On the morning of Dec. 28, 32-year-old Gypsy Rose Blanchard walked out of a budget hotel in Missouri and took her first steps toward freedom.
Next to her is her husband, whom she married in prison, and the two are embarking on a new journey. You may have heard the name Gypsy in the TV series "The Act", and yes, the story of Gypsy is the prototype of this TV series.
Imagine what you would do if you were forced to feign illness as a child, trapped in a wheelchair, deprived of a normal childhood and youth? This is exactly the story of Gypsy, who, in revenge, plotted to kill her mother who abused her.
In June 2015, Gypsy killed his mother, Claudine. Claudine 'Dee Dee' Blanchard was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Although he committed the crime of killing his mother, Gypsy received the support and sympathy of many people. On December 28, she was allowed to be released from prison early and start a new life.
From an early age, Gypsy was controlled by his mother, Didi, who claimed that Gypsy suffered from a range of ailments – epilepsy, asthma, sleep apnea, hearing and vision problems, and more.
Gypsy usually goes out in a wheelchair and wears a wig, doesn't it sound scary?
Didi, on the other hand, cares for her daughter meticulously, works hard every day, and does her best.
From the perspective of outsiders, Didi is simply a model mother, and it can be said that she is quite great for her daughter to be able to do this. But in fact, it's all Didi's lie.
Dee Dee has a mental illness called surrogate Munchausen syndrome, and in order to gain sympathy and attention from others, she fabricates her daughter's illness.
Gypsy's life was like captivity, she was forced to use a wheelchair, her hair shaved, and even fed through a feeding tube. She was tightly controlled by Didi and almost isolated from the world, and could only be educated at home.
However, all this is an illusion, she is actually a healthy girl.
Sadly, their stories have also captured the attention of charities. They even received a wheelchair and an accessible house as a gift, went to Disneyland, and met country singer Miranda Lambert.
But as Gypsy grows older, she finally realizes the truth. She began to question her mother's words and learn about the outside world through the Internet. She found out that she was not sick and that it was all a lie from her mother. She longs for freedom and for a normal life.
So, in June 2015, a tragedy struck. Gypsy and her online boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, conspired to kill Deedie.
While Gypsy was hiding in the bathroom, Nicholas stabbed her mother to death. The case shocked the nation, and Gypsy and Nicholas were sentenced to 10 years and life in prison, respectively.
But you know what? This story has aroused widespread sympathy. Everyone is thinking that a girl who was abused and forced to pretend to be sick ended up on this path, which can't help but make people think deeply.
In prison, Gypsy found his new life. She grew her hair and stopped taking unnecessary medications. What's even more amazing is that she meets love through a pen pal project. Her story has even been adapted into a TV series and documentary.
Gypsy once said in an interview that she regretted her mother's death. "No one will hear me say I'm glad she's dead, or I'm proud of what I've done," she said. I regret it every day. ”
Now that Gypsy has been released from prison, facing a free life in the future, Gypsy is full of hope. Gypsy once said she was moving to a big city where she could integrate like everyone else and get a job at Walmart.
Gypsy and her husband's first stop after driving away was the Off Broadway shoe store in Liberty City, just outside Kansas City, where her husband bought Gypsy two new pairs of sneakers, which made her happy.
Recently, the media "TMZ" interviewed Gypsy and learned that Gypsy was a huge fan of Taylor Swift. In order to meet her idol, Gypsy revealed that her husband had purchased tickets for Taylor Swift's boyfriend Travis Kelce's football game on December 31, three days after she was released from prison.
At that time, she will go to the ball game with her husband, and she hopes to meet her idol in the game. In October 2024, she will also go to New Orleans to see Taylor Swift's concert.
The Gypsy story teaches us that life is really more dramatic than movies at times. It reminds us that the surface we see may hide complexities and pains that we can't imagine.
Now, Gypsy is finally free. Despite the pain and confusion of her past, her future remains promising. We hope that Gypsy can find her own peace and happiness and start her life again.