Gypsy Rose Blanchard's former fiancé Ken Urker dead at 33

Ken Urker, Gypsy Rose Blanchard's former fiancé and the father of her young daughter, has died at age 33. 

Urker was found "dead upon arrival" on Thursday, October 1, at his home in Louisiana, according to the Lafourche Sheriff's Office. 

The day also happened to be his 34th birthday; according to sources, Blanchard had texted him a "Happy Birthday" message that went unanswered. 

He was later found by Blanchard's brother, Dylan, and his wife, who had arrived at the home to pick Urker up for dinner. 

His death remains under investigation by law enforcement.

Urker and Blanchard first connected as pen pals in 2017, after he wrote to her following her conviction in the 2015 murder of her mother, Clauddine "Dee Dee" Blanchard, a crime documented extensively in media coverage of her case, including HBO's Mommy Dead and Dearest.

Blanchard was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder for her role in the killing, carried out with then-boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn, she was released on parole in December 2023. 

Urker and Blanchard became engaged in 2018 while she was still incarcerated, but the relationship ended the following year. 

Urker later explained to PEOPLE that outside influence played a role in that breakup, saying, "I think one of the biggest things was outside opinion and influence. I had listened to a podcast from Dr. Phil, and I had a lot of people in my ear just telling me that the best thing I can do for her is to give her some time to build a self-identity that she's never been able to build before, and even while she's in prison."

Blanchard went on to marry Ryan Anderson in a prison ceremony, but the two later divorced, and she reconnected with Urker shortly afterward.

The couple announced in July 2024 that they were expecting their first child together, with Blanchard sharing the news in a YouTube video. 

"Ken and I are expecting our very first child come January of 2025. We're both very excited. This was not planned at all, it was completely unexpected, but we're both very excited to take on this new journey of parenthood." 

Their daughter, Aurora Raina Urker, was born that December. Urker's sister, Autumn, addressed his death publicly on TikTok the evening it was confirmed.