LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A man released early from his 20-year prison sentence for stabbing a 6-year-old to death in his bed in 2015 is back behind bars in Kentucky as lawmakers push the parole board to prevent him from being released again.
Ronald Exantus is in custody at the Kentucky State Reformatory in La Grange after being extradited back to the state from Florida, where he was arrested in Marion County earlier this month for failing to register as a convicted felon one week after he was released from jail early on good behavior.
Ronald Exantus was booked into the Kentucky State Reformatory in La Grange on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, after his extradition from Florida. (Photo courtesy of VINE)
The now 42-year-old was released Oct. 1 after serving less than half of his 20-year prison sentence for stabbing 6-year-old Logan Tipton to death in his bedroom 10 years ago in Versailles, Kentucky.
His release sparked 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. Police there said Exantus was living in a home adjacent from an elementary school and blocks away from another school, and had not yet registered as a convicted felon, at the time of his release.
Now that he is back in Kentucky, the state's General Assembly has requested the parole board to "deem him ineligible for re-release."
A letter signed by 26 state representatives said, in part, "Recent events in Florida highlight the continuing danger Mr. Exantus poses to public safety, particularly to children."
"Mr. Exantus' history, combined with his recent violations, demonstrates that he remains a serious and ongoing threat," the letter continues. "Public safety demands that the Board act decisively to prevent further harm."
The letter also asks the board to reconsider any credit previously granted toward Exantus' early release.
"While this request marks a departure from our usual policy of refraining from engaging in specific cases before the board and instead focus solely on board policy reforms - it underscores the extraordinary nature of this situation," the letter continues. "The decision to engage directly speaks to the severity and egregiousness of the crime, and highlights just how critical it is to acknowledge its impact."
The letter comes about three weeks after Kentucky State Police and the FBI started 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.
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.
"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.
Exantus was sentenced in 2018 to 20 years in prison for stabbing 6-year-old Logan Tipton to death in his bedroom after breaking into a home on Douglas Avenue in Versailles on Dec. 7, 2015. He also stabbed Logan's sister, who survived, and assaulted their father.
He 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.
This story may be updated.
Previous Coverage:
Man who killed Kentucky child in 2015 extradited from Florida for failing to register as a felon
Family says Kentucky lawmaker exploited death of 6-year-old son to raise campaign money
Kentucky lawmaker plans to file bills in response to early release of man in 6-year-old boy's death
Kentucky man who killed 6-year-old boy in 2015 arrested in Florida 1 week after early release
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
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