Attorney General James Uthmeier has announced that Ronald Exantus, 42, was extradited to Kentucky after being arrested in Florida for violating parole. Exantus failed to register as a convicted felon with the local sheriff’s office after relocating from Kentucky to Marion County, Florida.
“Today, this child murderer is on his way back to Kentucky—where he belongs,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “I want to thank Statewide Prosecutor McVay, State Attorney Gladson, Sheriff Woods, and Department of Corrections Secretary Dixon for their vigilance and decisive action. I encourage all violent criminals to stay far away from Florida.”
State Attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit Bill Gladson emphasized the importance of cooperation among agencies: “In this case, cooperation between the agencies was critical. The professionals at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution worked together seamlessly to ensure that this offender was captured and returned to Kentucky.”
Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods also commented on the collaborative process: “This case and arrest are the perfect example of how the collaborative efforts of our judicial system should work. This is why the State of Florida is a cut above all others when protecting citizens and the state from true evil in the world.”
Authorities were alerted by information from both statewide prosecution officials and State Attorney Gladson that Exantus had recently moved from Kentucky and might be living in Marion County. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office Intel Unit quickly confirmed his presence there and determined he had not registered as required.
Deputies located Exantus at a residence on SW 43rd Terrace in Marion Oaks. The home was next to Sunrise Elementary School and close to Horizon Academy.
Exantus had previously been involved in a high-profile case in 2015 when he fatally stabbed six-year-old Logan Tipton in Versailles, Kentucky. A jury found him not guilty by reason of insanity but convicted him on other assault charges resulting in a 20-year prison sentence. He served less than half that time before being released on parole.
After failing to comply with legal requirements upon arrival in Florida, Exantus was taken into custody without bond at Marion County Jail. In coordination with several law enforcement agencies—including local prosecutors, corrections officials, and statewide prosecutors—he was extradited back to Kentucky where he will face further consequences for breaching parole conditions.
