Ken Urker, the former fiancé of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, routinely slept with a firearm near his bed because of persistent online threats and doxxing, his sister said in a recent interview.
Urker was found dead at age 34 on Oct. 1 at a home in Raceland, Louisiana, according to authorities. In an interview published Thursday by the Daily Mail, his sister, Autumn Urker, said her brother faced intense public scrutiny and harassment tied to his high-profile relationship with Blanchard, prompting him to take defensive measures in his final weeks.
Threats and Cyberbullying
Text messages between the siblings reviewed by the outlet showed Urker detailing severe harassment. Autumn Urker said her brother endured direct death threats and had personal information published online. She stated that while he kept a weapon on his nightstand, he was not acting out of fear that Blanchard would personally harm him, but rather because of hostility from internet strangers.
However, Autumn Urker told the Daily Mail she holds Blanchard responsible for drawing that scrutiny into his life. Blanchard, 35, and Urker share a 1-year-old daughter named Aurora.
Blanchard has publicly acknowledged the severe harassment Urker faced prior to his death. Earlier in the week, she posted examples of online forum threads that derided Urker’s appearance and private life, according to Page Six. She also initiated a Change.org petition titled “Kenan’s Law” that calls for stricter procedures by social media platforms regarding targeted harassment.
Autumn Urker expressed frustration with the campaign, telling OK! Magazine that while she supports the concept, seeing Blanchard lead the initiative felt like “a slap in the face.”
Family Disputes and Investigation
An official cause of death has not yet been determined by the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, officials told Us Weekly. Deputies were dispatched for a wellness check at about 6:15 p.m. on Urker’s 34th birthday after a family member reported he missed work, the Daily Mail reported.
Blanchard previously stated she suspects Urker died of an accidental overdose after authorities discovered drug paraphernalia at the residence, according to OK! Magazine. Meanwhile, law enforcement records noted reports that Urker had expressed suicidal thoughts before his death, the outlet reported. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988.
Autumn Urker rejected claims that her brother took his own life, describing that narrative as hurtful to the family. She told the Daily Mail that she spoke with Urker on the phone the night prior to his death and made arrangements for family members to FaceTime him for his birthday the following day.
“I don’t think he would ever do this to Aurora or my mother, and the family doesn’t think he did this on purpose, either,” she said.
Tensions between the family and Blanchard have also surfaced over custody and visitation regarding young Aurora. Autumn Urker told the Daily Mail that her mother, Raina Williams, feared upsetting Blanchard could result in being barred from seeing the toddler. Blanchard previously addressed disputes with Autumn Urker in a statement to Us Weekly, stating, “it is no secret that Autumn did not approve of Ken’s relationship with me, and there has been significant tension between us.”
The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office has not released autopsy or toxicology findings, and authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Urker’s death.
