by Jamie Lucke, Kentucky Lantern
October 7, 2025
Kentucky Parole Board members received what police describe as violent threats after the early release of a child killer attracted criticism from the Trump White House and conservative influencers.
The Parole Board had unanimously recommended on Sept. 30 that Ronald Exantus, 42, remain in prison, but a state law required that he be freed under mandatory re-entry supervision, according to a news release from the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet.
In recent days, parole board members “have had their personal identifying information released online and threats of violence and deaths (made) against them and their families,” the Kentucky State Police said in a news release Monday.
State police warned that such threats are a crime, punishable by jail, and will be investigated.
Exantus, a dialysis nurse, drove from Indianapolis to Versailles in Central Kentucky in December 2015, entered an unlocked home and killed 6-year-old Logan Tipton with a butcher knife taken from the kitchen. Exantus injured the boy’s father and another child.
Exantus admitted killing the child. A jury in nearby Lexington found that he was not guilty of murder and burglary by reason of insanity and guilty but mentally ill on assault charges. He was sentenced to 20 years.
The Kentucky Supreme Court upheld the conviction in 2020.
Matt Walsh, a right-wing political commentator and podcaster, highlighted the early release of Exantus in an Oct. 3 post on X, calling it “one of the most heinous miscarriages of justice in American history.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reposted Walsh’s comments, saying, “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 was released on Oct. 1 after serving seven years and will remain under supervision until June 18, 2026, according to state records which indicate he will serve his supervision in another state. Violating terms of the supervision could result in his return to prison.
The release from the Justice Cabinet says, “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.”
It includes this statement by Parole Board chair Ladeidra N. Jones: “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.”
Kentucky Lantern is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Kentucky Lantern maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jamie Lucke for questions: info@kentuckylantern.com.
