Ken Urker, the partner of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, has passed away at the age of 34, according to authorities in Louisiana. The Lafourche Sheriff’s Office reported that officers were dispatched to a home in Raceland at approximately 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, where they discovered Urker unresponsive. An investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death has been initiated.
Urker celebrated his 34th birthday on the same day he was found deceased. The news was initially reported by TMZ.
In a statement to People magazine, Gypsy Rose Blanchard expressed her disbelief over Urker’s unexpected passing. Blanchard, who is 35, and Urker began their relationship while she was incarcerated for the 2015 murder of her mother, Clauddine “Dee Dee” Blanchard. The couple shares a daughter, Aurora, who is 21 months old.
On Instagram, Blanchard referred to Urker as her “greatest love story” and promised that he would “be remembered and loved forever.”
Blanchard had previously been engaged to Urker in 2018, having started their relationship after her separation from her ex-husband, Ryan Anderson. The couple divorced in early 2024, just three months after their wedding, which took place while she was still serving time for her involvement in her mother’s death. Blanchard received a 10-year sentence for second-degree murder, while her then-boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, was sentenced to life in prison. She accused her mother of years of medical abuse and was released from prison in 2023 after serving seven years.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of Urker’s death. However, Blanchard informed People that he succumbed to an overdose and noted that he had been struggling with his mental health recently, having been subjected to cyberbullying.
In her Instagram story, Blanchard highlighted the “cruelty directed toward” Urker, stating it was something no one should have to face. She expressed her belief that the intense scrutiny and harassment he endured had a significant effect on him, urging that his death serve as a reminder of the real individuals behind social media profiles, headlines, and comments.
CBS News has reached out to Blanchard’s representative for further comment.
