Missouri woman appears in court for mother’s murder

A Springfield woman charged with arranging her mother’s death has pleaded not guilty.

Gypsy Blancharde, 23, entered the plea Monday during a brief hearing in Greene County Court.

She is charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the June 14 stabbing death of 48-year-old Clauddinnea “Dee Dee” Blancharde at their home near Springfield.

The Springfield News-Leader reports Blancharde didn’t speak during the hearing other than to her lawyer. She was returned to Missouri from Wisconsin on Friday.

Prosecutors allege Blancharde persuaded her 26-year-old boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, to kill her mother.

Godejohn is also charged with first-degree murder and is jailed in Wisconsin awaiting extradition.

Authorities have said the Blanchardes pretended that Gypsy was disabled and they had survived Hurricane Katrina so they could collect donations.