Nicholas Godejohn: The Man Who Killed Dee Dee Blanchard for Gypsy Rose

Nicholas Godejohn is an American criminal who became infamous for the 2015 murder of Clauddine “Dee Dee” Blanchard, a crime that captivated the nation and exposed a twisted tale of abuse, manipulation, and blind love. He was the boyfriend of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who had been subjected to years of medical abuse by her mother through Munchausen syndrome by proxy.

Godejohn, who was 26 at the time, stabbed Dee Dee to death in her Missouri home at Gypsy’s request, believing he was helping his girlfriend escape a life of captivity. The case became the subject of the Hulu series The Act and numerous documentaries. While Gypsy Rose pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was released from prison in 2023, Godejohn received a much harsher sentence: life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Table of Contents

• Quick Bio Table

• Who Is Nicholas Godejohn?

• Early Life & Childhood

• Age & Birthday

• Parents & Family Background

• Education

• The 2013 Indecent Exposure Incident

• Relationship with Gypsy Rose Blanchard

• The Murder of Dee Dee Blanchard

• The Trial

• The Sentence

• Prison Life and Appeals

• Where Is Nicholas Godejohn Now?

• Personal Life

• Height & Physical Appearance

• Net Worth & Income Sources

• Social Media Presence

• Interesting Facts

• Current Life & Recent Updates

• Public Image & Legacy

• Why People Search for Nicholas Godejohn

• Common Misconceptions

• Final Thoughts

• FAQ Section

Quick Bio Table

Who Is Nicholas Godejohn?

Nicholas Godejohn is a convicted murderer from Big Bend, Wisconsin, who gained notoriety for the 2015 killing of Clauddine “Dee Dee” Blanchard. He was the boyfriend of Dee Dee’s daughter, Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who had been the victim of years of abuse and unnecessary medical treatments at the hands of her mother. 

Godejohn and Gypsy met online on a Christian dating website in 2012.  Their relationship evolved from an online romance into a deadly conspiracy. Godejohn traveled from Wisconsin to Missouri in June 2015, where he carried out the stabbing murder of Dee Dee at Gypsy’s request. He was convicted of first-degree murder and armed criminal action and is currently serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. 

Early Life & Childhood

Nicholas Godejohn was born on May 20, 1989, in Big Bend, Wisconsin.  He was raised by his parents, Bobby Godejohn and Stephanie Goldammer.  His mother later married Charles Goldammer, who became his stepfather. 

Not much is publicly known about his early childhood, but he was described as a “loner” with autism spectrum disorder and a low-average IQ by a psychologist who evaluated him.  His attorneys argued that his autism made him unable to formulate the deliberation necessary for first-degree murder. 

He reportedly grew up without much affection from women, a factor he cited during his sentencing as contributing to his deep attachment to Gypsy. 

Age & Birthday

Nicholas Godejohn was born on May 20, 1989.  As of 2026, he is 37 years old. He was 26 at the time of the murder and 29 when he was sentenced. 

Parents & Family Background

Nicholas Godejohn’s parents are Bobby Godejohn (father) and Stephanie Goldammer (mother).  His mother later married Charles Goldammer, who became his stepfather. 

His parents were shocked by their son’s conviction.  His mother, Stephanie, told police that she knew her son was “madly in love” with Gypsy but could not comprehend him committing murder.  She died on June 13, 2021, at the age of 52. 

His father, Bobby, has said that his mind was “rewired to think differently” after his son’s sentencing and that he felt “lost.”  He also expressed compassion for Gypsy but believed she manipulated Nicholas. 

Education

Nicholas Godejohn completed high school in Wisconsin.  There is no publicly available information about whether he pursued higher education.

The 2013 Indecent Exposure Incident

Two years before the murder, in 2013, Godejohn was apprehended for a disturbing incident at a local McDonald’s in Wisconsin.  He spent nine hours at the fast-food restaurant viewing explicit content and masturbating.  He was also found to possess a dangerous weapon, resulting in charges of carrying a concealed weapon and disorderly conduct. 

This prior incident resurfaced during his murder trial, providing prosecutors with additional context about his character. 

Relationship with Gypsy Rose Blanchard

Meeting Online

Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Nicholas Godejohn met in 2012 on a Christian dating website.  At the time, Gypsy was living with her mother, Dee Dee, who controlled every aspect of her life, forcing her to use a wheelchair and undergo unnecessary medical treatments. 

Their relationship was primarily conducted online through messaging and secret phone calls for about three years.  Gypsy has since said that Godejohn “exposed me to a lot of sexually perverse things and ideas.” 

The Plan to Kill Dee Dee

As Gypsy’s desire to escape her mother grew, she and Godejohn began discussing the possibility of her moving to Wisconsin to be with him.  Eventually, they began discussing Dee Dee’s murder. Gypsy testified that she felt murder was the only certain way to escape her mother, but she was too “squeamish” to carry out the act herself. 

They considered various methods, including poison, arson, and a gun, before settling on stabbing.  Godejohn, who had no prior history of violence, claimed he acted out of “blind love” for Gypsy. 

The Murder of Dee Dee Blanchard

The Crime

On June 10, 2015, Godejohn took a Greyhound bus from Wisconsin to Springfield, Missouri, with money Gypsy had stolen from her mother.  In the middle of the night, he entered the Blanchard home on Volunteer Way just north of Springfield. 

While Gypsy hid in the bathroom, Godejohn stabbed 48-year-old Dee Dee Blanchard to death in her bed.  According to Gypsy, Dee Dee asked Godejohn, “Who are you?” He responded, “I am death.” 

The Aftermath

After the murder, Godejohn and Gypsy fled the scene with $4,000 in stolen money.  They checked into a Days Inn outside Springfield and then traveled by bus to Godejohn’s family home in Wisconsin.  They left behind an overwhelming trail of evidence, including text messages planning the murder, bloody clothes, and even the murder weapon, which they had mailed from Springfield to Wisconsin. 

The Arrest

They were arrested at Godejohn’s home in Wisconsin a few days later.  Godejohn initially pleaded not guilty. 

The Trial

The trial began in November 2018.  There was no debate that Godejohn had killed Dee Dee Blanchard, but the defense and prosecution presented vastly different views of his motive and mental state.

The Defense Argument

Godejohn’s defense attorneys argued that he was motivated by love and a desire to save Gypsy from her abusive mother.  They also argued that his autism diagnosis made him incapable of deliberation, a necessary component of first-degree murder.  A psychologist testified that Godejohn was a “low-functioning person with autism” with the mental capacity of a child. 

The Prosecution Argument

Prosecutors argued that Godejohn had a sound mind and was motivated by sex and a desire to be with Gypsy.  They noted that he had an “evil side” that “enjoys killing.”  The prosecution’s own psychologist argued that he was just barely within the diagnosis of autism. 

The Verdict

On November 16, 2018, a Greene County jury found Nicholas Godejohn guilty of first-degree murder and armed criminal action. 

The Sentence

On February 22, 2019, Judge David Jones sentenced Nicholas Godejohn to life in prison without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder, plus an additional 25 years for armed criminal action.  Before his sentence was read, Godejohn told the judge, “I admit it; I was blind in love.”  His attorneys’ motion for a new trial was denied. 

Since prosecutors did not pursue the death penalty, life in prison was the only possible sentence.  His parents were shocked by the conviction and sentence. 

Prison Life and Appeals

Nicholas Godejohn is currently serving his life sentence at the Potosi Correctional Center in Missouri.  His only hope of release hinges on a successful appeal. 

In December 2023, his public defenders filed an appeal for a new trial.  However, during his conviction appeal hearing, his attorneys did not argue his innocence.  He has since filed additional appeals.  As of 2026, his appeals have not resulted in a new trial or reduced sentence.

Where Is Nicholas Godejohn Now?

As of 2026, Nicholas Godejohn remains incarcerated at the Potosi Correctional Center in Missouri, serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.  He is 37 years old.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard, by contrast, was released from prison in December 2023 after serving eight and a half years of her 10-year sentence for second-degree murder. 

Personal Life

Nicholas Godejohn has never been married and has no known children. He was in a relationship with Gypsy Rose Blanchard at the time of the crime, but they have since separated.

He reportedly referred to Gypsy as his “soulmate” and described the five days he spent with her surrounding her mother’s murder as “magical, and awe-inspiring” and “probably the best days of my life.”  Gypsy has since described him as a “deeply disturbed man.” 

Height & Physical Appearance

Nicholas Godejohn is approximately 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) tall. 

Net Worth & Income Sources

Nicholas Godejohn’s net worth is unknown.  He was unemployed at the time of his crime and has no known income sources while incarcerated.

Social Media Presence

Nicholas Godejohn does not have any known public social media presence. He has been incarcerated since 2015.

Interesting Facts

• Godejohn was 26 years old when he committed the murder. 

• He had a criminal record for indecent exposure prior to the murder. 

• He was reportedly mentally unstable and diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. 

• He claimed he acted out of “blind love” for Gypsy Rose. 

• He was played by actor Calum Worthy in the Hulu series The Act. 

• His mother, Stephanie Goldammer, died in 2021 at age 52. 

• He told Gypsy Rose she must be “respectful” of him and capitalize his name in texts. 

• His father believes Gypsy manipulated his son. 

• He mailed the murder weapon to his home in Wisconsin after the killing. 

• He spent nine hours masturbating in a McDonald’s in 2013. 

Current Life & Recent Updates

As of 2026, Nicholas Godejohn continues to serve his life sentence without parole at Potosi Correctional Center. He has filed multiple appeals, but none have been successful. Gypsy Rose Blanchard has spoken out about the night of the murder, recalling that Godejohn told her mother, “I am death.” 

Public Image & Legacy

Nicholas Godejohn is remembered as the man who carried out the murder of Dee Dee Blanchard. His case has been the subject of documentaries, television series, and countless true crime discussions. While Gypsy Rose has been largely viewed as a victim who was driven to extremes by her mother’s abuse, Godejohn is seen as the perpetrator who acted out of a combination of manipulation, mental illness, and a warped sense of love.

His legacy is one of infamy, forever tied to one of the most bizarre and tragic criminal cases of the 21st century.

Why People Search for Nicholas Godejohn

People search for Nicholas Godejohn for several reasons:

1. Curiosity about the Dee Dee Blanchard murder case: The case remains one of the most bizarre and talked-about crimes in recent history.

2. Interest in his relationship with Gypsy Rose Blanchard: People want to understand the dynamics between the two and how they planned the murder.

3. Updates on his current status: Fans of the case want to know where he is now and if he has any chance of release.

4. Questions about his mental health: His autism diagnosis and its role in the crime continue to be debated.

5. Comparisons with Gypsy Rose: People are interested in why he received a life sentence while Gypsy was released.

Common Misconceptions

Several misconceptions surround Nicholas Godejohn:

• He and Gypsy Rose are still together: They are not together. Their relationship ended after the trial.

• He is mentally disabled: While diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, the jury found him capable of deliberation.

• He acted alone: Gypsy Rose was a willing participant who planned the murder with him.

• He has been released: He is still serving a life sentence without parole.

• He is the mastermind: Gypsy Rose was the one who wanted her mother dead and asked Godejohn to carry it out.

Final Thoughts

Nicholas Godejohn’s story is one of tragedy, manipulation, and a crime that shocked the world. He was a man with a troubled past and mental health challenges who became entangled in a deadly plot with a woman desperate to escape her mother’s abuse. While he claimed to act out of love, his actions resulted in the brutal murder of Dee Dee Blanchard and a life sentence without parole.

His case raises complex questions about culpability, mental health, and the influence of manipulation. While Gypsy Rose Blanchard has been released and is rebuilding her life, Godejohn remains behind bars, a cautionary tale of how far “blind love” can lead.

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