Beshear joins KY lawmakers, urges parole board to imprison Ronald Exantus
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- Beshear joins lawmakers urging parole board to return Ronald Exantus to prison
- Letter from 26 state representatives asks board to revoke Exantus’s early release
- Exantus faces revocation hearing after Florida arrest and extradition to Kentucky
Gov. Andy Beshear on Thursday joined several Kentucky lawmakers in encouraging the Kentucky Parole Board to imprison a man who was released early from his 20-year sentence despite killing a child.
Beshear’s call for the parole board to imprison Ronald Exantus, 42, came one day after more than two-dozen Kentucky state representatives signed a letter urging the parole board to do the same.
Beshear also indicated at the weekly news conference that he would support revisiting the law that allowed Exantus to be released from prison early.
“I understand the letter that lawmakers sent; I understand their concern and respect it; I understand other legislators that have said maybe we should look at this law again, and I’m willing to do so with them,” Beshear said.
On Oct. 1, Exantus was released from a Kentucky prison after serving nine years, nine months and 25 days for a 2015 fatal break-in and attack of a family in Woodford County. Exantus was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the stabbing death of 6-year-old Logan Tipton, and he was found guilty but mentally ill in the assaults of Logan’s sisters and father.
Exantus’ release prompted national outcry, including from the White House. He moved to Marion County, Fla., but was arrested on Oct. 9 for failing to register as a felon.
Exantus was extradited to Kentucky on Tuesday and is being held at the Kentucky State Reformatory in Oldham County.
He has a right to a revocation hearing in Kentucky, and if he opts to have the hearing, an administrative law judge will hold a public hearing and send their findings to the parole board, which will determine whether his release should be revoked, said Morgan Hall, spokesperson for the Kentucky Department of Corrections.
The parole board denied Exantus parole on several occasions before his release, including most recently on Sept. 30, but a state law that releases eligible inmates who are within six months of their estimated sentence completion date freed Exantus.
At the time of sentencing, Exantus had an expected release date of 2035, but a combination of good behavior credits and completed educational and work programs significantly reduced his sentence. The letter from lawmakers also asked the board to reconsider any good behavior credit previously granted toward early release.
“Mr. Exantus’ history, combined with his recent violations, demonstrates that he remains a serious and ongoing threat,” lawmakers wrote. “Public safety demands that the Board act decisively to prevent further harm.”
Twenty-six state representatives signed the letter asking the parole board to revoke Exantus’ release, including House Majority Whip James Nemes, R-Middletown, Rep. Matt Locket, R-Nicholasville, and Rep. Vanessa Grossl, R-Georgetown.
Rep. T.J. Roberts, R-Burlington, signed the letter after previously announcing intentions to file a bill to abolish mandatory supervised release in the upcoming legislative session.
During Thursday’s news conference, Beshear was also asked about the investigation into death threats made toward parole board members by people who mistakenly believed the board granted parole to Exantus.
Some board members have had their personal information released online, and threats of violence and death have been made against them and their families, Kentucky State Police previously said.
Beshear said he couldn’t share updates about the investigation, but he noted that misinformation about Exantus’ release, including from the White House, helped fuel the threats.
“There is never an excuse to threaten the life of someone else, and we will pursue each and all of those threats,” Beshear said. “Anywhere that we can take an action that shows that political violence and threatened political violence is never okay, we’ll want to set that example.”
This story was originally published October 30, 2025 at 4:40 PM.
