Kentucky – In a heartbreaking case in Kentucky that left a community grieving, 13-and-15-year-old brothers were killed in a house fire authorities say was deliberately set by their own 43-year-old father, identified as D. Fields. The father now faces arson charges and possibly more after investigators determined the fatal blaze was not accidental. Despite the horrific circumstances, Fields has pleaded not guilty in court.
Fields has been formally charged with first-degree arson, a charge that came just a day after the tragic fire on April 30, 2025, reduced his family home to ashes and killed his two sons. According to investigators, Fields allegedly used accelerants to burn his home to the ground despite the fact that the home was occupied by his two juvenile sons. Court documents and law enforcement sources revealed disturbing evidence found at the scene. A specially trained K-9 from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms detected accelerants on Fields’ shoes and throughout the house, including the very area where the boys’ bodies were later discovered. The family dog also perished in the fire.
Authorities say Fields’ actions that night were deliberate. They believe he intentionally trapped the boys inside the burning home, turning the house into a death trap. As of now, Fields faces the arson charge, though the sheriff’s office indicated that additional charges are possible as the investigation continues. The tragedy took an even darker turn when it was revealed that the family had been dealing with serious domestic issues for months. A friend of Fields’ wife—who was the stepmother of the two victims and shares a 3-year-old son with Fields—said the couple’s problems escalated dramatically in late 2024.
According to a GoFundMe campaign started on behalf of Fields’ wife, there had been a history of domestic violence, and in March, Fields’ wife filed for an emergency protection order against him. The order was sought not only for herself but also for the two teenage boys and the toddler. Unfortunately, due to delays caused by weather and other factors, their court dates kept getting postponed. The couple was scheduled to appear in court on May 7, 2025, but just days before that hearing could take place, the fatal fire occurred.
After his arrest, Fields made a virtual court appearance, where he pleaded not guilty to the arson charge. During the hearing, the judge set his bail at $2 million. Despite the gravity of the case, Fields asked the judge for a furlough so that he could attend his sons’ funeral. “Is there any chance of me furloughing out for the kids’ funeral?” he asked during the proceeding, adding emotionally, “I miss my boys.” The prosecution immediately objected to the request, but the judge said Fields’ lawyer could file a formal motion to have the matter reviewed by the Commonwealth. Fields is scheduled to return to court on May 13, 2025.
As the legal process moves forward, the tragedy has left a family shattered and a community in shock. The deaths of the two boys, who were reportedly seeking protection from their father, have highlighted the dangers of domestic violence and the devastating consequences when intervention comes too late. While Fields maintains his innocence and fights the charges, authorities continue to gather evidence and have suggested that further charges related to the deaths of the boys may soon follow. For now, though, the focus remains on justice for two young lives taken far too soon in a horrifying act of violence inside their own home.
