When Joshua Cottrell's family saw his face on the news last week, charged with the double murder of his girlfriend and her 13-year-old daughter, their first thought wasn't shock- it was confirmation of their worst fears.

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The text message came with a news article attached: Joshua Cottrell, arrested for the double murder of his girlfriend and her 13-year-old daughter. For his family member reading it, there was no shock- only the sinking realization that their worst nightmare had finally come true.

c For his family, this tragedy felt grimly inevitable- the result of a justice system they believe failed everyone involved more than two decades ago.

"He shouldn't have been out of jail. He's a scary person, and he should have never been out of prison," the family member told me, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Kayla Blake and her daughter Kennedi McWhorter; Credit: Malone Funeral Home

A pattern that started young

Cottrell's troubles began early, according to his family member. Born with fetal alcohol syndrome to a young mother struggling with addiction, Cottrell came into their family when he was adopted around two or three years old.