Kentucky woman accused of killing mother due in court as mental state remains in question

ROBERTSON COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56) — Torilena Fields, the Kentucky woman accused of killing her mother in early October 2024 and cooking her remains, is due in court on Monday as the investigation of her arrest and her mother’s death faces delays due to evidence backlogs, psychological evaluations, and more.

Since March 10, Fields has undergone a court-mandated psychiatric evaluation after her attorney, Laura Fitzer, raised questions about her ability to “appreciate the nature and consequences of the proceedings” or to participate in her defense. Court records indicate Fields’s most recent order for a psychiatric examination was filed on July 8.

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Family members told FOX 56 in October 2024 that Fields was involved in a motorcycle accident while she lived in California that potentially caused brain damage.

“It was a surprise to all of us that she was back here, and we think that Trudy was trying to help her with whatever she had going on mentally,” Olivia Brock, Fields’ cousin, said.

On July 22, Fitzer tendered court documents asking for key pieces of evidence and sets of data connected with the case, which she claimed to had not received.

“I think it’s frustrating that I’ve had, let’s see, 1,100 cases in the last few years and have never had to file a motion to view the evidence before. I don’t see what the reasoning is,” Fitzer stressed to FOX 56 news on July 14.

Fields’ legal team has not told FOX 56 whether or not she was sent the discovery she had tendered documents asking for. At the same time, Fitzer said that budgetary constraints could be slowing down the analysis and entry of evidence in the case.

“I think that it’s just, unfortunately, we have such a backlog,” Fitzer said. “So, unfortunately, they just don’t have enough people and enough funding to be able to do it as quickly as we would expect.”

Fields will appear in court at 9 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 8.

Madylin Goins contributed to this story.