A man from Kentucky, Dustin Fields, 43, has entered a plea of not guilty to a first-degree arson charge. Fields is accused of setting his own house on fire, resulting in the death of his two teenage sons who were inside the residence at the time. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Fields’ arrest on Thursday, following the fire that occurred the previous day, which completely destroyed his Frankfort, Kentucky home and claimed the lives of his 13 and 15-year-old sons.
The authorities’ investigation led them to charge Fields with first-degree arson. Further details emerged, including the discovery of accelerants by a K-9 unit from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. The accelerants were found on Fields’ footwear and within the burned residence.
The arrest citation, as reported by local media, alleges that Fields “used accelerants to set fire to his residence knowing that the home was occupied by his two juvenile sons.” The accelerants were also reportedly found at the location where the bodies of the boys were discovered.
Autopsies were conducted on the two boys and a family dog, which was also found deceased in the aftermath of the fire. The sheriff’s office indicated during a press conference that the ongoing investigation could potentially lead to additional charges being filed.
A GoFundMe campaign was initiated by a friend of Fields’ wife, who is the stepmother of the two deceased boys and shares a 3-year-old son with Fields. The campaign revealed a reported history of domestic violence between the couple, beginning in late 2024. Fields’ wife had reportedly filed for an emergency protection order in March for herself, their youngest son, and the two teenagers against her husband. However, due to weather and other issues, their court dates were repeatedly postponed. The couple had a court date scheduled for May 7.
On April 30, the devastating fire occurred, resulting in the loss of Fields’ home and his two sons. Fields made a virtual court appearance on Monday, where he pleaded not guilty to first-degree arson. His bail was set at $2 million. Fields asked the judge if he could be released on furlough to attend his sons’ funeral, stating, “I miss my boys.” The prosecution objected to this request, but the judge advised Fields to discuss the matter with his lawyer and file a motion with the Commonwealth. Fields is scheduled to appear in court again on May 13.