• Ronald Exantus released 13 years early after killing Logan Tipton in 2015 home invasion attack in Kentucky.
• White House Press Secretary calls release “wholly unacceptable” as federal investigation begins into early freedom.
• Kentucky lawmakers push “Logan’s Law” requiring insanity verdicts result in mandatory mental health facility placement.

VERSAILLES, Ky. (TDR) — The White House has launched an investigation into why Ronald Exantus, convicted in the fatal stabbing of 6-year-old Logan Tipton, was released from prison more than a decade before completing his 20-year sentence.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Saturday that federal officials are “looking into” Exantus’ early release. “It’s wholly unacceptable for a child killer to walk free after just several years in prison,” Leavitt said on X.

The 2015 attack

On Dec. 7, 2015, Exantus, 42, entered the Tipton family’s home in Versailles through an unlocked door. According to investigators, he stabbed Logan, the boy’s father Dean Tipton, and two of Logan’s sisters as they slept in what authorities described as a random killing.

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Logan’s older sister, Koral Tipton, then 11, called 911 as her father wrestled the knife from Exantus. “He did it in front of me,” Koral said. “He did it in front of my siblings. And being an older sister, who has the obligation anyway to protect her younger siblings, it’s just, he ruined, he messed us up.”

Dean Tipton recalled discovering his son’s injuries. “He was laying there. And I grabbed him. I’m holding him. I’m screaming for help. He’s gasping for air,” he said. “It was five seconds after I got my hands on him that he just—he looked at me, he closed his eyes, and he was gone.”

Split verdict sparks controversy

In 2018, a jury found Exantus not guilty of murder by reason of insanity, determining he suffered from late-onset schizophrenia and experienced a psychotic break. However, the same jury convicted him on two counts of second-degree assault and one count of fourth-degree assault for attacking Logan’s father and sisters.

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Exantus was sentenced to 20 years in prison—two consecutive 10-year sentences for the assault charges. The Kentucky Supreme Court upheld his conviction in 2020, while the Kentucky State Parole Board denied him parole in 2021 and deferred it for two years in 2023.

Despite the parole board voting unanimously on Sept. 30 that Exantus should remain in prison for the remainder of his sentence, state law required his release under Mandatory Reentry Supervision (KRS 439.3406).

“The Parole Board did not release Ronald Exantus on parole,” the Kentucky Justice Cabinet stated. “Despite this decision, a provision in Kentucky law required the Department of Corrections to release the inmate on Mandatory Reentry Supervision.”

Exantus served approximately seven years of his sentence before being released in October. Good behavior credits, time served in jail before trial, and the six-month reentry supervision program combined to shave nearly 13 years off his sentence.

Push for Logan’s Law

The family’s longtime struggle for justice has gained new momentum following the White House announcement. Heather Tipton, Logan’s mother, said her first reaction was “finally” when learning federal officials would investigate.

“We are finally, people are finally finding out about this,” she said. “You know, 10 years ago we tried to get the word out, but social media was not what it is now.”

Kentucky State Rep. Jason Nemes (R-Louisville) is pushing for new legislation called “Logan’s Law,” which would require individuals found not guilty by reason of insanity to be placed in maximum-security mental health facilities rather than released into the community after prison.

“We are gonna look at making a change in law to say that if you’ve been convicted of a violent crime, but the jury says that you were insane at the time you committed the crime…we are gonna put you in a maximum security mental health institution,” Nemes said.

Additionally, State Rep. T.J. Roberts (R-Burlington) plans to introduce legislation to prevent split verdicts where defendants are found guilty of lesser charges but not guilty of murder based on insanity defenses.

Rearrest in Florida

Exantus was relocated to Florida to serve his reentry supervision but was arrested less than a week after his release for failing to register as a convicted felon within 48 hours of arriving in the state, as required by Florida law.

Bridget Hofler, Exantus’ former defense attorney, said he called her after being released. While initially shocked by his early release, she defended him.

“The horrible thing about this is Ron did not intend to do any of this and Ron was insane when it happened,” Hofler told WKYT. “But yet, Logan is still dead and those children are still traumatized and they will be until the day they die.”

The family said they have not been contacted by the White House regarding the investigation. Dean Tipton expressed frustration over the lack of communication. “You say you’re investigating this, come talk to the family,” he said. “Find out what this family has been through.”

Should individuals found not guilty by reason of insanity in violent crimes be required to serve time in mental health facilities after prison sentences, or does the current system adequately protect public safety?

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