Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s Childhood House, Repainted Blue, Worries Neighbors 9 Years after Tragedy

• Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s former home, where her mother was tragically murdered, has since been repainted.
• Despite the new look, the house continues to attract unwelcome visitors, causing distress among neighbors.
• Nine years after the tragedy, the house remains a focal point of unwanted attention and concern in the Springfield, Missouri neighborhood.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard, the Missouri woman who conspired to kill her abusive mother, was released from prison in December 2023. She was granted parole three years before her original release date. Gypsy served nearly seven years of a ten-year sentence. Her case garnered widespread attention and sympathy.

Despite Gypsy’s release and attempts to move forward, her former home remains a point of fascination and distress. The house, now repainted, was the scene of Dee Dee Blanchard’s murder in 2015. This tragic history continues to attract visitors. The attention their former home receives disrupts the neighborhood and causes concern among residents.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s Story

Gypsy endured years of abuse at the hands of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, who had Munchausen syndrome by proxy. Dee Dee forced Gypsy to fake numerous illnesses. She made her believe she had leukemia and muscular dystrophy.

She even confined her to a wheelchair and subjected her to unnecessary medical treatments. Gypsy’s life was a series of doctors’ visits, surgeries, and isolation from the outside world.

She was fed through a feeding tube, had her hair shaved to mimic a chemotherapy patient, and had most of her teeth pulled. She was also homeschooled and spent years unaware of what her mother was doing. This went on for more than two decades until Gypsy could not take it anymore.

The tragic events culminated in June 2015, when she and her then-boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, conspired to kill Dee Dee. Godejohn fatally stabbed Dee Dee while Gypsy hid in the bathroom of their Springfield, Missouri home.

Prosecutors argued that Dee Dee’s psychological manipulation and abuse left Gypsy desperate to escape. Gypsy testified about her mother’s relentless control. She detailed how Dee Dee shaved her head, made her use a feeding tube, and pulled her teeth to maintain the illusion of sickness.

Media Attention and Public Fascination

The case quickly gained widespread media attention. The HBO documentary “Mommy Dead and Dearest,” provided an in-depth look at the abuse Gypsy suffered and the circumstances leading up to the murder.

The story was later dramatized in the award-winning Hulu series “The Act.” This series further amplified public interest in Gypsy’s life and the notorious events that transpired in their home. Quotes from Gypsy during interviews highlighted her remorse and regret for the actions she took.

“Nobody will ever hear me say I’m glad she’s dead or I’m proud of what I did. I regret it every single day,” Gypsy said. Despite this, she added, “She was a sick woman and unfortunately I wasn’t educated enough to see that. She deserved to be where I am, sitting in prison doing time for criminal behavior.”

Gypsy’s case resonated with many, shedding light on the severe impact of Munchausen syndrome by proxy. It showed the extreme lengths to which Dee Dee went to control her daughter.

This widespread fascination with Gypsy’s life has left a lasting impact on her former neighborhood. The house itself became a symbol of the tragic and disturbing history.

The house where Gypsy and her mother, Dee Dee, lived was initially built by Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building affordable housing.

The home was a candy pink color, fitted with a wheelchair ramp to accommodate Gypsy’s supposed mobility issues. Inside, the house was modified with various features to aid in Gypsy’s fake medical conditions, all part of Dee Dee’s elaborate deception.

The Blanchards received the house as part of a sympathy-driven effort, with Dee Dee falsely claiming they were victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The local community, believing Gypsy to be severely ill, supported the family through donations and special experiences. This included a trip to Disney World and a meet-and-greet with country singer Miranda Lambert through the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

After the tragic murder of Dee Dee in 2015, the house remained vacant for several years. It was eventually sold in August 2021 for $97,090. The new owners, a mother and daughter, moved in and made several changes to the property.

The most noticeable change was the repainting of the house from its original candy pink to a pastel blue. The wheelchair ramp, a stark reminder of Dee Dee’s deception, was also removed.

Despite these changes, the house’s dark history has not been forgotten. The new residents hoped to start fresh, but the house’s past continues to draw unwanted attention. The repainting, perhaps an attempt to deter the curiosity of passersby, but it has not been entirely successful.

The Unwanted Attention, Neighbors’ Concerns, and Community Impact

The house where Dee Dee was murdered continues to draw unwanted attention, much to the distress of the neighborhood’s residents. Since the tragic event, the property has become a magnet for tourists and true crime enthusiasts. But after Gypsy’s release from prison, the attention increased significantly.

Despite the new look of Gypsy’s former home, people frequently stop by. The house has become a notorious landmark, attracting visitors who stop to take photos and videos. This influx of outsiders has caused significant disruption in the otherwise quiet Springfield, Missouri neighborhood.

Neighbors report seeing out-of-state license plates as curious onlookers flock to the infamous house. They have reported a surge in traffic. Cars often stop in the middle of the road, creating hazards for locals.

Some visitors even trespass on the property, peering into windows and walking through the yard. This constant flow of curious onlookers has led to numerous complaints and a heightened sense of insecurity among the community members.

Gypsy herself has expressed her frustration over the attention her childhood home continues to receive. She once commented on a post featuring the house, saying, “Y’all have no respect and decency. A tragedy happened in that house yet y’all visit it as if it was the Grand Canyon.”

In response to the disturbances, the current homeowners have had to take steps to protect their privacy and safety. They filed for a letter of enforcement to deter trespassers after multiple incidents of trespassing and late-night disturbances.

The Greene County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that they had taken steps to address these concerns. However, the fascination with the house has proven difficult to quell.

Neighbors have voiced their concerns about the ongoing fascination with the case. “I just feel like people should move on and find something else. I don’t know what they’re doing idolizing it,” one resident commented.

Another neighbor added, “I feel like people coming to look at a house like that don’t have the best intentions.” Others voiced concerns for their children’s safety. They noted that people were not adhering to speed limits and often stopped abruptly for photos.

Some tourists, struggling to find the house due to its new paint color and the removal of the wheelchair ramp, have resorted to asking neighbors for directions. Tonia, one of the neighbors, confessed she once refused to provide details to protect the new mother-daughter duo living there.

The persistent interest in the house has left the community uneasy. One person who posted a video of the house used the word “scary” in one of her hashtags, further sensationalizing the home’s tragic history.

Despite efforts to move on, the neighborhood remains entangled in the aftermath of the events that took place there. Every update on Gypsy’s case reignites interest in the house, bringing more “strangers” to the neighborhood. The community remains hopeful that, in time, the fascination will fade, allowing them to return to their peaceful lives.

While her old neighborhood grapples with the shadows of the past, Gypsy Rose Blanchard is focused on building a brighter future. Since gaining her freedom, Gypsy has made significant strides toward a new beginning.

Gypsy’s New Life and Future

After her release from the Chillicothe Correctional Center last December, Gypsy started working towards a fresh start. She now lives with her boyfriend, Ken, and the couple is eagerly anticipating the arrival of their first child.

On July 9, 2024, Gypsy announced on Instagram, “We are proud to announce we are expecting our first child in January 2025.” She is determined to leave her tumultuous past behind and create a stable, loving environment for her child.

During an interview, she expressed her desire to be a good mother and her confidence in Ken as a supportive father. “I think that I’m going to be a good mother, and Ken would be a wonderful father,” she said.

Despite the continuous interest in her story, Gypsy remains focused on her future. She doesn’t want the past to define her and wants to live a peaceful life away from the public eye.

The Springfield neighborhood, meanwhile, continues to navigate the legacy of the Blanchard case. As residents call for privacy and normalcy, the community remains hopeful that, with time, the fascination will fade, allowing them to move on from the tragic history that has long overshadowed their lives.