Rod Blanchard is the father of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, a woman who conspired to kill her abusive mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, in 2015. Blanchard was a victim of Dee Dee’s deception and manipulation, as she lied to him about Gypsy’s health and age for years. He is now a supportive and loving father to Gypsy, who was released from prison in 2023 after serving eight years of a 10-year sentence.
Early Life and Marriage to Dee Dee
Rod was born in Louisiana in the early 1970s. He met Dee Dee Pitre when he was 17 and she was 24. They had a brief relationship, during which Dee Dee became pregnant with Gypsy. Rod decided to marry Dee Dee, but soon realized that he had made a mistake. He said in an interview with Buzzfeed: “I woke up on my birthday, on my 18th birthday, and realized I wasn’t where I was supposed to be. I wasn’t in love with her, really. I knew I got married for the wrong reasons.”
Rod and Dee Dee separated shortly after Gypsy was born in 1991. Dee Dee tried to save the marriage, but Rod was adamant about getting a divorce. He said that he felt guilty for leaving Dee Dee and Gypsy, but he also felt that Dee Dee was controlling and manipulative. He said that she would call him and tell him that Gypsy was sick or in the hospital and that he needed to send money for her medical bills. Rod said that he trusted Dee Dee and believed that Gypsy was ill. He paid child support and tried to stay in touch with his daughter, but Dee Dee made it difficult for him to see her or talk to her.
Rod Blanchard Wiki/Bio
| Name | Rod Blanchard |
| Birth Date | Early 1970s |
| Birth Place | Louisiana, U.S. |
| Occupation | Truck Driver |
| Spouse | Kristy Blanchard (current) Dee Dee Blanchard (former) |
| Children | Gypsy Rose Blanchard (with Dee Dee) Bobby Blanchard and Mikey Blanchard (with Kristy) |
| Parents | Bobby Blanchard and Bessie Blanchard |
| Siblings | Lisa Blanchard and Lori Blanchard |
| Net Worth | $3 million (estimated) |
| rodblanchard | |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
Dee Dee’s Web of Lies and Abuse
Dee Dee Blanchard was diagnosed with a factitious disorder imposed on another, a mental disorder in which a person fabricates or induces illness in someone under their care to gain sympathy or attention. She made Gypsy pass herself off as younger and disabled and subjected her to unnecessary surgeries, medications, and treatments. She also isolated Gypsy from the outside world and controlled her through physical and psychological abuse. She moved from Louisiana to Missouri in 2005, after Hurricane Katrina, and received donations and assistance from various charities and organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity, Ronald McDonald House, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Rod was unaware of the extent of Dee Dee’s lies and abuse. He said that he noticed some strange behavior from Dee Dee, such as telling him not to tell Gypsy her real age or making her unavailable for his visits. He said that he felt that Dee Dee was preparing Gypsy for something, but he did not know what. He said that he was also confused by Gypsy’s appearance and voice, which did not match her age. He said that he thought that Gypsy was mentally disabled, as Dee Dee had told him, and that he did not want to upset her or hurt her feelings.
Physical Stats
| Height (approx.) | In Feet Inches: 5′ 7″. In Meters: 1.7 m. In Centimetres: 170 cm. |
| Weight (approx.) | In Kilograms: 60 kg. In Pounds: 132 lbs. |
| Eye Color | Black. |
| Hair Color | Black. |
Gypsy’s Escape and Murder of Dee Dee
Gypsy Rose Blanchard grew up believing that she was sick and disabled, but she also became curious about the outside world. She secretly created a dating profile and met Nicholas Godejohn, a man from Wisconsin, online. They started a romantic relationship, and Gypsy confided in him about her mother’s abuse. She also discovered that she was older than she thought and that she could walk without a wheelchair. She decided that she wanted to escape from her mother, and asked Godejohn to help her. She said in an interview with ABC News: “I wanted to be free of her hold on me. I talked him into it.”
On June 14, 2015, Godejohn stabbed Dee Dee Blanchard to death with a knife that Gypsy had given him. They then fled the scene and took a bus to Wisconsin, where Godejohn lived. They posted a message on Dee Dee and Gypsy’s shared Facebook account, saying: “That Bitch is dead!” This alerted the neighbors and the police, who found Dee Dee’s body in her house. They also traced the IP address of the post and located Gypsy and Godejohn in Wisconsin. They were arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
Trial and Sentencing
Gypsy Rose Blanchard accepted a plea deal with the prosecutors, and pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. She was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with the possibility of parole after eight years. She said that she regretted her involvement in the murder and that she wished she had tried to escape differently. She said in an interview with Dr. Phil: “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.”
Nicholas Godejohn was found guilty of first-degree murder and armed criminal action. He was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, plus 25 years. He said that he loved Gypsy and that he did what she asked him to do. He also said that he suffered from autism spectrum disorder and that he had difficulty understanding the consequences of his actions.
Career
Rod Blanchard works as a truck driver in Louisiana. He has been in this profession for over 20 years and enjoys traveling and meeting new people. He said in an interview with People Magazine: “I love my job. I get to see different places and different things. It’s a good way to make a living.”
Blanchard also runs a YouTube channel with his wife Kristy, where they post videos of their family life, their travels, and their support for Gypsy. The channel has over 2,000 subscribers and more than 100,000 views. He said in a video: “We just want to share our story with you guys, and let you know what’s going on with us and Gypsy. We hope you enjoy our videos and subscribe to our channel.”
Net Worth and Income Sources
According to various online sources, Rod Blanchard’s estimated net worth is around $3 million. His main source of income is his truck driving career, which pays him an average salary of $60,000 per year. He also earns some money from his YouTube channel, which generates about $200 per month from ads and donations.
Rod Blanchard also receives some financial assistance from charities and organizations that support Gypsy and her case. For example, he received $10,000 from the Aleah Foundation, a nonprofit that helps victims of abuse and violence. He said in an interview with Fox News: “We’re very grateful for the help we get. It’s not easy to pay for all the expenses that come with Gypsy’s situation. We appreciate every dollar and every prayer.”
Parents and Siblings
Rod Blanchard was born in Louisiana in the early 1970s. His parents are Bobby and Bessie Blanchard, who are retired and live in a small town near New Orleans. He has two older sisters, Lisa and Lori, who are married and have children of their own. He said in an interview with Buzzfeed: “I have a good family. They’re very supportive and loving. They always stand by me and Gypsy.”
Blanchard’s parents and siblings were also victims of Dee Dee’s deception and manipulation. They believed that Gypsy was sick and disabled and that Dee Dee was a devoted mother who cared for her. They were shocked and saddened by the murder of Dee Dee and the revelation of Gypsy’s true condition. They said in an interview with ABC News: “We were fooled. We were lied to. We had no idea what was going on. We feel sorry for Gypsy and what she went through. We love her and we forgive her.”
Relationship with Gypsy
Rod was shocked and saddened by the murder of Dee Dee and the revelation of Gypsy’s true condition. He said that he felt betrayed by Dee Dee and that he wished he had known the truth sooner. He said that he blamed himself for not being more involved in Gypsy’s life and that he wanted to make up for the lost time. He said in an interview with Fox News: “I think Dee Dee’s problem was she started a web of lies, and there was no escaping after. She got so wound up in it, it was like a tornado got started, and then once she was in so deep that there was no escaping.”
Blanchard became a supportive and loving father to Gypsy and visited her regularly in prison. He said that he was proud of Gypsy for surviving the abuse and for turning her life around. He said that he saw a positive change in Gypsy and that he hoped she would have a bright future. He said in an interview with People Magazine: “She’s 32 years old, but mentally she’s still 14 in some aspects. But she’s doing remarkable. She’s thriving. She’s taking classes, she’s getting her GED, she’s going to school, she’s just doing a lot of things that she’s never been able to do.”
Rod Blanchard also started a petition on Change.org, seeking to have Gypsy released early from prison. He said that he believed that Gypsy deserved a second chance and that she needed to be relocated to a mental facility where she could get better help. He said that he had a home ready for Gypsy and that he would take care of her. He said in the petition: “I have always tried to be the best father I could, but Dee Dee always kept my relationship with Gypsy very limited. I always provided financial and moral support to them even after Gypsy turned 18 I continued to pay $1,200 a month in child support payments because I was convinced that Gypsy was disabled and Dee Dee spent all of her time caring for Gypsy.”
The petition received more than 56,000 signatures, and Gypsy was released from prison on December 28, 2023, after serving eight years of her sentence. Rod Blanchard was waiting for her outside the prison and hugged her as she walked out. He said that he was overjoyed to see his daughter free and that he looked forward to spending time with her. He said in an interview with NBC News: “It’s a miracle. It’s a blessing. It’s a dream come true. I’m just so happy to have her back. She’s my little girl.”
Personal Life and Social Media
Rod is currently married to Kristy Blanchard, who is Gypsy’s stepmother. They have two sons, Bobby and Mikey, who are Gypsy’s half-brothers. They live in Louisiana, where Rod works as a truck driver. Rod Blanchard is active on social media, and often posts photos and videos of his family and friends. He also shares updates on Gypsy’s life and progress and expresses his love and support for her. He has an Instagram account with the username @rodblanchard,
