Kentucky man who killed 6-year-old boy in 2015 arrested in Florida 1 week after early release

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Kentucky man who was released early from prison last week was arrested in Florida Thursday for failing to register as a convicted felon.

In 2018, Ronald 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 in Versailles.

Last Wednesday, he was released early from a Kentucky prison for good behavior. After learning about his early release, the Tipton family spoke with Lex18 News and said the state hadn't shown any consideration for her family's safety.

"Nobody from the state has contacted us to ask us if we thought about needing security, extra protection, anything like that," Heather Tipton told Lex18. "If you're a victim and there's something like a violent criminal that's going to be released that is in connection to you or your case, or whatever, I think you should be offered some sort of security or protection, or at least just a phone call."

Exantus was ordered to remain under court supervision until his sentence formally ends in June 2026. The family said they were told he would serve his mandatory reentry supervision in Florida.

Thursday, that's where Exantus was taken back into custody for failing to register as a convicted felon within 48 hours, as required by Florida law, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office.

In a news release, the sheriff's office said it had learned Exantus may be residing there after relocating from Kentucky. They later confirmed Exantus was in fact living there, in a home adjacent from an elementary school and blocks away from another school, and had not yet registered as a convicted felon.

Exantus was arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail where he is being held without bond.

In a post on X Thursday afternoon, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said state officials are working to send Exantus back to Kentucky.

Earlier this week, Kentucky State Police said investigators were 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 Thursday 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.

This story may be updated.

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