The White House is currently investigating the premature release of an individual who invaded a family’s residence, resulting in the murder of a six-year-old, causing widespread public outrage.
Ronald Exantus, aged 42, was released from jail last Wednesday. He had been incarcerated since 2018 for fatally stabbing young Logan Tipton within his home in Kentucky.
The killer had traveled from Indianapolis to Versailles on the night of December 6, 2015 then entered the Tiptons’ house as they slept.
In a post on X, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said: ‘I can confirm the White House is looking into this.
‘It’s wholly unacceptable for a child killer to walk free after just several years in prison.’
Exantus completed a seven-year term of his 20-year sentence after being convicted in 2018 for assault charges, though he was acquitted of murder due to insanity.
Exantus, who was let out early for good behavior, started reentry supervision on October 1, and is to be fully released by June next year.
Logan’s family had fought to have his sentence increased, with the Kentucky Supreme Court upholding it in 2020.
Logan was stabbed repeatedly in the head with a butcher’s knife at his home in Kentucky
Karoline Leavitt confirmed the Trump administration was looking into the case
Ronald Exantus, seen here in his most recent prison mugshot, was released early
Exantus became eligible for parole in 2019 due to credit for time served but was denied in 2021, and deferred in 2023 for two years.
In a statement, the parole board in Kentucky told Daily Mail that they had repeatedly recommended Exantus remain behind bars.
Officials stated, “Exantus was scheduled for a parole review on 09/30/2025, conforming to state legislation. The Parole Board decided Exantus should remain incarcerated for his full sentence.”
‘Despite this decision, Kentucky law required the Department of Corrections to release the inmate on Mandatory Reentry Supervision (KRS 439.3406).’
Logan’s mother Heather Tipton told the Daily Mail on Tuesday that she welcomed the interest from the White House but wouldn’t get her hopes up.
‘I was working and saw Karoline’s post. I was relieved in a sense but I’m not getting my hopes up.
‘We’ve been so let down for 10 years that I just don’t have much faith in government to be honest.
“Nevertheless, we will continue advocating for measures to be implemented. Our goal is justice for Logan, and to help thwart future tragedies for others,” stated concerned parties.
She said last week that Exantus, a former dialysis nurse, was a complete stranger to them and gained access to the home through an unlocked door.
Armed with a large kitchen knife, Exantus launched a brutal assault on the family, taking Logan’s life and gravely injuring his father along with two young sisters.
Logan was stabbed repeatedly in the head with such rage that the blade of the butcher’s knife bent out of shape. Exantus later admitted to officers that he had stabbed and killed the child.
Armed with a large kitchen knife, he launched a vicious attack on the household, murdering Logan and severely injuring his father and two young sisters
Heather said that Exantus, a former dialysis nurse, was a complete stranger to them and gained access to the home through an unlocked door
Donald Trump speaks to reporters before signing an executive order in the Oval Office at the White House
The killing was seemingly unplanned, with Exantus trying numerous addresses on the Tiptons’ street before making his way inside their home.
Trial testimony pointed to Exantus ending up in the city after leaving Indianapolis to head for Florida to see family, yet he got lost on the way after crossing the state border into Kentucky.
Exantus told officers he had seen a sign for a 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’.
According to court papers at the time seen by the Daily Mail, officers were on the scene within 90 seconds of Koral dialing 911.
Logan’s sister Dakota was stabbed in the back by Exantus before he proceeded to stomp on her head.
He told police at the time that he believed he needed to ‘re-enact surgery’ inside the home
According to court papers at the time seen by the Daily Mail, officers were on the scene within 90 seconds. Heather and Logan are seen here
After that, Exantus and Logan’s father Dean started brawling in the children’s bedroom, Dean recalled being thrown across the room after confronting his son’s killer.
Prosecutors disagreed with Exantus’s insanity defense, arguing in court that he was in such a state due to his use of synthetic drugs.
According to Heather, the family are on guard after receiving the news that Exantus was back on the streets, especially after comments he made on that night in 2015.
She added: ‘Obviously we’ve taken measures to protect ourselves better than we were at the time, but there is a palpable fear there.
‘He told my oldest daughter, who was 11 at the time, that ‘I’m going to kill every one of you here’.
‘Something my daughter just told me is she said “Mom, I feel like he’s going to come back to finish the job.”‘
‘You shouldn’t have to worry about that when somebody is caught in the act with literal blood on their hands’, she said.
The day after the death of her son, Heather moved house with her husband and kids.
Due to the uproar over Exantus being released early, unknown individuals have reportedly made threats against the Kentucky Parole Board members.
Police said that members of the board have received threats from the public, despite not being responsible for his release.
A statement said: ‘At a time when political violence is on the rise, it’s more important than ever that information shared is accurate and threats like these are taken seriously.’
Ladeidra N.Jones, chairman of the Kentucky Parole Board, added: ‘Despite repeatedly voting for Ronald Exantus to remain in prison, parole board members have faced significant threats over the last several days, even having their personal addresses released publicly.
‘We are encouraging individuals to take these threats seriously and to prioritize factual information, which is that the board did not release Exantus – instead, a law passed by the General Assembly did.’
