A Kentucky man will spend the rest of his life in prison after he brutally stabbed a mother and her 13-year-old daughter to death.
Guilty Plea and Sentencing
Joshua Cottrell admitted to killing his girlfriend, 37-year-old Kayla Blake, as well as her daughter, Kennedi McWorter, in September 2025. Blake and her daughter were found dead at their home in Morehead, Kentucky, during a welfare check. Cottrell, who had been living with the victims at the time of the murders, was later found at a hospital in Paducah, still wearing blood-stained clothing.
On April 28, 2026, in Rowan Circuit Court, Cottrell pleaded guilty to two counts of murder and tampering with physical evidence for moving the victims' bodies to alter the crime scene. Judge Elizabeth Davis sentenced him to two life terms without the possibility of parole, plus five years for tampering with evidence.
Criminal History
Cottrell's record revealed a chilling history: in 2003, at just 21, he killed Richie Phillips in Elizabethtown. Convicted of second-degree manslaughter, he served 14 years of a 20-year sentence before being released in 2019.
Victims Remembered
Blake, a dedicated nurse who worked in addiction recovery, was remembered for her compassion and devotion as a mother. Kennedi McWhorter, a bright student and softball player at Rowan County Middle School, was celebrated for her faith and joyful spirit.
