The Case | In Brief
Severed explores the term, role, and detrimental effects of Munchausen Syndrome/Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy which is the basis of the Gypsy Rose Blanchard case.
Digital Resources
Manual: DSM-5 (via Internet Archive)
Article: “Falsifying an Illness: What Is Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy” by Hope Gillette (and medically reviewed by Vara Saripalli, Psy.D.; PsychCentral.com)
Article: “The Story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Her Mother” by Sara Kettler (Biography.com)
Article: “Everything You Need To Know About the Gypsy Rose Blanchard Case” by Benjamin Bullard (Oxygen True Crime)
Article: “A Complete Timeline of Dee Dee Blanchard’s Murder and Gypsy Blanchard’s Trial” by Emma Dibdin (HarpersBazaar.com)
Documentary: Munchausen Moms (2006 | Freevee)
Documentary: Mommy Dead and Dearest (2017 | HBO)
Documentary: Gypsy’s Revenge (2018 | DiscoveryPlus)
TV Series: The Act (2019 | HULU)
Severing The Case | NJ Urban Legends Episode
In this fifth episode of Severed: True Crime, Drew Hudson pens the 7-minute story that creatively reimagines Gypsy Rose Blanchard as a beleaguered protagonist in a fairytale. Harry composes original background music for the story. Harry and Drew contextualize Blanchard's life, within the controlling and abusive grip of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard. The podcast duo explore the documentary Munchausen Moms (2007) and discuss the (conventional and otherwise) role of mothers, gender roles/expectations, and the role/participation of the medical community in Munchausen/child abuse cases. The episode focuses on Gypsy Rose's role in her mother's death, as proxy, perpetrator, and prisoner no more, as she served an eight out of a ten-year prison sentence. Harry discusses his thoughts about The Act (2019) series on HULU.
What Inspired Severed to Cover This Case?
Drew: All episodes are thematically linked by location and/or subject matter. Having completed the Richard Kuklinski and Robert Prongay case, it made sense to follow-up with another challenging case involving child abuse, neglect, and murder. Harry and I explored the materially, psychologically, and physiologically devastating consequences of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy/child abuse.
Show Notes
Article: “The Story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Her Mother” by Sara Kettler (Biography.com)
Article: “How A Young Woman Forced To Use A Wheelchair, Treated For Several Illnesses Ended up In Prison For Her Mother’s Murder” by ABC News (ABCNews.Go.com)
Article: “Everything You Need To Know About the Gypsy Rose Blanchard Case” by Benjamin Bullard (Oxygen True Crime)
Article: “‘You’ll Enjoy It’: Couple’s Sexts Over Alleged Murder Plot Revealed in ‘Mommy Dead and Dearest’ Trial” by Gina Tron (Oxygen True Crime)
Article: “A Complete Timeline of Dee Dee Blanchard’s Murder and Gypsy Blanchard’s Trial” by Emma Dibdin (HarpersBazaar.com)
Article: “Munchausen Expert Says Gypsy Blanchard Case Is Unprecedented” by Harrison Keegan (Springfield News-Leader; news-leader.com)
Article: “Gypsy and Godejohn’s Intimate Text Messages Shown to Jury” by Harrison Keegan and Giacomo Bologna (Springfield News-Leader; news-leader.com)
Article: “Why Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy Is Having a Moment on TV” by Mahita Gajanan (time.com)
Article: “Falsifying an Illness: What Is Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy” by Hope Gillette (and medically reviewed by Vara Saripalli, Psy.D.; PsychCentral.com)
Article: “The Facts About Munchausen by Proxy Syndrome” published by Newport Academy (newportacademy.com)
Article: “Munchausen’s Rose in the Case of Boys’ Death Unknown” by Jonathan Bandler (usatoday.com)
Journal Article: “Munchausen Syndrome By Proxy: Another Women’s Disorder?” Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 22(4), 285-290.
Journal Article: “Striving to Die: Medical, Legal, and Ethical Dilemmas Behind Factitious Disorder” Cureus, 13(2): e13243.
Manual: DSM-5 (via Internet Archive)
Documentary: Mommy Dead and Dearest (2017 | HBO)
Documentary: Gypsy’s Revenge (2018 | DiscoveryPlus)
Documentary: Munchausen Moms (2006 | Freevee)
TV Series: The Act (2019 | HULU)
YouTube Channel: A&E | Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s Infamous Revenge Against Momma (S1, E6) | Killer Cases
Instagram: @gypsyrose_a_Blanchard
