Kentucky community reacts to gruesome death investigation

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - A death investigation continues in northern Kentucky.

A Robertson County woman is under arrest after Kentucky State Police discovered a dismembered body that witnesses believe to be her mother.

Trooper David Jones says Kentucky State Police responded to this home on Brierly Ridge Road Wednesday afternoon after a man who arrived to work on the property made a horrific discovery.

“Two units arrived on scene, discovered the deceased body in the backyard. We obtained a search warrant and called in our special response team,” said Trooper Jones.

The witness believed he found the dismembered body of Trudy Fields, who he had last seen on Tuesday with her daughter, Torilena May Fields.

Torilena was in the home when police arrived, and they had to use tear gas to eventually get her out.

Upon entry, the arrest citation says there were body parts cooked inside an oven. The pot was still warm to the touch.

Trooper Jones says it’s the type of scene they never want to have to process, and residents of the Mount Olivet area are left shocked by its gruesome nature.

“It’s unthinkable, really, to end up ending up that way,” Mt. Olivet resident James McFarland said.

The witness also noted that Torilena was casting spells on him and a coworker when they arrived for work Tuesday.

“To me, where is the mindset of the person at that point? Was she really even mentally stable enough to know what she was even doing?” McFarland said.

James McFarland says that losing someone like this woman in this manner has shaken up their small town.

“She’s a sweet old lady. Sweetest lady you could be around. Really nice,” He said.

Fields is being held at the Bourbon County Detention Center. She is charged with obstructing governmental operations, tampering with physical evidence and abuse of a corpse.

Her arraignment is set for Monday.