Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s former fiancé Ken Urker died on Thursday, October 1. He was 34.
Urker was found unresponsive at a home in Raceland, Louisiana, on his birthday.
The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office tells Us officers “responded to a residence” on Thursday “after receiving a call at 6:15 p.m.” Police confirm Urker “was found dead upon arrival,” adding, “At this time, we are continuing the death investigation.”
Lafourche Parish Coroner Kayla Breaux tells Us that Urker’s autopsy will be completed on the morning of Friday, October 2, to determine his cause of death. Capt. Brennan Matherne of the sheriff’s office adds, “[At] this point, we have no evidence of foul play.”
Family sources told TMZ, which was the first to report the news, that Blanchard, 35, had sent a text message to Urker to say happy birthday earlier on Thursday but did not get a response. Her half-brother, Dylan Blanchard, reportedly later found Urker in the home.
Ken’s sister, Autumn Urker, also confirmed the news of her brother’s death via TikTok Live on Thursday evening.
Gypsy Rose and Ken shared one child, a 21-month-old daughter named Aurora Raina.
The pair began dating shortly after Gypsy Rose’s split from her ex-husband, Ryan Anderson, in March 2024. Gypsy Rose and Anderson, 40, finalized their divorce in December 2024.
Gypsy Rose and Ken’s relationship began as pen pals when he wrote her a “letter of support” while she was incarcerated following the release of the 2017 HBO documentary Mommy Dead and Dearest.
The pair stayed in contact while Gypsy Rose served seven years in prison for her role in the 2015 murder of her mom, Clauddine “Dee Dee” Blanchard.
Speaking to E! News in 2019, Gypsy Rose recalled Ken visiting her in prison and the pair sharing a kiss.
“He came — and it was kind of a funny story — but within the first 30 minutes, he leaned over and gave me the most wonderful kiss of my whole life,” she told the outlet. “The kiss he gave me was quite passionate. I looked at him and was like, ‘I didn’t even know you liked me like that,’ and he said, ‘Yeah, I have for a while.’ And I’m like, ‘I have for a while too.’”
Ken proposed to Gypsy Rose in October 2018 while she was still in prison, but they split the following year.
In July 2022, Gypsy Rose tied the knot with Anderson during a prison ceremony, but she filed for divorce after less than two years of marriage.
Gypsy Rose gushed about her relationship with Ken in a June 2024 YouTube video, telling her subscribers that it had brought her the most joy since her December 2023 release.
“I felt like I made that choice as a free woman. I made that choice as an independent woman, and I think everyone should follow their heart. If they know what they want in life and they know what’s gonna make them happy, I absolutely feel like no matter what, you should go for it,” she said. “Life is too dang short to be sad or feel trapped by anything in your life. I was in a marriage that I was unhappy with and I knew that my heart was elsewhere, and so, I followed that. And I’m happy, I’m very happy. This is the happiest that I’ve ever been in my entire life, and I’m not ashamed of that.”
