Kentucky Man Charged With Murder After Mother and Teen Daughter Found Dead in Morehead
MOREHEAD, Ky. — A community in Rowan County is mourning after a mother and her teenage daughter were found dead inside their Morehead home Friday morning, with a 44-year-old man now facing murder charges.
Victims Identified
The Rowan County Coroner’s Office identified the victims as Kayla Blake, 37, and her 13-year-old daughter, Kennedi McWhorter. The tragedy came to light after a coworker requested a welfare check when Blake did not show up for work.
Deputies discovered the bodies inside a residence on Spring Street shortly after 10:15 a.m.
Suspect Taken Into Custody
Authorities named Joshua W. Cottrell, 44, of Morehead, as the primary suspect. He was located later that afternoon at a hospital in the Paducah area, about five hours from Rowan County.
After being treated and released, he was taken to the McCracken County Jail, where he was booked on:
- Two counts of murder
- One count of tampering with physical evidence
Cause of Death Under Investigation
Coroner John Northcutt confirmed the victims were found inside the home but declined to release details on how they were killed. Autopsies were scheduled at the state medical examiner’s office in Frankfort.
Kentucky State Police say the case remains an active investigation.
Community Grieves Loss of Young Student
Rowan County Middle School confirmed in a statement that one of its students, Kennedi McWhorter, was among the victims. Counselors and staff have been made available to support grieving classmates and community members.
The school described the loss as devastating and announced grief support sessions over the weekend and throughout the following week.
The tragic deaths of Kayla Blake and her daughter Kennedi have shaken Morehead and the broader Rowan County community. For more updates on Kentucky crime and public safety, follow ChicagoMusicGuide.com.