Lawmakers demand answers after release of man who killed Woodford County boy

VERSAILLES, Ky. (FOX 56) — The early release of the man who is accused of stabbing and killing a 6-year-old Woodford County boy is drawing national outrage — and now Kentucky lawmakers are demanding answers.

In December 2015, tragedy struck the Tipton family’s Versailles home. Ronald Exantus broke in, stabbing 6-year-old Logan Tipton and attacking his father and sisters.

“I’m looking at my dad holding my little brother in his arms and I just knew that wasn’t good and knew Logan wasn’t going to make it,” Koral Tipton, Logan’s sister, recalled that horrific night.

A jury later found Exantus not guilty by reason of insanity for murder, but guilty of assault, and mentally ill. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2018, but was released early after receiving good behavior and education credits.

State Rep. Jason Nemes said that shouldn’t happen.

“We can’t allow somebody to be not guilty by reason of insanity for something like this and then just walk the streets, so if you’re not guilty by reason of insanity, okay, then you need to be in a mental health institution.”

Nemes said if Kentucky’s Safer Kentucky Act had been in effect at the time, this wouldn’t be the story being told today.

“This would not have happened. If there’s a crime committed today, this would not happen now. That’s on the amount of time. So, for the things that they’re convicted of, it doesn’t help the situation where the person is not guilty by reason of insanity. So that’s what we’re going to change this next year. We’re going to make a tweak to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”

The frustration over this case has spread far beyond Kentucky — even reaching the White House. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration is looking into the situation, calling it “wholly unacceptable for a child killer to walk free after just several years in prison.”

The Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet posted on X over the weekend, clarifying that the parole board did not release Exantus on parole. The post said he was reviewed for parole on Sept. 30, and the board decided he should remain in prison for the rest of his sentence.

Despite that decision, the Cabinet explained that a provision in Kentucky law required the Department of Corrections to release the inmate on mandatory reentry supervision.