More than two dozen Republican state representatives have sent a letter to the Kentucky Parole Board, urgently requesting them to return Ronald Exantus to prison and deem him ineligible for re-release.
Exantus was charged with stabbing and killing Logan Tipton, 6, at his Woodford County home in 2015 after driving from his home in Indianapolis, Indiana, to Versailles.
While he was found not guilty of the child’s murder by reason of insanity, Exantus, 42, was convicted on three assault charges for stabbing other members of Logan’s family and sentenced him to 20-years in prison.
Gov. Andy Beshear on Thursday encouraged the Kentucky Parole Board to imprison Exantus.
Kentucky law required Exantus to appear before the parole board last month. After reviewing his file on September 30, the Board made a unanimous decision that Exantus remain in prison to serve out his remaining sentence.
Despite the Parole Board action, Kentucky law required the Department of Corrections to release the inmate on Mandatory Reentry Supervision (KRS 439.3406). That requirement led to threatening phone calls and emails to the Parole Board and its staff, and a Kentucky State Police investigation of the threats is ongoing.
Exantus received permission to move to Florida but was arrested there for failing to register as a convicted felon, and extradited back to Kentucky, to serve out his sentence for violating his parole.
In the letter, a copy of which was obtained by Kentucky Today, the House Republicans stated, “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 broad policy reforms – it underscores the extraordinary nature of this situation. 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.
“Mr. Exantus’s actions in Florida represent a direct violation of his reentry, including failure to abide by the law in another jurisdiction and an apparent attempt to conceal his violent criminal history from the community in which he moved. This deliberate concealment demonstrates a disregard for the safety of others and an ongoing risk to the public.”
They concluded, “Mr. Exantus’ history, combined with his recent violations, demonstrates that he remains a serious and ongoing threat. Public safety demands that the Board act decisively to prevent further harm.”
(Photo: Ronald Exantus, Logan Tipton, courtesy of People.com)
By Tom Latek, Kentucky Today and Ken Howlett, News Director
