A heartbreaking tragedy has shaken Rowan County, KY. On Thursday, September 19, 2025, a mother and daughter were found deceased inside their home.
The victims have been identified as 37-year-old Kayla Blake and her 13-year-old daughter, Kennedi McWhorter.
According to reports, a welfare check was requested after Kayla failed to show up for work. When authorities arrived at the residence, they discovered both victims deceased.
At first, police did not name a suspect, but later identified 44-year-old Joshua William Cottrell of Morehead as the person responsible. He was located at a Paducah area hospital around 2 p.m., treated, released, and taken into custody. Cottrell is now being held in the McCracken County Jail on two counts of murder and one count of tampering with physical evidence.
This is not the first time Cottrell has been linked to a killing. In 2003, he was convicted of second-degree manslaughter in the death of 36-year-old Guinn Richard “Richie” Phillips, whose body was found stuffed inside a suitcase and dumped in Rough River Lake. Despite being sentenced to 20 years, he was eligible for parole after just 2 ½ years.
Now, decades later, two more lives have allegedly been taken at his hands—a devoted mother of two and her young daughter. Kayla leaves behind her son, who must now face life without both his mother and sister.
Justice for Kayla & Kennedi.
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