Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who served over seven years in prison for her mother’s murder, has come forward following the death of her ex-fiancé and the father of her child. Ken Urker, aged 34, was discovered unresponsive at his Raceland, Louisiana residence on his birthday, October 1. The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Department is actively investigating his passing and has not identified any signs of foul play at this stage.
Authorities were summoned to conduct a wellness check on Urker when he failed to report to work after expressing suicidal thoughts. Upon entering the residence, Urker was found deceased, alongside drug-related items, a powdery substance, and a holstered firearm. The cause of death remains undetermined.
Blanchard shared with People that Urker had been under significant pressure and cyberbullying during their relationship, which may have heavily impacted his mental state. The scrutiny and harassment he faced had a profound effect on him, according to Blanchard, emphasizing the need to remember the human behind online personas and headlines.
Blanchard and Urker’s relationship began in 2017 when he reached out to her while she was incarcerated after watching the HBO Documentary “Mommy Dead and Dearest,” which detailed the abuse inflicted by Blanchard’s mother, Dee Dee. Blanchard and her then-boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn orchestrated Dee Dee’s murder, leading to Godejohn’s life sentence and Blanchard’s guilty plea to second-degree murder.
Despite a tumultuous history, Blanchard and Urker reunited, had a child named Aurora Rain Urker in December 2024, and featured in the docuseries “Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up.” Following Urker’s death, Blanchard described him as a devoted parent and her eternal soulmate, emphasizing his enduring impact on her life.
Blanchard recently shared her story on the “We Need to Talk” podcast, discussing her challenging upbringing, the night of her mother’s death, and her journey towards healing. CBC News is seeking additional comments from Blanchard’s former representatives in light of these developments.
