Source : PERTHNOW NEWS
Gypsy Rose Blanchard has responded to claims made by her ex-fiance Ken Urker’s sister following his sudden death.
Urker had been commenting that he was depressed before he was found dead in his Louisiana home on his 34th birthday, police reports said.
Blanchard said her final message to Urker was a “Happy Birthday” text and she became concerned when he failed to respond, prompting a welfare check.
Blanchard, who rose to notoriety when she and her former boyfriend killed her mother in 2015, told People magazine on Thursday she believed Urker died of an overdose.
Autumn, Urker’s sister, has since accused Blanchard of lying about the details surrounding her brother’s death, further escalating their longstanding internet feud.
In an interview with the The US Sun, Autumn, 31, alleged Urker had split from Blanchard weeks before he died and disputed Blanchard’s claim that was the one who raised the alarm before his body was discovered.
“Gypsy had no right to lie and say that it was because of some text that she sent to him,” Autumn said.
A police report has since revealed other family members contacted authorities.
Autumn also claimed Blanchard and her brother “were not together” and said Urker had ended the relationship “over a month ago”.
“It’s a slap in the face. You don’t have to lie and make it seem like something,” Autumn said.
Gypsy Rose responds to sister’s accusations
Blanchard, 35, has now hit back in a new statement shared with US Weekly.
“At this time, I do not want the focus surrounding Ken’s passing to become centred on negativity or disagreements between Autumn and me,” Blanchard said on Sunday.
“It is no secret that Autumn did not approve of Ken’s relationship with me, and there has been significant tension between us, including public comments she made about me in the months leading up to his passing.
“I remain in communication with Ken’s family, and aside from my relationship with Autumn, those communications have been positive and respectful during an incredibly painful time.”
In her statement, Blanchard also claimed Autumn “threatened” Urker, which caused him severe distress before he passed.
“[He] said that Autumn had repeatedly threatened to ‘go harder’ publicly and further contribute to the negative commentary and scrutiny he was already experiencing,” Blanchard claimed.
Blanchard’s original statement following death of ex-fiance
Blachard released a statement to People the day after her ex-fiance’s death, claiming Urker had been impacted by the public scrutiny that followed their on-again, off-again relationship.
She and Urker became engaged while she was carrying out her 10-year prison sentence for her role in the death of her mother, but they broke up.
While still imprisoned, Blanchard married Ryan Anderson, but they divorced not long after she was released.
Blanchard and Urker started dating again after she and Anderson split. They had a daughter together named Aurora Raina Urker, who they welcomed in December 2024.
Blanchard reportedly texted Urker “Happy Birthday” the day of his death, but did not get a response.
She later gave a heartfelt statement about Urker revealing a suspected overdose caused his death and sharing a tribute.
“I don’t know if it was intentional or not,” she told People. “He was not in a good state of mind lately.
“I’m in disbelief. I can’t think … I’ve screamed until my throat burns.
“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.”
New details emerge about Ken Urker’s death
New details have since emerged, with police reports revealing that when Urker failed to show up for work, his boss and Blanchard’s brother Dylan went to his home with concerns prompted by his recent behaviour.
They gained access to Urker’s home through an unlocked window and found him dead. Authorities noted Urker appeared to have been there “for an extended period of time”.
A syringe, a holstered handgun and two shot glasses were on the nightstand next to the bed, the police report said.
Authorities searching the home found drug paraphernalia in the bathroom of the home, including syringes, a spoon and a “brown powdery substance”, according to the report.
Dylan had attended church with Urker the night before, and told police he had made comments about being depressed and upset, according to the report.
Police records obtained by The US Sun list the incident as an “overdose” but an official cause and manner of death have not yet been released.
– With NBC
