Gypsy Rose Blanchard Sent Ken Urker a Two-Word Text on His Birthday — Hours Later, He Was Found Dead

The death of Ken Urker has left Gypsy Rose Blanchard and both families grieving, but the timeline surrounding his final hours has added another emotional layer to the tragedy.

On the very day Urker turned 34, Blanchard reached out to him — and hours later, he was found dead. Urker, Blanchard’s former fiancé and the father of their daughter, was found unresponsive at his home in Raceland, Louisiana, on Thursday, Oct. 1, according to TMZ.

Ken Urker Was Found Dead at His Louisiana Home

The Lafourche Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to a residence in Raceland after receiving a call at approximately 6:15 p.m. Urker was found dead when they arrived. Authorities said the death investigation was continuing.

The timing made the discovery particularly heartbreaking: October 1 was Urker’s 34th birthday. TMZ initially reported Urker’s age as 33, noting that the day of his death would have been his 34th birthday.

The Lafourche Sheriff’s Office later identified him as 34, consistent with PEOPLE’s report that he died on his birthday. According to TMZ, Blanchard’s brother, Dylan, later discovered Urker inside the home. At the time of the initial report, Blanchard, her family, and Urker’s family were said to be in shock.

Gypsy Rose Speaks Out After His Death

Blanchard has since spoken publicly about the loss, telling PEOPLE that Urker overdosed, although she does not know whether the overdose was intentional. “I don’t know if it was intentional or not,” Blanchard tells PEOPLE exclusively. “He was not in a good state of mind lately.”

She said Urker died in his bed at his Raceland home. “I’m in disbelief. I can’t think,” she says. “I’ve screamed until my throat burns.” The Lafourche Sheriff’s Office has not announced a final cause of death, and its investigation remains ongoing.

Blanchard described Urker as a devoted father to their daughter, Aurora Raina Urker, and spoke about the depth of their connection despite the complicated history of their relationship.

“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,” she tells PEOPLE exclusively.

Their Relationship Had Taken Several Turns

Urker and Blanchard’s relationship began years before they became parents. The two first connected while Blanchard was incarcerated for the murder of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard. Urker proposed in October 2018, but they later called off their engagement before reuniting in August 2019.

The pair eventually went their separate ways for several years. During that period, Blanchard married Ryan Anderson. She later separated from Anderson four months after her release from prison in December 2023. Blanchard and Urker reconciled in April 2024, and eight months later, they welcomed their daughter, Aurora Raina Urker.

Their daughter was born in December 2024, making Urker’s death a loss not only for the former couple but also for a young child who had only recently begun her life with both parents.

Blanchard Says Urker Faced Online Scrutiny

In her statement to PEOPLE, Blanchard also addressed the intense public attention that surrounded Urker during their relationship. She said he experienced what she described as relentless harassment on social media, specifically mentioning TikTok and Reddit.

“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,” she tells PEOPLE.

“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 said she wants Aurora to grow up knowing her father for who he was rather than through the commentary surrounding him online. “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 tells PEOPLE.

“I will 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.”

She also asked for privacy for those grieving. “There are no words that can express the depth of this loss. I ask for privacy and compassion for our daughter, our families, and everyone grieving Ken during this incredibly painful time,” she tells PEOPLE. “He will be deeply missed, forever loved, and never forgotten.”

Then There Was the Message on His Birthday

As details of Urker’s final hours emerged, one small detail from the day became particularly poignant. According to TMZ, Blanchard had reached out to Urker on his birthday with a two-word message.

She sent him “Happy Birthday” but did not receive a response. The message came hours before Urker was found dead, turning what would ordinarily have been a simple birthday greeting into a haunting detail in the timeline of his final day.

The sequence is especially striking because Urker’s death was not immediately known to Blanchard when she sent the message. She was simply trying to reach him on his birthday, according to the report.

RIP, Urker. This story is developing, and we’ll bring you more details as we receive them! Stay tuned!

The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, and images contained on ondoho.com, or available through ondoho.com is for general information purposes only.

ondoho.com does not take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article. Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider.