Ken Urker's last weeks marked by mental-health concerns before death in Louisiana

Ken Urker, who had recently separated from Gypsy Rose Blanchard, was discovered dead in his Lafourge Parish home on his 34th birthday. Police reports indicated that a syringe, a handgun and drug-related paraphernalia were found near his body, and investigators said they found no evidence of foul play while the death investigation continues.

According to a source close to the couple, Urker had been dealing with mental-health challenges for several months and had expressed feelings of isolation. The source said they had checked in with him two weeks before his death, and he replied that he was “surviving.” The source added that Blanchard and Urker had ended their relationship after living apart for two months, though they continued to co-parent their one-year-old daughter.

Friends described Urker as lacking a strong support network, noting that he had previously messaged that he “had nobody.” First responders found drug paraphernalia and a firearm at the scene, and the police report described Urker as lying on the bed, cold to the touch, for an extended period before discovery.

Blanchard posted on social media expressing sorrow over Urker’s death and referred to a suspected overdose. She also mentioned the public scrutiny and online harassment Urker had faced, and she urged followers to sign a petition against harassment in his memory.