Kentucky mother and teen daughter found dead, man charged with murder
A mother and her 13-year-old daughter were found dead in Rowan County on Friday morning, and Kentucky State Police are investigating the case as a murder.
Kayla Blake, 37, and her daughter, Kennedi McWhorter, were found dead after a coworker went to check on Blake because Blake hadn’t shown up to work Friday morning, according to the Rowan County coroner’s office.
Kentucky State Police said the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office was called for a welfare check just after 10:15 a.m. and found the bodies.
State police said they identified Joshua W. Cottrell, 44, of Morehead, as the suspect. State police said they and other law enforcement agencies found Cottrell at a hospital in the Paducah area at 2 p.m.
After he was treated and released from the hospital, Cottrell was taken to the McCracken County Jail on two counts of murder and one count of tampering with physical evidence, according to KSP.
Coroner John Northcutt said the victims were found at a residence on Spring Street in Morehead. He declined to say how they were killed.
Northcutt said autopsies will be conducted Saturday at the state medical examiner’s office in Frankfort.
Kentucky State Police are investigating.
Rowan County Middle School said in a Facebook post that the school lost one of its students on Friday.
The school said staff and counselors will be at the school from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, as well as next week “to help support our school community with this loss.”
Morehead Parks & Recreation issued a statement on Facebook Saturday, saying “Kennedi was a talented softball player who shined in our Parks and Recreation leagues as well as on travel teams.
“She was a member of the 2024 11U State Champion Softball Team, the first state championship for our softball program.
“Those who knew her say she had the sweetest personality and was truly one of the kindest people they had ever met. Please keep her family, friends, teachers and teammates in your thoughts during this difficult time.”
This story was originally published September 19, 2025 at 6:17 PM.
