Gypsy Rose Blanchard: Freed from prison and her mother's manipulative hold, flaunts 'first selfie in freedom'

Blanchard spent many years under the care of her controlling mother, Dee Dee, who convinced her that she was ill, confined her to a wheelchair, and cut her off from the outside world.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard has stated that she doesn't regret convincing her boyfriend to kill her mother. "- If I had a choice between staying in prison or going back with my mom, I would choose prison. I may not be free, but I have freed myself from violence, repeated operations, and pain. And now I can eat to my heart's content," said Gypsy in the documentary "Dear Mommy ...".

On June 14, 2015, police officers made a terrifying discovery in a house located on the outskirts of Springfield, Missouri. It was there that they found the lifeless body of 48-year-old Dee Dee Blanchard, covered with multiple injuries and lying in a pool of blood.

The murderer turned out to be Gypsy's boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, whom she met on a dating site in 2013. Their relationship began online as Gypsy sought to escape her mother's isolation. It was then that she coerced Nicholas into murdering Dee Dee.

After executing the heinous act, the couple fled to Wisconsin, where Godejohn resided. It was here the police apprehended them.

Their crime was not without repercussions. Gypsy received a ten-year sentence for second-degree murder, while Godejohn is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

Morally assessing their actions is complex. "Things are not always what they seem," Sheriff Jim Arnott stated in 2015 about the murder case involving Dee Dee Blanchard.

For many years, Dee Dee psychologically manipulated her daughter, convincing her that she was disabled and required constant medical care. She also duped those around her into believing that Gypsy suffered from multiple illnesses, lying to doctors about conditions like leukemia, epilepsy, vision disorders, and muscular dystrophy.

Consequently, Gypsy was confined to a wheelchair and fitted with a feeding tube. She later discerned her mother's deceptions, discovering that she could walk independently and didn't suffer any health problems. The pent-up frustration and sense of hopelessness fostered over the years drove her to commit the worst crime imaginable.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard was released early, having served seven years of her ten-year sentence at the Chillicothe Correctional Center in Missouri.

"First selfie in freedom!" she captioned her photo. Her social media profile has rapidly gained popularity - attracting several hundred thousand new followers within a few hours and boasting over 1.7 million followers.

"I went to sleep, and you had 112 thousand followers, and now you have a million; that's queen status,” one internet user commented.

Many have expressed their support for Gypsy. "I'm glad you're out of prison. You look beautiful"; "Queen"; "You look dazzling, girl"; "I hope you're safe and having a great time"; "You look happier; I'm so proud and excited for your new life" - these are just a few examples of the comments under the newly released 32-year-old's most recent photo.