Gypsy Rose Blanchard's Partner Ken Urker Found Dead in Louisiana Home
The Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office confirmed Kenan 'Ken' Urker, the partner of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, was found deceased in his Louisiana residence.
Kenan "Ken" Urker, the partner of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, was discovered deceased inside his Louisiana home on Thursday, according to the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office. The discovery followed a request for a welfare check by Urker's loved ones.
Anita Blanchard, Gypsy Rose Blanchard's half-brother's wife, told authorities that she and her husband went to Urker's residence. From outside a window, they observed Urker lying unresponsive. A third individual accompanying the Blanchards entered the home through a window and confirmed Urker was not breathing and appeared cold to the touch, according to an incident report.
Investigators found syringes and a spoon near a powdery substance in the bathroom, along with a handgun, two shot glasses, and a syringe on a nightstand. Deputies noted that Urker appeared to have been deceased for an extended period.
Anita Blanchard informed investigators that Urker had been with her and her husband at church the previous evening, where he reportedly expressed feelings of depression and distress. Deputies were also informed that Urker made a TikTok live video around 11 p.m. Thursday, which he apparently broadcast while driving without speaking.
Urker had accumulated over 36,000 followers on the platform. After Urker failed to report for work on Friday, Anita Blanchard and Urker's employer initiated a welfare check, which led to law enforcement being contacted.
The sheriff's office stated that the case remains under investigation but currently shows "no signs of foul play." Thursday marked Urker's 34th birthday.
Gypsy Rose Blanchard, in a statement to PEOPLE, indicated she believes Urker died from a drug overdose, adding that he had not been in a good state of mind recently. She shared a tribute to Urker on Instagram, calling him her "greatest love story" and expressing her hope that his passing would highlight the impact of cyberbullying.
Blanchard, who gained notoriety for her role in her mother's murder, was released on parole in December 2023 after serving 85% of her 10-year sentence for second-degree murder. She and Urker had become engaged in 2018 while she was incarcerated, separated, and later reconnected after her first marriage. The couple welcomed a daughter, Aurora, on December 28, 2024.