Guilty Plea Brings Closure to 2025 Double Murder Case
A Kentucky man has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after admitting to the brutal killings of a mother and her teenage daughter in 2025.
Joshua Cottrell, 44, entered a guilty plea to two counts of murder and one count of tampering with physical evidence, according to court records.
Victims Found Inside Morehead Home
The victims, Kayla Blake, 37, and her 13-year-old daughter Kennedi McWhorter, were discovered dead inside their home on Spring Street in Morehead on September 13, 2025.
Authorities said a concerned coworker went to check on Blake after she failed to show up for work, leading to the discovery.
Details of the Attack
Court documents reveal that Blake was fatally stabbed in the head inside a bedroom, while her daughter was attacked in a nearby area of the home and suffered fatal injuries to the throat.
Investigators have not publicly identified a motive behind the killings.
Arrest and Evidence
Neighbors confirmed that Cottrell had been at the residence the day before the bodies were found. Authorities later located him at a hospital in the Paducah area, where he was reportedly found with blood on his clothing.
Additional Sentence for Evidence Tampering
In addition to the life sentence for the murder convictions, Cottrell received a concurrent five-year prison term for tampering with physical evidence.
Prior Criminal History
Cottrell previously served time in prison for a 2005 manslaughter case involving the death of Richie Phillips. He had been sentenced to 20 years but was released on parole after serving a portion of that term.