07-05-2025
2 Teenagers and a Dog Were Found Dead Inside Burning Home: Why Police Think Father Set Fire Intentionally
The bodies of Bently and Rylan Fields were found by police inside a burning Kentucky home
Their father, Dustin Fields, has been arrested on an arson charge
Dustin was arrested after he allegedly gave police "conflicting information"
A Kentucky man has been arrested after his two teenage sons were found deceased inside a burning home police allege he set on fire intentionally.
The victims, 13-year-old Bently Fields and 15-year-old Rylan Fields, were found dead alongside a pet dog after emergency personnel responded to a house fire in Franklin County, Ky., on Wednesday, April 30, the Franklin County Sheriff's Office confirms to PEOPLE.
Dustin Fields, 43, was arrested on Thursday and charged with first-degree arson, Chief Dwayne Depp tells PEOPLE.
Fields was not present at the scene when officers arrived but showed up a few minutes later, Depp says.
He was arrested after he allegedly gave 'conflicting information' to investigators, Depp tells PEOPLE, declining to comment further about the reason behind his arrest.
Dustin also allegedly had an accelerant on his shoes, which were located in different parts of the home, notably near the boys' bodies, according to an arrest citation, The State Journal, WLKY and WHAS 11 reported.
Gofundme Rylan and Bently Fields
Rylan and Bently Fields
Depp confirmed the identities of the teenagers, whose names were released by the medical coroner's office on Monday.
In a GoFundMe set up by the boys' sibling, they are being remembered for their passions: "[Bently] loved to fish and even made YouTube videos about it (BMF'S OUTDOORS). Rylan was more tech-savvy than anything really," reads part of the fundraiser.
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Franklin County Regional Jail Dustin Fields
Dustin Fields
Dustin appeared on Zoom during a Franklin County court on Monday and entered a plea of not guilty, per LEX 18, WHAS 11 and The State Journal.
He reportedly asked a judge if he could be temporarily released to attend his sons' funerals, but it was not granted, per WLKY, WTVQ and The State Journal.
He told the judge: 'I miss my boys,' WTVQ and WHAS 11 reported.
Further charges are pending as the investigation continues, Depp says.
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