If you haven't yet watched the HBO documentary Mommy Dead And Dearest, you're missing out on a chilling true-crime documentary that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Although plenty of shocking details were revealed throughout the movie, there are still several questions left unanswered about the life of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for allegedly conspiring in the brutal stabbing of her mother, Clauddine "Dee Dee" Blanchard.
Just to give you a quick summary: Dee Dee and Gypsy’s disturbing tale is one that sheds light on the topics of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy and alleged child abuse. In this case, Dee Dee managed to allegedly manipulate friends, family, and doctors into believing that her daughter Gypsy was afflicted with various illnesses, as she gained money and gifts out of sympathy. After years of living trapped under her mother's rule, Gypsy hatched a plan to kill Dee Dee, along with the help of her boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, whom she met online.
Despite the intricate information explained through the testimony of various family and friends, along with Gypsy's chilling account of the alleged abuse that took place at the hands of her mother, there are still puzzling details that have continued to leave viewers, like myself, a bit curious about the shocking events in Mommy Dead And Dearest.
1. Why did Gypsy's doctors accept Dee Dee’s homemade medical records?
Although Dee Dee claimed that Gypsy's medical records were lost in Hurricane Katrina, it still seems strange that medical professionals allowed Dee Dee to present her own typed up version of her daughter's various diagnoses. It's also amazing that Dee Dee dodged being caught, despite one doctor's documented speculation that Gypsy was a victim of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy.
2. How did Gypsy get the money she used to run away with Nicholas?
According to the documentary, Gypsy and her unemployed mother got by with the help of donations from strangers, so it's interesting that Gypsy would manage to get her hands on so much cash.
3. Why did Gypsy and Nicholas ship the alleged murder weapon to his parents’ house?
Yup, they reportedly shipped the knife allegedly used to kill Dee Dee in the regular mail.
4. How did Gypsy manage to have a Facebook account and online dating profile?
Gypsy had a secret Facebook page, where she communicated with her boyfriend, who she met on an online dating site. It makes me wonder how this digital presence was able to occur right under Dee Dee's nose without her ever finding out, given how strict she was.
5. How did absolutely no one see any signs that Gypsy was being mistreated?
It was revealed that one of Gypsy's aunts was aware that the girl could, in fact, walk on her own. But it would seem that others should have taken notice that things weren't right with the situation.
6. Why wasn't Dee Dee reported as a suspect in her own mother's death?
According to the documentary, there was speculation that Dee Dee could've been responsible for her mother's death by starvation. It's also stated that Dee Dee allegedly attempted to kill her stepmother by poisoning her, among other accusations of criminal activity. But why didn't those accusations get brought to the police?
7. Why did Gypsy continue to not walk when she knew that she could?
There's a point in the documentary in which Gypsy reveals that she knew she could walk, so it's unclear why she continued going along with her mother's scheme.
8. At what age did Gypsy realize she wasn't actually ill?
Gypsy was treated as a sick person since she was a young child. So when did she realize that she wasn't actually ill? Or did she not actually realize?
9. Is Gypsy remorseful about her mother's death?
Although Gypsy revealed that she felt "newly born" and was glad that she had a chance to "start over" after her mother's death, a recent Refinery29 interview with Mommy Dead and Dearest director, Erin Lee Carr, gives more detail on Gypsy's feelings. Carr revealed,
“She misses her mom, they were best friends for a big portion of her life, you know. It was an impossible thing to deal with because they were best friends, and then any time that Gypsy tried to gain a semblance of autonomy — getting a friend, having a play date, having a phone, a cheap phone — her mom got increasingly possessive ... She doesn’t know how to feel about her mom. She still doesn’t.”
10. Why did Gypsy feel that her mother dying was the only way out?
Why was murder the only option? Could Gypsy have just run away or tried to tell her father, grandparents, or one of her doctors what was going on?
11. What are Gypsy's plans after her release?
Gypsy Rose was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to serve 10 years in prison. She will become eligible for parole in 2024 at the age of 32, and there's no telling what her state of mind will be like after she finishes serving her time.
