Robertson County woman accused of killing and dismembering mother set for competency hearing

A disturbing case out of Kentucky’s smallest county is moving forward as a Robertson County woman accused of killing and dismembering her mother prepares for a competency hearing later this month. Investigators say Torilena Fields is charged with murder, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with physical evidence in connection with the death of her mother, Trudy Fields. The shocking case first came to light in October of last year and has left the small community searching for answers. Family members told reporters they were expecting a competency hearing on Monday, but it did not take place as they had hoped. Instead, the hearing has been officially scheduled for October 27 at 11 a.m. in Harrison County. Chris Tracy, Fields’ attorney and Bluegrass regional manager for the Department of Public Advocacy, explained that Monday’s court appearance was a pretrial conference, not the actual hearing. “Today was never scheduled to be the hearing. We had hoped perhaps we might’ve had the hearing already,” Tracy said, noting that scheduling conflicts often arise when multiple professionals are involved. At the upcoming hearing, a judge will determine whether Fields is mentally competent to stand trial. Tracy said such delays aren’t unusual and that the case has actually moved somewhat faster than most. “Miss Fields’ case is unique because she was able to be assessed by the KCPC doctors quicker than we usually see,” he said. “That assessment is already complete — now we’re just waiting for the hearing.” Tracy added that once the competency issue is settled, they expect to move closer to setting a trial date. This report was compiled from public information and reports.