An Indiana man accused of breaking into a home and stabbing a family, including the brutal, fatal stabbing of 6-year-old Logan Tipton, is now a free man.
In 2018, Ronald Exantus was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the gruesome murder of Tipton, who was forcefully stabbed repeatedly in the head. The jury, though, found him guilty but mentally ill on assault charges. He was sentenced to 20 years behind bars.
This past week, however, Exantus was released from prison after serving only eight years. He’s set to serve six months of parole in Florida.
Notably, the defense team admitted during trial that Exantus committed the murder, and the victim’s father, Dean Tipton, witnessed the attack and held down Exantus until police arrived on scene. Two of Tipton’s sisters and Dean were stabbed and injured during the attack.
Tipton’s sister, Koral, recalled waking up to her brother’s screams on the night of the attack, December 7, 2015. “All I could see was a man, a big man, over top of him, stabbing him,” she said to FOX56.
Dean fought to save his son, but was thrown across the room. “He snaps, just snaps, and stands up with me sitting on top of him, and he throws me across the room,” he said. “I mean, maybe 10-15 feet he throws me across the room and goes after [Koral].”
Dean said he held his dying boy in his arms that night. “He was gasping for air; I was holding him deep in my arms. And finally, he took his last breath, looked at me, closed his eyes, and he was gone,” the father said.
“It’s infuriating that a six-year-old was killed sleeping in his bed, and someone literally only did ten years in prison, and he didn’t even do the time for that. He did time for assault charges. It’s just infuriating,” Heather Tipton, the boy’s mother, said.
As for Dean, he now feels fear for his whole family, and says he’ll kill Exantus if he ever has the chance.
“He told he was going to kill every one of us,” Dean said. “So now, I’ve got to be on extra guard to protect my kids because I will not lose another one, not like this.”
“I’ve had my talks with God cause I’m not afraid to tell you all, I told the court — if I ever cross paths with him, I will kill the man. I will kill him where he stands,” the father added, speaking to WKYT.
BREAKING: Father says he ‘WILL K*LL’ the man who broke into his Kentucky home and st*bbed his six-year-old boy to death after he was released from prison having served just half his sentence
The boy’s father says, “I’ve had my talks with God… I told the court if I ever cross… pic.twitter.com/QSSVwsmJ9y
— Unlimited L’s (@unlimited_ls) October 3, 2025
On Friday, Daily Wire podcast host Matt Walsh spotlighted the story on X, specifically calling on the Trump White House to get involved. Hours later, the White House confirmed it was reviewing the case.
Get 40% off new DailyWire+ annual memberships with code FALL40 at checkout
“This case should be getting A LOT more attention. Should be massively viral,” Walsh posted Friday. “We need the White House on it. A man who broke into a house and stabbed a child to death is now walking free. One of the most heinous miscarriages of justice in American history.”
This case should be getting A LOT more attention. Should be massively viral. We need the White House on it. A man who broke into a house and stabbed a child to death is now walking free. One of the most heinous miscarriages of justice in American history
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) October 3, 2025
“Logan Tipton is the victim. He was six years old. Ronald Exantus broke into his house and stabbed him in the head while he slept. Now he’s out of prison and walking free,” Walsh continued. “Logan Tipton’s name should be famous. The names of every judge and prosecutor who allowed this to happen should be infamous. This story should be viral the way that Iryna’s was. This case is somehow even worse — much, much worse.”
Logan Tipton’s name should be famous. The names of every judge and prosecutor who allowed this to happen should be infamous. This story should be viral the way that Iryna’s was. This case is somehow even worse — much, much worse.
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) October 3, 2025
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted to X on Saturday morning, “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.”
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. https://t.co/pOjKxvmrZV
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) October 4, 2025