Ken Urker Slept "With a Gun Every Night" Before His Death, Sister Says
Gypsy Rose Blanchard Details “Hardest” Moment With Daughter Aurora After Ken Urker's Death
Ken Urker's sister is looking back on his final days.
One week after Gypsy Rose Blanchard's partner died on his 34th birthday, Autumn Snyder detailed how he was doing in the weeks leading up to the tragedy, including Urker always keeping a weapon close by in the bedroom.
"He had to sleep with a gun every night," his sister told The Daily Mail in an interview published Oct. 8, asserting that the decision was due to an onslaught of online "death threats" and getting "doxxed."
Snyder didn't believe that her brother was afraid Blanchard—with whom Urker shares 21-month-old daughter Aurora—would harm him, though she asserted that being with the Life After Lockup star had made him a target.
E! News has reached out to Blanchard's reps for comment and has not yet heard back.
Synder also admitted that she and their mom Raina Williams are not on the same page when it comes to Blanchard.
"When I spoke with my mother, she was in tears telling me that we have to be nice to Gypsy or she won't let her see Aurora," she told The Daily Mail. "My mom is a very forgiving person, and I'm just not at that stage right now."
Urker—whose official cause of death had not yet been revealed—was found dead with "paraphernalia (syringes and spoon)" and a "brown powdery substance" in his bathroom, according to the Oct. 1 report by the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office, obtained by E! News.
"Deputies located a syringe and a handgun on the nightstand next to the bed," the report added. "Mr. Urker was found lying on the bed on his back, cold to the touch, and appeared to have been there for an extended period of time. His face and his arms were blue. He had a paper towel placed on his left arm with what appeared to be blotches of blood on the paper towel."
Gypsy Rose Blanchard/Instagram/shortykinss/TikTok
The sheriff's office confirmed to E! that the case remains "under investigation" and that they "have discovered no signs of foul play."
Following Urker's death, Snyder paid tribute to her brother with a montage of photos on TikTok.
"While I'm usually good at words… right now they hurt," she captioned the Oct. 7 video. "I don't know what to say. I miss you so much. I just wish I could go back to that night and talk to you a little longer. "
"Fly high, my big brother," she concluded. "We won't forget about you down here."
As the investigation into Urker's death continues, keep reading for a look back at his and Blanchard's life together.
TikTok / Gypsy Rose Blanchard
"The One"
TikTok / Gypsy Rose Blanchard
Origin Story
The couple, who got engaged in 2018, even managed to create a festive atmosphere while Blanchard was incarcerated.
TikTok / Gypsy Rose Blanchard
What She Said
They split up in 2019 but, as Blanchard later noted, fate would come back to find them...
TikTok / Gypsy Rose Blanchard
On the Outside
While Blanchard went on to tie the knot with teacher Ryan Anderson in 2022, she filed for divorce after less than two years of marriage. She and Urker Ken reunited in the spring of 2024.
"We are together and in a wonderful place in our relationship," she told TMZ that April. "We know it is going to be a long road ahead but are excited for the future."
TikTok / Gypsy Rose Blanchard
Sunnier Days Ahead
Cloudy skies couldn't put a damper on the rekindled pair's mood.
TikTok / Gypsy Rose Blanchard
Cozying Up
Blanchard cuddled up next to Urker in this selfie snapped after their reunion.
TikTok / Gypsy Rose Blanchard
Sweet Laughter
Whatever he said had Blanchard beaming in a video about their "love story."
Gypsy Rose Blanchard/Instagram
Scenes From a Romance
Blanchard shared a collage of some of her and Urker's most adorable moments a few weeks before revealing her pregnancy with their first child together.
At the time, she noted that their baby was due in January 2025.
Instagram / Gypsy Rose Blanchard
It's a Girl
The two found out they were expecting a baby girl during a sex reveal party in August 2024.
Gypsy Rose Blanchard/Instagram
Date Night
Before they become a family of three, Blanchard and Urker dined at a table for two during a September 2024 date night.
Instagram / Gypsy Rose Blanchard
Romantic Getaway
The parents-to-be took a trip to California, including Marina Del Rey, that October.
Instagram / Gypsy Rose Blanchard
Making Memories
And while Blanchard noted on Instagram the view of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge was "incredible," she added, "the company made it unforgettable."
Instagram / Gypsy Rose Blanchard
Selfie Time
The duo sported their shades in this sunny snap.
Instagram/Gypsy Rose Blanchard
And Then There Were Three
On December 28, 2024, exactly one year after Blanchard was released from prison, she and Urker welcomed their daughter Auora.
Gypsy-Rose Blanchard/Instagram
First Birthday
Blanchard and Urker rang in their little girl's first birthday in 2025 with a Ms. Rachel-themed party.
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