ROWAN COUNTY, Ky. — Kentucky State Police have arrested 44-year-old Joshua W. Cottrell of Morehead in connection with the double murder of 37-year-old Kayla Blake and her 13-year-old daughter, Kennedi McWhorter.
Authorities responded to a welfare check call Friday morning after a co-worker failed to report to work. First responders discovered the two deceased individuals at a home near Park Hills Drive in Rowan County.
The Rowan County Coroner pronounced Blake and her daughter dead at the scene. Cottrell was found at a hospital in the Paducah area around 2 p.m., where he was treated and released before being charged with two counts of murder and one count of tampering with physical evidence. He is currently held at the McCracken County Jail.
Kentucky State Police confirmed the Eastern Crime Lab is actively investigating the scene, which remained active late into the afternoon.
Trooper Haney of KSP Post 8 clarified that this murder investigation is unrelated to a separate report of an escaped inmate in the area. Authorities stated there is no threat to the public.
The investigation is ongoing, and more details will be released as they become available.
