Ken Urker, the father of Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s 21-month-old daughter, was found unresponsive at his Louisiana home on his 34th birthday, authorities confirmed on Thursday. The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office reported responding to a residence in Raceland at 6:15 p.m. after receiving a call, where Urker was pronounced dead upon arrival. Investigators have classified the incident as an ongoing death investigation.
Urker and Blanchard, who was released from prison in 2023 after serving seven years for her role in the murder of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, had reconciled in early 2024. Their daughter, Aurora Urker, was born on December 28, 2024. Blanchard had sent Urker a birthday text that went unanswered, according to family sources cited by TMZ.
The couple’s relationship has been marked by multiple separations and reunions. They became engaged in October 2018 while Blanchard was incarcerated, but split months later. They reunited in August 2019 before separating again for several years. Blanchard married another man, Ryan Scott Anderson, in July 2022 while still in prison, but announced their separation in March 2024. She and Urker reconciled in April 2024 and renewed their engagement in October 2024.
Authorities have not disclosed the cause of death pending further investigation. Blanchard’s representatives have not responded to requests for comment, and no additional details about the circumstances surrounding Urker’s death have been released by law enforcement.