Residents of the Springfield, Mo. neighbourhood where the infamous Blanchard murder took place are voicing their concerns over the increasing disturbance caused by the attention drawn to the former residence of Gypsy Rose Blanchard.
Resident Tonia reported that the house where Clauddine “Dee Dee” Blanchard was murdered frequently attracts out-of-state vehicles and tourists, causing disruptions in the neighbourhood. The recent change in the house’s colour from pink to blue has only added to the confusion, with tourists often approaching neighbours to confirm the location. Tonia, respecting the privacy of the new mother-daughter occupants, refrains from sharing details about the current residents.
Another neighbour, Thomas Pengilly, expressed his worry about visitors with potentially harmful intentions. He finds the situation stressful for the community and suggests that the house should be demolished due to its traumatic history. Sam Baker, a third resident, highlighted the inconvenience caused by the tourist traffic, particularly concerning the safety of children playing in the street.
Background of the Blanchard Case
Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who was incarcerated for orchestrating her mother’s murder in June 2015, and her mother Claudine had not resided in the house since the incident. The murder was a response to the abuse Gypsy suffered under her mother’s Munchausen by proxy syndrome. Initially provided by Habitat for Humanity, the property was later overseen by Greene County Public Administrator David Yancey to protect it from risks after it was vacated.
The property’s value in 2015 was approximately $72,500, but its current worth is uncertain due to its notoriety. Gypsy Rose, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for second-degree murder in 2016, was released on parole in December 2023 and now resides in Louisiana with her husband, Ryan Scott Anderson.
