FRANKFORT, KY – A Kentucky man has entered a not-guilty plea to arson charges after a fire at his residence resulted in the death of his teenage sons.

Dustin Fields, 43, was apprehended by authorities following the destruction of his Frankfort home on April 30, which tragically ended the lives of his sons, aged 13 and 15.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest during a press conference, detailing that Fields is facing a first-degree arson charge. Investigators, aided by a K-9 unit from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, reported that fire accelerants were found on Fields’ shoes and at the fire scene.

Court documents allege that Fields purposely used these accelerants while aware that his sons were inside their home. Evidence of accelerants was discovered where the boys’ bodies were ultimately located.

In addition to the boys, a family dog perished in the blaze. The sheriff’s office noted that the deaths have led them to consider further charges as investigations continue.

A friend of Fields’ wife started a GoFundMe campaign that revealed a backdrop of domestic strife. According to the campaign, Fields’ wife, stepmother to the deceased teenagers and mother to a three-year-old son with Fields, had filed for an emergency protection order against him in March. This was reported amidst a history of domestic disturbances beginning in late 2024. Court hearings were repeatedly delayed due to poor weather, with a family court date set for May 7.

During a virtual appearance before the court on Monday, Fields’s bail was set at $2 million. He petitioned the judge for furlough to attend his sons’ funeral, expressing his grief. “I miss my boys,” he said.

The prosecution opposed Fields’ request, but the judge indicated Fields could motion through his attorney for the matter. Fields is scheduled to return to court on May 13, while the community remains gripped by the tragic tale of loss and legal proceedings.