Gypsy Rose Blanchard has spoken out following the death of her partner, Ken Urker, calling him her 'soulmate' and hitting out at those who 'cyberbullied' him.
The 34-year-old was found dead in bed at his home in Raceland, Louisiana, yesterday, which was his birthday. Blanchard grew worried when he didn't respond to a happy birthday message.
Blanchard's tribute to Urker
She later told People that she is in 'disbelief', suspecting his cause of death to be an overdose. 'I don't know if it was intentional or not,' she said, admitting Urker was 'not in a good state of mind lately'.
Taking to Instagram this evening with a lengthy tribute, she began: 'Ken was an amazing father and a man who was deeply loved. He will forever be my soulmate and my red string, a connection that time, distance, and even death can never erase.'
Cyberbullying accusations
She continued: 'Ken endured an unimaginable level of public scrutiny and relentless cyberbullying across social media platforms, including TikTok and Reddit.
'The cruelty directed toward him was something no human being should have to endure. I believe the tremendous weight of that scrutiny and harassment had a profound impact on him, and I hope his passing serves as a reminder that there is a real person behind every screen, every headline, and every comment.'
Blanchard added: 'Above all, Ken loved our daughter, Aurora. She is a beautiful reflection of his enduring spirit, and through her, a part of him will always remain with us.'
She vowed to 'make sure she grows up knowing how deeply her father loved her and who he was beyond what strangers on the internet chose to say about him'. Blanchard concluded: 'He will be deeply missed, forever loved, and never forgotten'.
Death investigation ongoing
She also shared photos of Urker on her feed, writing in the caption: 'You will always be my greatest love story. You will be remembered and loved forever.'
News of Urker's death was broken by TMZ, which published a statement from the Lafourche Sheriff's Office. It read: 'We responded to a residence in Raceland today after receiving a call at 6.15pm. Kenan Urker, 34, was found dead upon arrival. At this time, we are continuing the death investigation.'
Urker proposed to Blanchard in October 2018, when she was imprisoned for the murder of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard. They later called off their engagement and were separated for several years, during which time the Life After Lock-Up figure married Ryan Anderson. Blanchard announced her split from Anderson in December 2023, four months after her release from jail. In August 2019, she and Urker reunited, and they welcomed daughter Aurora in December 2024.
