When Kayla Blake failed to show up to work on September 19, 2025, her coworkers became concerned. Deputies from the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office in Kentucky went to Blake’s home to conduct a welfare check and made a gruesome discovery. Blake, 37, and her 13-year-old daughter, Kennedi McWhorter, were dead inside their home. Police arrested convicted killer Joshua W. Cottrell, 44, later that day on two counts of murder. Sadly, the mother of Cottrell’s first victim feared this would happen again.
According to Kentucky State Police, the latest killings took place in Morehead. Local police reportedly found Cottrell at a Paducah hospital more than 300 miles away. The hospital treated the man and released him. Police arrested him on two counts of murder and one count of tampering with physical evidence.
A criminal complaint obtained by WKYT stated Blake and McWhorter were stabbed to death. Cottrell allegedly moved their bodies and had blood on his clothing when police found them. Although police have remained quiet about the connection between the suspect and victims, a friend reportedly said the couple were in a relationship, per the news station.
This story has a terrifying twist. A jury convicted a then 21-year-old Cottrell of second-degree manslaughter in 2003 in the death of 36-year-old Richie Phillips, LEX 18 reported. He spent more than 15 years in jail until a court released him to mandatory reentry supervision on March 1, 2019.
“When the judge asked, would he do it over? Would he kill him again? He said, ‘Yeah,'” Renie Phillips, Richie Phillips’ mother, recalled.
Renie Phillips lived in fear for years, wondering if he’d return to harm her or their family. “We always feared of him returning to the area but as far as I know he didn’t, so and for my family I was thankful for that,” she shared.
She added that she hopes Cottrell never sees the outside of a prison again.
Blake worked as a nurse at ARIA, an addiction recovery institute. Her colleagues told LEX 18 she had an incredible commitment to her patients.
“Like for her it wasn’t really a job. She wanted to help people. She went above and beyond to do whatever she could in her off time,” Jami Coots, the women’s facility director at ARIA. told LEX 18. “Even whenever she wasn’t on the clock, like if we needed help with something, you knew you could call Kayla for help.”
Hannah Scott told LEX 18 that Blake devoted herself to her children. “She loved Kennedi. She loved both her kids very, very much. She always went above and beyond to help them. It was like I always wanted to be like a mom like she was,” Scott said.
Rowan County Middle School shared the news of Kennedi’s death on Facebook. The community honored her on September 22 by wearing purple clothing in her memory.
“Today, RCMS proudly honored our student, Kennedi McWhorter,” a post reads. “Her memory continues to inspire kindness, unity, and compassion in our school and beyond. We are incredibly grateful to all the surrounding communities and schools who showed their support today. Your presence means more than words can express. Thank you for standing with us.”
What a heartbreaking story. Sadly, if this man really said he’d kill again, maybe the court should have taken his words a bit more seriously. But this go-around, if a jury finds him guilty, Cottrell may not be long for the world. Per Kentucky law, if convicted, Cottrell could face the death penalty.
