NEWS

Godejohn pleads not guilty in Blanchard killing

Harrison Keegan
HKEEGAN@NEWS-LEADER.COM
Nicholas Godejohn enters the courtroom during an arraignment on Monday, July 13, 2015. Godejohn pleaded not guilty to two charges in a strange case in which he is accused of killing his girlfriendÕs mother in a home just north of Springfield.

Nicholas Godejohn pleaded not guilty Monday to two charges in a strange case in which he is accused of killing his girlfriend's mother in a home just north of Springfield.

Godejohn, 26, made his first court appearance in Greene County at an arraignment Monday afternoon. He pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the stabbing death of 48-year-old Clauddinnea "Dee Dee" Blanchard.

According to court documents, Godejohn was in an online relationship with Dee Dee's daughter, Gypsy Blanchard, for two years. He told investigators he and Gypsy planned to kill Dee Dee so they could be together.

Godejohn looked straight forward throughout Monday's arraignment and didn't speak other than asking his attorneys if he was OK to sit down.

Godejohn and Gypsy are co-defendants in the case, meaning they could share one trial, but Gypsy's lawyers requested earlier this month that the cases be severed.

Godejohn and Gypsy are scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on July 24 at 1 p.m. But if the cases are severed, Godejohn's hearing will be pushed back to 3 p.m. that day.

Both defendants are being held in Greene County Jail on $1 million bond.

Court documents say Godejohn traveled to Springfield from Wisconsin last month and stabbed Dee Dee to death at Gypsy's request. Documents say the couple then stole thousands of dollars from Dee Dee's safe, mailed the knife to Wisconsin and left town.

Authorities believe Gypsy took credit for Dee Dee's death with a vulgar Facebook post, and that is what led them to discover the body.

Friends and neighbors believed Gypsy was disabled and feared she was in danger when Dee Dee's body was discovered in the family's home just north of Springfield on June 14.

Investigators quickly discovered, however, that Gypsy can walk and may have had something to do with Dee Dee's death.

By June 16, Gypsy and Godejohn, had been arrested in Big Bend, Wisconsin, and charged with murder.

In another twist in the case, authorities have said the Blanchards — who claimed to be Hurricane Katrina victims — were running a long financial fraud scheme that included receiving community and government funds.

At least one family member has said Dee Dee imprisoned Gypsy and forced Gypsy to pretend that she was disabled.

Godejohn's attorney declined to comment after Monday's arraignment.