Defendant in Versailles boy’s death evaluated; report pending

The prosecution and defense are still waiting for a report on a mental evaluation of the Indianapolis man charged with murder in the death of a 6-year-old boy.

Ronald Exantus, 32, appeared briefly Wednesday before Woodford Circuit Judge Rob Johnson. Exantus is accused in the death of Logan James Dean Tipton, who was killed while he slept in his family’s Versailles home. The prosecution intends to seek the death penalty.

During a brief status hearing, attorneys told the judge that they are waiting for a mental competency report from the Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center in La Grange. Judge Johnson scheduled a new status hearing for June 1. No trial date has been set.

Public defender Bridget Hofler said after the hearing that the defense has more information to provide the psychiatric center, but she would not say what that is.

There was no explanation why Exantus, a former nurse in Indianapolis, came to Versailles. Hofler repeated that Exantus doesn’t remember what happened.

“You have to understand: When someone is psychotic, it’s as if somebody else did all this. He has no recollection,” Hofler told reporters.

“Every now and again a case occurs where really there is no explanation for things,” Hofler said. “In nearly 30 years of practice, I have never had a situation like this. Never.”

Commonwealth’s Attorney Gordie Shaw declined to comment after the hearing. Tipton’s relatives and supporters who attended the hearing also declined to comment.

Exantus returned to the Woodford County jail Monday after a couple of months at the psychiatric center. He remains in jail in lieu of a $1 million bond.

This story was originally published May 4, 2016 at 11:55 AM with the headline "Defendant in Versailles boy’s death evaluated; report pending."