MOREHEAD, Ky. (LEX18) — Two days after a Rowan County mother and daughter were found dead in their Morehead home, a loved one is speaking publicly for the first time about the loss and the impact they left behind.
Kayla Blake, 37, and her 13-year-old daughter, Kennedi McWhorter, were discovered Friday by Rowan County Sheriff’s deputies during a welfare check requested by one of Blake’s coworkers.
Blake, a registered nurse at a local recovery center, and Kennedi, a standout softball player at her middle school, were known for their kindness, dedication, and joy.
“I know everybody says this after people are gone, but this is the honest-to-God truth — Kayla loved unconditionally,” said Kelley McKenzie, cousin to both victims. “You knew Kayla, you loved Kayla.”
McKenzie described the shock of learning the news.
“It has to be a mistake. It just can’t have happened to Kayla. And Kennedi? A 13-year-old?” she said.
Authorities have arrested and charged 44-year-old Joshua Cottrell on two counts of murder and one count of tampering with physical evidence. McKenzie confirmed Cottrell was Blake's boyfriend, and the two lived together.
Cottrell is currently being held at the McCracken County Jail on a $1 million bond.
The grief has been overwhelming for the family. McKenzie recalled she was making caramel apples when she got the devastating call.
"I feel like they're both in heaven. And I know we're not supposed to question God and say why, but it's hard. So young. Kayla was just 37; she had a life to live. Kennedi, 13, and God has a reason, and I don't know why," McKenzie said. A memorial now stands on the middle school softball field in Kennedi’s honor, drawing community members who knew her.
“I could stand here and cry my eyes out, and at the same time, my heart swells with pride because she meant that much to so many people at such a young age,” McKenzie said. “Kennedi had an impact.”
She hopes others will take one lesson from this tragedy: “Just hug your family and hug your babies a little bit tighter.”
Addiction Recovery Institute of America- Kentucky, where Blake worked, posted the following on their Facebook page:
Earlier this week ARIA Kentucky learned of the tragic loss of one of our great team members, Kayla Blake , and her daughter Kennedi McWhorter. This tragedy has greatly affected our Family here at ARIA, as Kayla was one of our best.
Kayla was a passionate Registered Nurse for our organization since 2022. She took great pride in her work and dedicated each day to enriching the lives of the men and women we serve. She selflessly cared for them, without judgement, with great compassion and a love to see them succeed. Her dedication to ARIA was second, only to her love for her children.
She was a very proud mother to Ollie and Kennedi, and loved them unconditionally with every piece of her heart and she made sure you could see that in everything she did. We are equally as sad to learn of the tragic passing of her daughter Kennedi, as she like Kayla, had a great spirit, that she used to make the lives better of all those that she touched.
Kayla and Kennedi leave behind a young son/brother, Ollie. Our family here holds him near to their heart, and our thoughts and prayers are with him, and will remain with him in the difficult days ahead.
Kayla and Kennedi, are unforgettable, they are loved, and will always be family to us here at ARIA.
The lasting ripple of goodness that Kayla has instilled upon our clients will live on and we thank her for making the lives of all those she touched, better,and for getting to share all these special moments with her.
WE LOVE YOU!!!
Private funeral arrangements are being conducted for Blake and McWhorter.
