20, damages 6 homes on Clayton Road; cause under investigation
-
Florida28 minutes agoUSF Health brings emergency pregnancy training to rural Florida without maternal care
-
Georgia35 minutes agoMiddle Georgia looks to see a scorcher for the Fourth of July
-
Hawaii38 minutes agoCar drives into Sunshine Market in Honolulu