Court records detail double killing of Morehead mother, daughter

Editor’s note: Details of the story may be disturbing to some readers.

MOREHEAD, Ky. (FOX 56) — More information has come to light surrounding the death of a mother and daughter on Friday in Rowan County.

A criminal complaint noted that Kayla Blake and her 13-year-old daughter, Kennedi McWhorter, were found dead on the morning of Sept. 19 in a home on South Spring Street in Morehead following a wellness check.

RELATED:

• Morehead city leaders ‘heartbroken’ over loss of Kennedi McWhorter
• Man arrested after welfare check finds mother, daughter killed in Rowan County

Court documents said Joshua Cottrell, 44, stabbed Kayla in the head and Kennedi in the throat.

Kentucky State Police (KSP) said Kayla was found in a back bedroom, and Kennedi was directly across the hall.

The Rowan County coroner pronounced Kayla and Kennedi dead at the scene.

During the investigation, KSP noted that Cottrell appeared to have moved the bodies, altering the crime scene.

When he was later found at a Paducah hospital, KSP said Cottrell had blood on his clothes.

Neighbors told investigators that Cottrell was at the home the day before.

A neighbor previously told FOX 56 that his daughter was a schoolmate of Kennedi’s and that she’s still in disbelief.

“I’m a kind-hearted person, I love people, and when I hear about something like this, it just breaks my heart. I mean, she was only 13,” Robert Suarez said.

Suarez and the neighborhood said they are now rethinking daily routines, such as locking doors at night.

“I gotta lock my doors now,” Suarez said. “I usually don’t lock my doors, but finding out this happened right down the road, I gotta lock my doors now… When you’re at home, you’re supposed to feel safe. You’re supposed to feel comfortable in your own home. And to not have that, I couldn’t imagine.”

Morehead officials previously told FOX 56 that Kennedi was a member of the 2024 11-and-under state champion softball team.

“Those who knew her say she had the sweetest personality and was truly one of the kindest people they had ever met,” Morehead’s leaders wrote. “Please keep her family, friends, teachers and teammates in your thoughts during this difficult time.”

Malone Funeral Home in Grayson announced that Kayla and Kennedi‘s funerals will be held on Saturday, Sept. 27. Visitations will be held from 6-9 p.m. on Friday and will resume at 9 a.m. before the service.

Cottrell was booked into the McCracken County Jail and is being held on a $1 million cash bond.