Gypsy Rose Blanchard is dealing with a sudden heartbreak following the death of her partner, Ken Urker. Urker died in his bed at his home in Raceland, Louisiana, on Thursday, Oct. 1. He was 34 years old.
Deputies from the Lafourche Sheriff’s Office responded to the Raceland home at approximately 6:15 p.m., finding Urker dead upon arrival. Law enforcement officials confirmed that a death investigation remains active and ongoing.
In an exclusive statement with People, Blanchard shared that she suspects Urker died from an overdose, though she remains uncertain of the circumstances surrounding his death.
“I don’t know if it was intentional or not,” Blanchard explained, noting that Urker had struggled mentally in recent weeks. “He was not in a good state of mind lately.”
Describing her initial reaction, Blanchard added, “I’m in disbelief. I can’t think. I’ve screamed until my throat burns.”
The Weight Of Online Harassment
Throughout their relationship, Urker found himself under the harsh light of public scrutiny. Blanchard pointed to relentless cyberbullying across social platforms like TikTok and Reddit as a heavy burden on his mental health.
“Ken endured an unimaginable level of public scrutiny and relentless cyberbullying,” Blanchard said. “The cruelty directed toward him was something no human being should have to endure.”
She expressed hope that his death prompts a shift in how people behave online.
“I believe the tremendous weight of that scrutiny and harassment had a profound impact on him,” she continued. “I hope his passing serves as a reminder that there is a real person behind every screen, every headline, and every comment.”
Remembering A Devoted Father
Beyond the viral headlines and internet speculation, Blanchard emphasized Urker’s commitment to their family. The pair welcomed their daughter, Aurora Raina Urker, eight months after rekindling their relationship in early 2024.
“Ken was an amazing father and a man who was deeply loved,” Blanchard shared. “He will forever be my soulmate and my red string, a connection that time, distance, and even death can never erase.”
Protecting Aurora’s memory of her father remains Blanchard’s top priority moving forward.
“Above all, Ken loved our daughter, Aurora,” she stated. “She is a beautiful reflection of his enduring spirit, and through her, a part of him will always remain with us. I will make sure she grows up knowing how deeply her father loved her and who he was beyond what strangers on the internet chose to say about him.”
Blanchard closed her statement requesting space for family members to process the loss.
“There are no words that can express the depth of this loss,” she expressed. “I ask for privacy and compassion for our daughter, our families, and everyone grieving Ken during this incredibly painful time. He will be deeply missed, forever loved, and never forgotten.”
A Long History Together
The bond between Blanchard and Urker spanned several years and multiple life chapters. The two first connected while Blanchard was serving her sentence for her role in the 2015 murder of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard.
Urker proposed in October 2018. Although they called off their initial engagement, they briefly reunited in August 2019 before eventually parting ways.
During their time apart, Blanchard married Ryan Anderson. Four months after her December 2023 release from prison, Blanchard announced her separation from Anderson. By April 2024, Blanchard and Urker reconnected once again, settling down together to start their family.
