Stranger who killed six-year-old boy is rearrested just days after being released only seven years into sentence

A man who broke into a Kentucky home and fatally stabbed a six-year-old boy has been rearrested in Florida just days after his early prison release sparked outrage.

Ronald Exantus, 42, who stabbed Logan Tipton with a butcher knife in the middle of the night as the child slept inside his family’s Versailles home in 2015, walked free from prison on October 1. 

Despite being sentenced to 20 years behind bars in 2018, his prison stint was slashed by more than half after earning education and good behavior credits.

He was out on mandatory reentry supervision in Florida and was set to be released entirely by next June. 

But the former dialysis nurses’ taste of freedom was short-lived, as he was rearrested in Marion County on Thursday. 

Exantus had failed to register as a convicted felon with the county within the 48-hour window required by the law, according to the sheriff’s office.

Authorities noted that they had detained the child killer from a residence across the street from an elementary school. 

‘I am proud of the quick response by my deputies and the inter-agency teamwork that helped locate and arrest this disgusting individual,’ Sheriff Billy Woods said. 

‘The fact that he was living right next to an elementary school is even more repulsive. I have no tolerance for this type of dangerous person flaunting our laws and thinking he would hide out in our county.’ 

Exantus’ arrest comes just days after Donald Trump’s administration expressed fury over the killer’s release. 

Shortly after Exantus was freed, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt declared the White House was ‘looking into this’ on X. 

‘It’s wholly unacceptable for a child killer to walk free after just several years in prison,’ she wrote.    

Exantus was found not guilty of Logan’s murder by reason of insanity. However, he was found guilty but mentally ill on assault charges for stabbing Logan’s father and sisters during the 2015 rampage. 

On the night of the heinous crime, Exantus – who had no previous relationship with the Tiptons – drove from Indianapolis to Versailles to attack the unsuspecting family. 

Logan’s mother, Heather Tipton, told the Daily Mail he entered their home through an unlocked door. 

After gaining entry, he unleashed a vicious assault on the entire family, killing Logan and severely injuring his father and two sisters.   

Logan was stabbed repeatedly in the head with such rage that the blade of the butcher’s knife bent out of shape. 

During his trial, Exantus’ friends recalled he was acting strangely in the days before the disturbing killing. 

He was believed to have been headed to Florida to see family when he stopped at the Tipton’s home. 

Exantus told officers he had seen a sign for Gray Street and it reminded him of the medical TV show ‘Grey’s Anatomy’.

He told police at the time that he believed he needed to ‘re-enact surgery’ inside the Tiptons’ home and that the street name ‘made him think of knives for surgery.’

Exantus became eligible for parole in 2019 due to credit for time served and had his parole pushed back in 2021. It was then deferred for two more years in 2023.

Before Exantus was granted release, Logan’s family had fought tooth and nail in Kentucky court to have his sentence extended. 

In a statement, the parole board in Kentucky told Daily Mail that they had repeatedly recommended Exantus remain behind bars.

They said: ‘Exantus was reviewed for parole on 09/30/2025, as required by state law. The Parole Board issued a decision that Exantus stay in prison for the remainder of his sentence.

‘Despite this decision, Kentucky law required the Department of Corrections to release the inmate on Mandatory Reentry Supervision.’

Logan’s father, Dean Tipton, had vowed revenge against his son’s killer before his rearrest. 

‘I’ve had my talks with God because I’m not afraid to tell, and I’ve told the court if I ever cross paths with him, I will kill the man. I will kill him where he stands,’ Dean said to WLKY. 

Heather had expressed fear over Exantus being out on the streets once again, as he told Logan’s sister, Koral, he was going to kill their entire family.

‘If you’re a victim… and there’s a violent criminal going to be released that’s in connection to you, I think you should be offered some sort of security or protection – or at least just a phone call,’ Heather said.

‘It just feels like a six-year-old’s life is worth more than ten years in prison.’