Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of murder. Reader discretion is advised.
Following Gypsy Rose Blanchard‘s release from prison in December, her life and family continue to garner interest. The former convict has become the subject of several documentaries since her prison release. Gypsy Rose was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the second-degree murder of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, in 2016. Her then-boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, was convicted of first-degree murder and received life imprisonment. After serving nearly eight years of prison sentence, Gypsy Rose returned home and reconnected with her father, Rod Blanchard.
Who is Gypsy Rose’s father Rod Blanchard & where is he from?
Per Buzzfeed News, Rod Blanchard is from Golden Meadow, a town in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. He was 17 when Dee Dee, 24 at the time, became pregnant after the two dated while the former was still in high school. Given the circumstances, Rod got married to Dee Dee. However, on his 18th birthday, he realized he “wasn’t in love with her” and that he “got married for the wrong reasons.” Shortly after the two separated, Gypsy Rose was born on July 27, 1991. Rod then married his current wife, Kristy Blanchard, reported South China Morning Post. The pair went on to have two children.
People Magazine reported that despite the divorce, Rod remained a part of Gypsy Rose’s life during her childhood. However, the father-daughter became estranged as Gypsy Rose got older. It was due to Dee Dee controlling several aspects of her daughter’s life. Eventually, Gypsy Rose became a victim of Munchausen by proxy as her mother made her undergo medical treatments that the former didn’t need. Munchausen by proxy is a form of child abuse where the guardian makes their child ill to gain sympathy and attention.
According to People Magazine, Rod learned about the truth after Dee Dee’s death. He addressed his daughter’s crime in the HBO documentary Mommy Dead and Dearest. Rod admitted that what Gypsy did was “wrong.” However, he believed Dee Dee “asked for what she got.” The father-daughter repaired their relationship while Gypsy served her sentence.
Mommy Dead and Dearest is available to watch on the streaming platform Max.
