Found Deceased MO - Clauddinnea 'Dee Dee' Blancharde, 48, Springfield, 10 June 2015 - #2 *Arrests*

[Lilibet]

We will likely be able to hear much of her story from people other than Gyspy- friends and medical professionals who treated her today and in the past.



Good post.

I wanted to point out, though, that Gypsy, when asked by the court if she understood said "Yes." Then her lawyers whispered to her and that's when she said she had a third grade education. So it doesn't seem it was Gypsy's idea to try to manipulate the court.

BBM

By now you've probably seen my other post #776 explaining that my initial impression reading about what happened in court was more than likely wrong. It didn't read quite the way you have described, as it said that Gypsy whispered to her lawyer. I quoted that paragraph in an earlier post. But I've publicly retracted that part of my post, even though it's too late to edit.

It doesn't change my basic opinion that Gypsy could very well manipulate perceptions about herself even if she doesn't testify, and if she does testify I would expect her to not be completely truthful. This is all she knows. That's one of the reasons I don't want this to go to trial. But that's all in my other posts, so I won't repeat it.

 

[DexterMorgan]

BBM

By now you've probably seen my other post explaining that my initial impression reading about what happened in court was more than likely wrong. It didn't read quite the way you have described, as it said that Gypsy whispered to her lawyer. I quoted that paragraph in an earlier post. But I've publicly retracted that part of my post, even though it's too late to edit.

It doesn't change my basic opinion that Gypsy could very well manipulate perceptions about herself even if she doesn't testify, and if she does testify I would expect her to not be completely truthful. This is all she knows. That's one of the reasons I don't want this to go to trial. But that's all in my other posts, so I won't repeat it.

Imo. Just show her forced invalid pics and that is all. They will vote not guilty due to something. Jmo. Her lawyer would not be smart to let her take the stand. Some things can't be explained by words. Jmo

 

[jjenny]

Ok so I've been on the fence about EVERYTHING about this case.
A recent lightbulb went off in my head.
I doubt all the money that was coming in benefited Gypsy in anyway. I bet DD took it all and did what she wanted with it. It would be different at least for me if Gypsy had nice things and a car and nice clothes (probably hidden) and things like that.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I don't think Gypsy even knows how to drive. She and her boyfriend took a bus to his home.

 

[jjenny]

That's what I think too. Gypsy spent 3 1/2 hours at the hospital two days before the murder. Judging from the amount of hair growth it probably wasn't related to the claim of leukemia, unless Gypsy was supposed to be between chemo treatments. I hope Dee Dee never managed to convince a doctor to actually order chemo for Gypsy - that would seal it for me.

I was just re-reading the early search warrants. Investigators said their information (presumably from the neighbors) was that Gypsy had "muscular disease that prevents her from walking, leukemia and she requires oxygen at night."

Interestingly, LE also reported (again, presumably from the neighbors) that Dee Dee had diabetes and OCD. If that's true I wonder how it impacted Dee Dee's relationship with Gypsy.

Dee Dee was quite overweight (looks to be morbidly obese from her photos) so her diabetes diagnosis is most likely true. I don't know that diabetes would impact her relationship with Gypsy. But person with OCD could be very unpleasant to deal with, depending on what their OCD is focusing on.

 

[Lilibet]

Imo. Just show her forced invalid pics and that is all. They will vote not guilty due to something. Jmo. Her lawyer would not be smart to let her take the stand. Some things can't be explained by words. Jmo

BBM

I hope she's not found not guilty Dexter. That would mean she wouldn't get the help she needs. That's why I'm hoping a trial doesn't happen and she accepts a deal for mental health treatment.

 

[jjenny]

Imo. Just show her forced invalid pics and that is all. They will vote not guilty due to something. Jmo. Her lawyer would not be smart to let her take the stand. Some things can't be explained by words. Jmo

They could potentially call her doctors to the stand to explain all the medical things that were done to Gypsy.

 

[jjenny]

BBM

I hope she's not found not guilty Dexter. That would mean she wouldn't get the help she needs. That's why I'm hoping a trial doesn't happen and she accepts a deal for mental health treatment.

I don't think one can make a deal for mental health treatment. At least I have never heard of such a thing.
If she is found not guilty by reason of insanity then she would go to a mental hospital for treatment.

 

[human]

I don't think she would qualify for insanity They appear to have planned it.

 

[jjenny]

I don't think she would qualify for insanity They appear to have planned it.

Andrea Yates had thoughts of killing her children for quite some time and waited until her husband left to drown them.
Was eventually deemed insane anyway.
James Holmes planned the murders for some time. Although we don't know yet if jury will find him insane, that's what his lawyer is going for.
Planning doesn't necessarily rule out insanity.

 

[Jo in Calif]

It sure is going to be interesting what LE found on that computer.
Also going to be interesting what the Dr's will have to say.
If this goes to trial
IMO

 

[Lilibet]

Im guessing that a 23 year old isolated by her mother for 15 years or so, who confessed in about ten seconds, is going to be hard pressed to be able to manipulate experienced criminal defense attorneys who have seen it all and dealt with every con in the book.

Perhaps, but her lawyer might find that she has her own ideas of how she wants this to play out.

In any case, I'm glad that there is a system of justice in place to consider the determinants of both her guilt and her innocence. Someone has to make the decision, and I'm glad it's not me.

If only she hadn't posted about it on facebook!

BBM

I'm sure criminal defense attorneys aren't easily manipulated, but if Gypsy wants to testify, don't they have to let her, even if their plan is to just use experts and friends to testify? I'm not saying she would want to testify, but she could IMO. No one knows what she will do at this point. I am glad too that I don't have to make any decisions in this case!

JMO, MOO, etc

 

[human]

Long article about insanity

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insanity_defense

 

[Lilibet]

I don't think one can make a deal for mental health treatment. At least I have never heard of such a thing.
If she is found not guilty by reason of insanity then she would go to a mental hospital for treatment.

BBM

Digging into it, I believe you are right that a plea deal allowing for treatment in a mental hospital is not available in Missouri. But it is in Oregon where I live, so that's why I've mentioned it, wishing something along these lines could be a possibility in MO for Gypsy. It's called Guilty Except for Insanity (GEI).

If the GEI defense is used, the defendant’s lawyer and the district attorney can agree that GEI should be used and the person can enter a plea of GEI. In other words, instead of pleading guilty or not guilty, the person pleads GEI and does not have a trial.

http://www.oregoncounseling.org/LawsRights/GuiltyExcptInsanity.htm

This defense is not always advisable for a number of reasons, but it is an option here in Oregon.

I'm not saying that I believe Gypsy is insane. No one truly knows at this point the depth of her mental issues. The evidence that she planned this with NG would indicate that she is legally sane, I think, and wouldn't qualify for the insanity defense. But I certainly wish that there could be some other enforceable option besides prison or freedom. Either way she is likely to fall through the cracks and not get adequate help IMO.

JMO, MOO, etc.

 

[bluesneakers]

Andrea Yates had thoughts of killing her children for quite some time and waited until her husband left to drown them.
Was eventually deemed insane anyway.
James Holmes planned the murders for some time. Although we don't know yet if jury will find him insane, that's what his lawyer is going for.
Planning doesn't necessarily rule out insanity.

There's also the girl from the Slenderman killings, and a lot of people who attempt or commit suicide plan it out before they do.

 

[1&2&3]

As in everything in life, there are good psychiatric doctors and there are bad. Also, there must be a connection between the doctor and the patient to be able to get the patient to trust and open up.

My concern is that the doctors hired by the state are not the brightest in their field. The pay is low compared to working in a regular practice, the hours are long, the paperwork is heavy, and there is no say so as to who your patients are. The best thing about state employment are the benefits. This is applicable in my state and from personal knowledge through employment.

 

[MsMarple]

BBM

Digging into it, I believe you are right that a plea deal allowing for treatment in a mental hospital is not available in Missouri. But it is in Oregon where I live, so that's why I've mentioned it, wishing something along these lines could be a possibility in MO for Gypsy. It's called Guilty Except for Insanity (GEI).


http://www.oregoncounseling.org/LawsRights/GuiltyExcptInsanity.htm

This defense is not always advisable for a number of reasons, but it is an option here in Oregon.

I'm not saying that I believe Gypsy is insane. No one truly knows at this point the depth of her mental issues. The evidence that she planned this with NG would indicate that she is legally sane, I think, and wouldn't qualify for the insanity defense. But I certainly wish that there could be some other enforceable option besides prison or freedom. Either way she is likely to fall through the cracks and not get adequate help IMO.

JMO, MOO, etc.

I'm getting the feeling that Gypsy's defense team believes they have a good chance for an acquittal. Here's an attorney (not involved in the case) giving his opinion on the defense:

After the proceeding, Gypsy's lawyer Michael Stanfield made a point of thanking the community for uncovering so much information about any fraud schemes that Dee Dee may have been running. That was telling to Woody, who said the defense will likely highlight the mother's alleged deviousness.

Woody, who practices exclusively in criminal law, said he expects the relationship between mother and daughter to be a key part of Gypsy's defense when the case goes to trial.

"I expect that to be the primary focus of the defense," Woody said. "Any psychological defense like that is very expert-driven. The jury is going to hear a lot of expert testimony and diagnoses to try to negate the responsibility on Gypsy's part."

Woody said he anticipates Gypsy's lawyers calling several expert witnesses to testify. He said if her lawyers can prove that she was in a compromised mental state because of years of abuse, they could present a strong argument.

http://www.news-leader.com/story/ne...s-gypsys-defense-will-expert-driven/29532959/

I caught the "thank you" comment also and thought hmm... I agree that Gypsy wouldn't qualify for an insanity defense - I think Missouri uses the M'Naughten Rule - which puts the burden of proof on the defendant. I think Gypsy knew at the time of the murder that what they were doing was wrong. Gypsy giving NG gloves and a knife, the stealing of the money, cleaning up blood, calling a cab to go to the Days Inn motel and so on imply that Gypsy knew what she was doing. Plus there's evidence of premeditation from the online conversations. I don't know if she'd qualify under diminished capacity but that's something gitana would be more able to discuss.

It's a horrible thought but Gypsy would have had a better chance of getting psychological help if she had just snapped and stabbed her mother herself in a blind rage. If she's acquitted she'll never adjust in society and frankly I'd consider her a risk to society. And if she's sent to prison she'll never receive the therapy she so desperately needs. It's lose-lose all around.

 

[Zuri]

They could potentially call her doctors to the stand to explain all the medical things that were done to Gypsy.

This raises an interesting question. Would the medical practitioners who treated Gypsy, based on info from the mother, be liable for malpractice if they treated her for non existing illnesses?

 

[1&2&3]

Gypsy does not know what a normal life is like. How could she?

She was raised by a mother who taught her to lie, live in a fantasy world, believe in who knows what, taught her that her legs were not for walking outside of the home, etc.

Anything she knows on a positive note she has learned by watching television, movies, or on the Internet. The thing is, Gypsy has been taught to lie in most situations, so it would be my thought that she will have a difficult time switching between the two modes whenever a person is talking with her. The person interviewing her should be able to tell. It would be much like talking with a person with multiple personalities. It will take patience and time to get her evaluated.IMO.

It will be very interesting to see what Gypsy's final medical diagnosis come out to be. Won't it be a shame if there really isn't anything medically wrong with her, all of her problems have been caused by her mother? However it turns out, this girl has lived a monstrosity of a life! I believe she honestly thought there was no one she could turn to for help in escaping her mother. I feel sure her mother had taught her police were bad people as well as everyone they knew.

Just my opinions!

 

[Lilibet]

I'm getting the feeling that Gypsy's defense team believes they have a good chance for an acquittal. Here's an attorney (not involved in the case) giving his opinion on the defense:

After the proceeding, Gypsy's lawyer Michael Stanfield made a point of thanking the community for uncovering so much information about any fraud schemes that Dee Dee may have been running. That was telling to Woody, who said the defense will likely highlight the mother's alleged deviousness.

Woody, who practices exclusively in criminal law, said he expects the relationship between mother and daughter to be a key part of Gypsy's defense when the case goes to trial.

"I expect that to be the primary focus of the defense," Woody said. "Any psychological defense like that is very expert-driven. The jury is going to hear a lot of expert testimony and diagnoses to try to negate the responsibility on Gypsy's part."

Woody said he anticipates Gypsy's lawyers calling several expert witnesses to testify. He said if her lawyers can prove that she was in a compromised mental state because of years of abuse, they could present a strong argument.

http://www.news-leader.com/story/ne...s-gypsys-defense-will-expert-driven/29532959/

I caught the "thank you" comment also and thought hmm... I agree that Gypsy wouldn't qualify for an insanity defense - I think Missouri uses the M'Naughten Rule - which puts the burden of proof on the defendant. I think Gypsy knew at the time of the murder that what they were doing was wrong. Gypsy giving NG gloves and a knife, the stealing of the money, cleaning up blood, calling a cab to go to the Days Inn motel and so on imply that Gypsy knew what she was doing. Plus there's evidence of premeditation from the online conversations. I don't know if she'd qualify under diminished capacity but that's something gitana would be more able to discuss.

It's a horrible thought but Gypsy would have had a better chance of getting psychological help if she had just snapped and stabbed her mother herself in a blind rage. If she's acquitted she'll never adjust in society and frankly I'd consider her a risk to society. And if she's sent to prison she'll never receive the therapy she so desperately needs. It's lose-lose all around.

BBM

As usual, we're on the same page. I agree with everything you wrote, especially the bolded part. I know I keep harping on the fact that there are no appropriate options for Gypsy, and it frustrates me because she needs psychological help so badly. Maybe I'm uninformed about what is available in prison, but I can't imagine it's what she needs. If her attorney gets her acquitted, then what? That's just the beginning of a long recovery, but how does she get help? Do attorneys feel the obligation to guide her toward what she needs? How could any plan be enforced? Scamming is all she knows. This case needs someone with the wisdom of King Solomon!

 

[bluesneakers]

As in everything in life, there are good psychiatric doctors and there are bad. Also, there must be a connection between the doctor and the patient to be able to get the patient to trust and open up.

My concern is that the doctors hired by the state are not the brightest in their field. The pay is low compared to working in a regular practice, the hours are long, the paperwork is heavy, and there is no say so as to who your patients are. The best thing about state employment are the benefits. This is applicable in my state and from personal knowledge through employment.

Interesting. Doesn't the defense (I mean if they're not public defenders) hire their own psychiatrists and other experts to testify at the trials? When you say they work for the state do you mean they would be working for the defense (if she still has a public defender) or would they work for the prosecution? Or would both sides use the same psychiatrist?