NEED TO KNOW
- As she completed her parole, Gypsy-Rose Blanchard took to Instagram to reflect on her life and to offer one final apology for her role in the 2015 death of her mother Dee Dee Blanchard
- “This next chapter is one of healing. Of growth. Of reclaiming my life,” Blanchard vowed
- She also took aim at her ex Nicholas Godejohn, who was found guilty of first-degree murder in Dee Dee’s death and is serving a life sentence for the charge
Gypsy-Rose Blanchard has opened up about taking accountability and moving forward from her role in the death of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard.
The 33-year-old took to Instagram on Wednesday, June 25, to share a lengthy post with the caption, “Breaking my silence,” as she completed parole after pleading guilty to second-degree murder charges related to the 2015 death of her mother.
Blanchard was released from prison in December 2023, after serving eight years of her 10-year sentence, and her parole ended on June 24, 2025.
“I’ve taken accountability and now, I take back my life. When I accepted my sentence, I accepted the weight of my choices. I served my time. That was my accountability and I’ve carried it for years. I don’t owe the past anything more,” Blanchard wrote in the clip.
She vowed that “next chapter” of her life would be “one of healing. Of growth. Of reclaiming my life.”
“This is freedom. And I’m moving forward with clarity, peace, and self-forgiveness. The Justice system has decided. The case is closed. This is justice for Dee Dee, as well as myself, who the system failed all my life,” she wrote, adding, “Justice was served and so was my time.”
Blanchard also took aim at her ex-boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn, who was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of first-degree murder in Dee Dee’s death in 2018, and called him “deeply disturbed.”
“Yes, he is a deeply disturbed man. But he also knew the difference between right and wrong. Regardless of my role of unintentional manipulation … Nicholas made the decision to move forward with that night. That was a choice, and he is not exempt from the consequences of that choice.”
In June 2015, Godejohn stabbed Dee Dee to death while Blanchard, whom he was then dating, hid in a bathroom. His attorneys had argued that he was manipulated by Blanchard, a victim of Munchausen by proxy, to kill her mom and should have his charges reduced to second-degree murder, according to The Springfield News-Leader.
Blanchard was put in a wheelchair despite being able to walk, forced to take medications she didn’t need and had her head shaved in an effort to convince loved ones and the community that she was suffering from muscular dystrophy, leukemia and other ailments.
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“His diagnosis of Autism/Asperger’s does not excuse what he did. Mental health is complex, but accountability matters and no one is above the law. His fate was decided by a panel of judges, prosecutors, lawyers and 12 jury members who reviewed the same evidence circulating online. His efforts of appeals have all been unsuccessful, each court agreeing with the original conviction,” Blanchard continued.
“I will not carry his actions on my shoulders any longer. I’ve taken responsibility for mine,” she declared.
During his trial, two Springfield psychologists told the court they had diagnosed Godejohn with autism, per The Springfield News-Leader. While Dr. Kent Franks, who testified in Godejohn’s defense, concluded that Godejohn has autism spectrum disorder level 2 requiring substantial support with accompanying intellectual impairment, Robert Denney, who prosecutors called as a rebuttal witness, said after an examination he had diagnosed Godejohn with autism spectrum disorder level 1.
Godejohn is currently serving his sentence at the Potosi Correctional Center in Missouri, per The Springfield News-Leader. In August 2022, he appeared in a Greene County courtroom asking to set aside his previous conviction and order a new trial on the grounds that he had ineffective counsel in his trial, according to The Springfield News-Leader. The following year, in March 2023, his motion to vacate, set aside, or correct judgment and sentence was denied, local media outlet KY3 reported.
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Blanchard also accused Godejohn of “a disturbing pattern targeting vulnerable women with past trauma and pulling them into his twisted fantasy world.”
“He presents himself as a dominant figure, seeking control and obedience, manipulating these women under the guise of love and loyalty,” she claimed.
She described an alleged relationship that Godejohn had with a woman named Dawn Bowker while he has been in prison. Blanchard claimed that they started as pen pals before their relationship turned romantic and dark.
“Thankfully, like others who came after her, Dawn eventually found the strength to walk away to save herself before she lost her identity, like I once did,” she wrote, saying, “This isn’t new behavior” from Godejohn.
“He is a man on a relentless search for his ‘perfect submissive’ someone to carry out his darkest desires, even from behind bars,” she believes. “But the truth is, more and more women are seeing through the mask and choosing to escape. They’re not his victims. They’re survivors.”
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Blanchard then shared a string of alleged messages between Dawn and Godejohn, which she said were being shared with Dawn’s permission.
In one alleged message sent in June 2019, Godejohn told Dawn that he had “regret” that she met his alter ego “Nickoli,” saying that he “directed the Rage towards you of all people.”
PEOPLE has reached out to an attorney for Godejohn for comment.
Now that parole is over, Blanchard said that she continues to think of Dee Dee’s family.
“I am deeply remorseful for the pain and heartbreak my actions have caused them. I recognize that nothing I can say can undo the trauma or bring Dee Dee back. But from the depths of my heart, I will continue to express my sincerest apologies to them, now and always,” she wrote.
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The reality TV star went on to thank everyone who has supported her, as well her doubters and naysayers.
“Because you lit a fire in me. You gave me the drive to prove you wrong. And guess what? I did,” she wrote. “Against the odds, against the noise, I stood strong. I stayed true. I kept pushing forward and now, I’m just getting started.”
She added, “You said I’d fail. But instead… I’m rising. I’m about to show you what living my best life really looks like. And all you can do now…is watch me.”
Blanchard signed off with the following hashtags: #StillStanding #Unstoppable #WatchMeRise
Speaking to PEOPLE in 2023, Blanchard revealed that she is not allowed any contact with Godejohn, saying that she didn’t want it anyway.
“I feel responsible for putting him in this situation. However, the acts [to] commit murder was on him as well. I mean, everybody has a choice, and he went through with his, and so he’s paying his sentence. I paid mine, and that’s my thoughts on it,” she said.
PEOPLE reached out to Godejohn’s lawyer and Dawn for comment, but did not immediately hear back.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
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