Gypsy Rose Blanchard says she believes Ken Urker died from an apparent overdose, but Louisiana authorities have not announced an official cause of death and are continuing to investigate what happened.
Urker, the father of Blanchard’s daughter Aurora, was found dead at a residence in Raceland, Louisiana, on October 1, his 34th birthday. The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded at approximately 6:15 p.m. and found Kenan Urker dead when they arrived.
Blanchard told PEOPLE that she does not know what Urker may have taken or whether any apparent overdose was intentional. TMZ separately reported that Blanchard said an unidentified substance was found where he died, but law enforcement has not publicly identified a substance or confirmed an overdose.
In the hours after his death, Blanchard remembered Urker as a devoted father and someone who would remain her “soulmate” and “red string.” She also asked for privacy and compassion for their daughter and both families while the investigation continues.
Blanchard Says Urker Did Not Have a Known Drug Problem
The possibility of an overdose came as a shock to Blanchard because, she said, she had never known Urker to have a drug problem. She told TMZ that she had never seen him use drugs or other substances and described him as responsible and deliberate about his role as a father and partner.
Blanchard also told PEOPLE that Urker had not been in a good state of mind recently, but she said she did not know whether what happened was intentional or accidental.
Urker’s Sister Confirmed His Death and Shared Their Final Exchange
Urker’s sister Autumn also publicly confirmed his death during a TikTok livestream. According to Us Weekly, she said the final words her brother spoke to her were, “I love you,” although she did not specify when that conversation took place.
Us Weekly received a statement directly from the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office confirming that deputies responded to a Raceland residence after a 6:15 p.m. call and that Urker was dead when they arrived. The department said its death investigation was continuing and did not provide a cause.
Blanchard had sent Urker a birthday message earlier that day and received no response. Her brother Dylan and his wife later went to the residence while planning to pick Urker up for dinner and found him unresponsive, according to PEOPLE.
Blanchard Says Online Scrutiny Had Taken a Toll on Urker
Blanchard also spoke separately about the public attention Urker experienced during their relationship. She told PEOPLE that he had been subjected to intense scrutiny and cyberbullying on social media, including TikTok and Reddit, and said she believed the harassment had affected him deeply.
She made a similar statement to TMZ after news of his death became public, asking people to remember the person behind online commentary. Blanchard said she intends to make sure Aurora grows up knowing how much her father loved her instead of understanding him primarily through what strangers said online.
Urker and Blanchard Reconnected Before Aurora’s Birth
Urker and Blanchard first became involved while she was incarcerated. He proposed in October 2018, but the relationship went through several separations and reconciliations before the two eventually spent years apart.
During that separation, Blanchard married Ryan Anderson. She and Anderson separated after her December 2023 release from prison, and Blanchard and Urker reconnected in April 2024, according to PEOPLE.
Eight months later, they welcomed Aurora Raina Urker. Entertainment Weekly reported that Aurora was born on December 28, 2024. Urker later appeared alongside Blanchard on Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up as the couple navigated their renewed relationship and becoming parents.