Convicted Killer of 6-Year-Old Kentucky Boy Released on Parole After Serving Less Than Half of 20-Year Sentence
VERSAILLES, Kentucky — A 42-year-old Kentucky man convicted in the killing of 6-year-old Logan Tipton has been released from prison after serving less than half of his 20-year sentence, a move that has devastated the child’s family and reignited debate about the state’s parole system.
Early Release After Deadly 2015 Attack
According to online state records, Ronald Exantus was released from custody on Wednesday and placed under mandatory reentry supervision until June 26, 2026. Exantus was convicted of second-degree assault in connection with the death of Logan Tipton, who was stabbed to death during a horrific home invasion in December 2015.
Authorities said Exantus broke into the Tipton family’s home in Versailles, Kentucky, in the early morning hours, entered Logan’s bedroom, and stabbed the 6-year-old multiple times as the boy slept. Exantus also attacked Logan’s father and two sisters before being restrained.
Jury Found Him Not Guilty of Murder by Reason of Insanity
A Woodford County jury found Exantus not guilty of murder by reason of insanity in 2018. Instead, he was convicted of second-degree assault, which carried a 20-year prison sentence. Prosecutors had sought a harsher outcome, arguing that Exantus’ actions were deliberate and brutal.
State records show he began serving his sentence in 2018 and was released early for good behavior, prompting widespread outrage among Kentucky residents and the victim’s family.
Father’s Emotional Reaction
Logan’s father, Dean Tipton, spoke with WLKY-TV after learning of Exantus’ release, expressing anger and grief over what he called a profound injustice.
“I’ve had my talks with God ’cause I’m not afraid to tell you what I told the court,” Tipton said. “If I ever cross paths with him, I will kill the man. I will kill him where he stands.”
The grieving father said the release has reopened old wounds nearly a decade after the attack that took his son’s life. “I laid in bed. I gave up. I gave up on life,” Tipton told the station. “I gave up on my family. I gave up on everybody. I just wanted to die.”
Released on Mandatory Supervision
Exantus’ release comes with conditions under Kentucky’s mandatory reentry program, which includes community supervision and regular check-ins with parole officers. He is prohibited from contact with the victim’s family or returning to the Versailles neighborhood where the killing took place.
Critics of the release say that Kentucky’s sentencing and parole laws fail to protect families of violent crime victims, especially in cases involving child deaths.
The case of Ronald Exantus continues to draw public outrage across Kentucky, as many question how a man convicted in one of the state’s most shocking child murders could walk free after serving less than a decade. For continuing coverage on Kentucky crime and justice developments, visit ChicagoMusicGuide.com.