Gypsy Rose Blanchard Claims Ex-Partner Did Not Die by Suicide
Blanchard asserts that severe cyberbullying significantly impacted her ex-partner Ken Urker's mental health leading to his death.
Gypsy Rose Blanchard has stated with certainty that her former partner, Ken Urker, did not die by suicide. Urker was found dead on October 1, his 34th birthday.
In an update to her anti-cyberbullying Change.org petition, Blanchard declared, "we do know with 100% certainty that it was not suicide." She added that toxicology reports are still pending.
Blanchard, 35, believes that intense cyberbullying contributed to Urker's death, citing that she often found him reading negative comments. "Cyber bullying played a huge role in damaging Ken's mental health and subsequently causing him to use unhealthy coping strategies such as drugs and alcohol," Blanchard claimed. She and Urker shared a 1-year-old daughter, Aurora.
Blanchard is advocating for "Kenan's Law," a proposed legislation aimed at combating pattern-based harassment online. She has called on Reddit to investigate a snark page that she alleges targeted Urker.
Authorities found a handgun, drugs, and drug paraphernalia at Urker's home. A family member of Blanchard's contacted authorities for a welfare check after Urker failed to report for work. Upon entering the residence, deputies observed Urker lying on the bed. The incident report noted paraphernalia, including syringes and a spoon, in the bathroom, along with a brown powdery substance. A syringe and a handgun were also found on the nightstand next to the bed.
The Lafourche Parish Coroner's Office has stated that the autopsy is complete but there is no definitive cause of death pending toxicology results.
Blanchard and Urker first met in 2017 while Blanchard was serving a prison sentence for the murder of her mother. They became engaged in October 2018 but later separated. Blanchard married Ryan Scott Anderson in June 2022, divorcing two years later. She reconnected with Urker, and their daughter was born in December 2024. Prior to his death, Blanchard and Urker had reportedly separated.
For those affected by issues related to mental health or substance abuse, the SAMHSA National Helpline is available at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).