Kentucky lawmaker plans to file bills in response to early release of man in 6-year-old boy's death

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Kentucky lawmaker plans to file legislation in response to concerns over how Ronald Exantus was convicted and released.

In 2018, Exantus, now 42, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for stabbing 6-year-old Logan Tipton to death in his bedroom nearly 10 years ago.

Exantus broke into a home on Douglas Avenue in Versailles on Dec. 7, 2015, walked up the stairs with a kitchen knife and stabbed Logan as he slept. The boy cried out during the attack and woke his sister, Dakota. She survived being stabbed.

Exantus was arrested after Logan's father tackled him and held him down until police arrived.

During his six-day trial, the defense argued Exantus was insane at the time of the crime and in a state of psychosis. But both the defense and prosecution admitted that he killed the boy.

Exantus was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity, but he was convicted for the brutal assaults on other family members the night he broke into the home.

But after serving less than half of his 20-year prison sentence, Exantus was released early from jail, on Oct. 1, on good behavior. He was ordered to remain under court supervision until his sentence formally ends in June 2026.

His release spared backlash across the state, and across the nation after he was arrested less than a week later in Florida for failing to register as a convicted felon within 48-hours of moving to the state.

The Marion County Sheriff's Office in Florida said Exantus was given a form by the Department of Corrections explaining his requirement to register. His failure to do so is a misdemeanor and a probation violation that will likely lead to his extradition back to Kentucky.

Now, Kentucky Rep. TJ Roberts plans to introduce two bills: one that will end mandatory reentry supervision and another that will end split verdicts in cases in which insanity are used.

Roberts said a case like Exantus' can't be allowed to happen again, and that the justice system failed the victims in the case.

Meanwhile, Kentucky State Police said investigators are looking into threats made to the state parole board in connection with Exantus' early release from people who believe the board voted to release Exantus. Gov. Andy Beshear said last week the FBI is also now involved in the investigation.

The board said each time it had the opportunity, its members voted unanimously to keep Exantus in prison. He was last reviewed for parole on Sept. 30 as required by state law. The parole board issued a decision that Exantus should stay in prison for the remainder of his sentence.

In a news release Tuesday, board members said "at a time when political violence is on the rise, it's more important than ever" that accurate information is shared with the public.

"Despite repeatedly voting for Ronald Exantus to remain in prison, Parole Board members have faced significant threats over the last several days, even having their personal addresses released publicly," Ladeidra N. Jones, chair of the Kentucky Parole Board, said in the news release. "We are encouraging individuals to take these threats seriously and to prioritize factual information, which is that the board did not release Exantus – instead, a law passed by the General Assembly did."

Despite the board's decision to keep Exantus in prison, Kentucky law required the Department of Corrections release him on Mandatory Reentry Supervision. The board doesn't have the authority to release inmates on MRS, which is a process governed by state law.

Beshear's office said Exantus requested and was accepted by the state of Florida to serve his MRS there, in accordance with the Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision.

KSP investigating threats to state parole board after convicted murderer's early release

Man who killed Versailles boy in his bedroom in 2015 released early from Kentucky prison

Man accused of stabbing Kentucky boy to death found NOT GUILTY by reason of insanity

Man accused of killing 6-year-old Kentucky boy blames TV show

Six-year-old Ky. boy fatally stabbed during attack in his bedroom

Trial for man accused of murdering 6-year-old boy to start Monday

Prosecutors will seek death penalty for man accused of murdering 6-year-old