Homicide

Sheriff: Woman charged with boyfriend in mom's death may have faked disability for donations

Associated Press
Published | Updated

This undated booking photo proved by the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department in Waukesha Wi., shows Gypsy Blancharde. Greene County Missouri prosecutors charged Blancharde and Nicholas Paul Godejohn of Big Bend, Wi., Tuesday June 16, 2015, with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with last week's killing of Clauddinnea "Dee Dee" Blancharde, 48. Police found the victim's body Sunday in the Springfield, Mo, home she shared with Gypsy Blancharde, who was arrested with Godejohn, 26, the next day in Godejohn's Wisconsin home roughly 570 miles from the crime scene. (Waukesha County Sheriff's Department photo via AP) (The Associated Press)

This undated booking photo proved by the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department in Waukesha Wi., shows Nicholas Paul Godejohn. Greene County Missouri prosecutors charged Godejohn and Gypsy Blancharde of Big Bend, Wi., Tuesday June 16, 2015, with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with last week's killing of Clauddinnea "Dee Dee" Blancharde, 48. Police found the victim's body Sunday in the Springfield, Mo, home she shared with Gypsy Blancharde, who was arrested with Godejohn, 26, the next day in Godejohn's Wisconsin home roughly 570 miles from the crime scene. (Waukesha County Sheriff's Department photo via AP) (The Associated Press)

Authorities say a Missouri woman charged with killing her mother may also have fooled her community into believing she was disabled so that she could collect donations.

Greene County prosecutors charged Gypsy Blancharde and her 26-year-old boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn of Big Bend, Wisconsin, with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of 48-year-old Clauddinnea "Dee Dee" Blancharde.

Authorities allege the couple last week killed the mother in the Springfield home she shared with her daughter.

Gypsy Blancharde was reported as using a wheelchair. Neighbors told media outlets she suffered from leukemia and muscular dystrophy.

But Sheriff Jim Arnott said Tuesday that Gypsy Blancharde may have feigned the need for a wheelchair as a donations ploy.

Court records do not list an attorney who could comment on the allegations.