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Munchausen by Proxy or Con Artist Mom?
From a forensic psychology perspective, the tragic story of Gypsy and Dee Blanchard (to be featured in an HBO documentary on May 15) is an extreme example of the ongoing tug of war between law and psychology. At age 18, for example, the legal system holds us individually responsible for what we do; psychology, on the other hand, argues that psychological captivity can be just as strong as imprisonment and the adverse effects of ongoing mistreatment don’t disappear just because we’ve earned the right to vote.
As you read this story, see where your beliefs lead you. Why do you think Dee Dee did what she did? How much did Gypsy know? Was Gypsy a casualty in her mother’s scams or at some point, did she become a confederate?
The Alarm is Raised
“That Bitch is dead.” Those words appeared on Claudinea “Dee Dee” Blanchard’s Facebook page shortly after noon on June 15, 2015. A short time later, an even more graphic post appeared; “I FUCKEN SLASHED THAT FAT PIG AND RAPED HER SWEET INNOCENT DAUGHTER . . . HER SCREAM WAS SOOO FUCKEN LOUD LOL!” Friends and neighbors of the 48-year-old mother and 19-year-old disabled daughter quickly sprang into action; by 1:00 p.m., the police had been called and neighbors began collecting on Dee Dee’s front lawn.