Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that Ronald Exantus, 42, was extradited to Kentucky after being arrested in Florida for violating parole by not registering as a convicted felon with the local sheriff’s office.
“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 commented on the coordination between 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 added, “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.”
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) received information indicating Exantus had moved from Kentucky to Florida and might be living in Marion County. After investigating, MCSO confirmed Exantus was residing locally without having registered as a convicted felon as required by law.
Deputies found Exantus at 14790 SW 43rd Terrace in Marion Oaks and arrested him. The residence was located next to Sunrise Elementary School and near Horizon Academy.
Exantus had previously been involved in a high-profile crime; in 2015 he stabbed six-year-old Logan Tipton to death in Versailles, Kentucky. A jury later found him not guilty by reason of insanity but convicted him on assault charges. He received a 20-year prison sentence but served less than half before being released on parole. His failure to register upon arrival in Florida led authorities to book him into Marion County Jail without bond.
The extradition resulted from collaboration among several agencies including MCSO, State Attorney Bill Gladson’s office, the Florida Department of Corrections, and the Office of Statewide Prosecution.
