Gypsy Rose Blanchard, convicted in mother’s murder, reveals cause of Ken Urker’s sudden death at 34, says ‘I’m in disbelief’

Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s partner Ken Urker died at his Louisiana home on his 34th birthday on Thursday, October 1. Gypsy Rose Blanchard has now broken her silence surrounding Ken Urker's death, saying that her partner died from an overdose. “I don’t know if it was intentional or not,” she said. “He was not in a good state of mind lately," reports Page Six. She also mourned the death of her “forever soulmate.” She added that he “will forever be my soulmate and my red string, a connection that time, distance, and even death can never erase." Gypsy Rose claimed Ken Urker was harassed online and endured “an unimaginable level of public scrutiny and relentless cyberbullying” about their relationship.

Urker was found unresponsive in his bed at his Raceland, Louisiana, home by a family member Thursday on what would’ve been his 34th birthday, People reported. The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating Urker’s death.

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Did Ken Urker die of drug overdose?

Blanchard told TMZ a substance was found, even though she had never seen Urker previously take drugs. “I’m in disbelief. I can’t think,” she told People, speaking of his sudden death. “I’ve screamed until my throat burns.” She said her baby’s father did not have a drug problem as she paid a glowing tribute.

“Ken endured an unimaginable level of public scrutiny and relentless cyberbullying across social media platforms, including TikTok and Reddit,” she said. “The cruelty directed toward him was something no human being should have to endure.

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A painful tribute

“I believe the tremendous weight of that scrutiny and harassment had a profound impact on him, and I hope his passing serves as a reminder that there is a real person behind every screen, every headline, and every comment. “Above all, Ken loved our daughter, Aurora. 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 said Urker will be “deeply missed, forever loved, and never forgotten.” “There are no words that can express the depth of this loss. I ask for privacy and compassion for our daughter, our families, and everyone grieving Ken during this incredibly painful time,” she said.

Ken Urker and Gypsy Rose Blanchard relationship

Blanchard and Urker’s relationship began as penpals when she was serving time in prison for her role in her mother’s death in 2015. The murder of Dee Dee Blanchard occurred on June 14, 2015, when her daughter, Gypsy Rose, and her boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, conspired to kill her. Gypsy pled guilty and received a ten-year sentence while Godejohn was sentenced to life imprisonment. In December 2023, Gypsy was released after serving 85% of her sentence, concluding a tragic saga that highlights the complexities of mental health and the severe impacts of abusive caregiving.

Ken Urker is survived by a daughter

The couple got engaged in October 2018 after Urker popped the question, just one year after meeting Blanchard. “He [Urker] held my hands close and told me how much I meant to him and he’s like, ‘I would really, really be honored if I could have your hand in marriage,’ and I said yes,” Blanchard said, describing the proposal.

Urker is survived by Blanchard and their one-year-old daughter, Aurora. “Above all, Ken loved our daughter, Aurora,” Blanchard told People. “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.”

They got matching husky tattoos in April 2024 before Blanchard announced she was expecting in July. “This was not planned at all,” she said in a now-deleted TikTok clip. “This was completely unexpected, but we’re both very excited to take on this new journey of parenthood.”

Urker announced the birth of his daughter on Jan 1. 2025. “Welcoming 2025 with the greatest gift of all,” he said.