Gispi Rose Blanchard and Ken Urker quietly ended their relationship a month before her tragic death.
“They officially broke up about a month ago, but then they were living separately for about two months,” a source close to the pair exclusively told Page Six Friday.
The insider said that Blanchard and Urker had been “trying to work it out for a while” but decided to part ways on good terms.
“A month ago they both amicably said let’s leave it at that, take our spots and see where we are,” the source said.
“It wasn’t anything bad…it was just a mutual agreement,” the insider said. “They were co-parenting.”
They agreed that Blanchard would care for their daughter, Aurora, born in December 2024, on weekdays, the source said, while Kane would spend time with his daughter “every other weekend.”
“It was totally normal, there was nothing weird about it,” the source said, calling Urker the “best” father.
We’re told mental health issues led to Blanchard and Urker’s breakup.
The source said of Urker, “She missed him. Obviously, she wanted him back and her mental state was not good.” “His mindset regarding mental health was not good for the last few months.”
The source added, “We all wanted her to get better and see if she would get some therapy. And she was just hoping that the outcome would be good.”
Despite their breakup, they remained in touch and remained very friendly with each other.
“They kept in touch with Aurora every few days because she was with him all the time and they would FaceTime,” the source said.
Insider recently spoke with Urker to make sure he was doing everything right while dealing with his breakup.
“I contacted her two weeks ago and just said, ‘Hey, just checking in, because I know this is a tough time for both of you.’ And he was like, ‘I love you so much.’ I am still alive. But thanks for checking in.”
Urker tragically died at his Louisiana home on Thursday, his 34th birthday.
“He was found dead upon arrival,” the Lafourche Parish Public Information Officer told Page Six in a statement.
Authorities said they are “continuing to investigate the death”, but have found “no evidence of foul play.”
According to a police report obtained by Page Six, Urker was found with drug paraphernalia and a gun at the time of his death.
“Deputies walked to the room and found the items (syringes and spoon) next to a brown powder-like substance in the bathroom,” the report states. “Deputies found a syringe and a handgun on the nightstand next to the bed.”
The report also stated that a “holstered” handgun was found on his nightstand in addition to two shot glasses and a syringe.
“Urkar was found lying on his back on the bed, felt cold to the touch and appeared to have been there for an extended period of time,” the report said.
Blanchard claimed he died of a suspected overdose and responded to the heartbreaking news by sharing in a statement to People that she was “in disbelief.”
“I couldn’t think. I screamed until my throat burned,” she said. “Ken was a wonderful father and a man who was deeply loved. He will always be my soul mate and my red thread, a bond that time, distance and even death can never erase.”
He also pointed to Urkar who was battling negative comments made against him online.
“Kane faced unimaginable levels of public scrutiny and persistent cyberbullying on social media platforms, including TikTok and Reddit,” he said. “The cruelty inflicted upon him was something that no human being should have to endure.”
Urker and Blanchard met in 2017 while serving a prison sentence for the murder of his mother, Claudine “Dee Dee” Blanchard. They got engaged in October 2018, but later separated. She married Ryan Scott Anderson in June 2022.
Blanchard, 35, and Anderson broke up after two years, and shortly after, she rekindled her relationship with Urker.
If you or someone you love is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call SAMHSA’s national helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).