Ep 3. Mommy Dearest

In season 28 episode 3 of 48 Hours Mystery, titled "Mommy Dearest," the show focuses on a disturbing case involving a mother and her son. The episode delves into the complicated relationship between Dee Dee Blanchard and her daughter Gypsy Rose Blanchard.

Dee Dee was known as a doting mother who cared for her sickly and disabled daughter. However, as the investigation unravels, it is revealed that Dee Dee had been systematically poisoning her daughter with medications that were not necessary. Gypsy Rose was made to believe that she suffered from leukemia, muscular dystrophy, and other conditions, which resulted in her receiving unnecessary medical treatments and living her entire life confined to a wheelchair.

As Gypsy Rose approaches adulthood, she begins to question her mother's actions and the truth behind her medical conditions. But Dee Dee controls every aspect of her daughter's life and keeps her isolated from the world. Gypsy Rose eventually meets a man online and the two hatch a plan to escape Dee Dee's tyranny.

The episode follows the aftermath of the escape and the events that lead to Dee Dee's murder, which was carried out by Gypsy Rose's boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn. The episode offers an insight into the mental state of Gypsy Rose and the extent to which her mother's deception and abuse affected her.

The episode also features interviews with family members, neighbors, and law enforcement officials involved in the case. The interviews paint a picture of the complexity of the situation and the challenges involved in investigating a case of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, which is the condition that Dee Dee was suffering from.

Throughout the episode, viewers are presented with the evidence against Dee Dee and Godejohn, which includes text messages, interviews, and other investigative materials. The episode also touches on the issue of appropriate medical treatment for individuals with disabilities and the importance of recognizing and preventing Munchausen syndrome by proxy.

In summary, 48 Hours Mystery season 28 episode 3, "Mommy Dearest," is a gripping episode that exposes the dark side of a mother's love and the consequences of untreated mental illness. The episode provides an in-depth look at the events leading up to the murder of Dee Dee Blanchard and the role that Munchausen syndrome by proxy played in the case. It is a must-watch for anyone interested in true crime stories and the complexities of mental illness.