Controversial release triggers threats against Kentucky Parole Board

Kentucky State Police confirm the agency is investigating after members of the state's Parole Board received violent threats and had their personal information posted online in recent days, authorities announced.

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Kentucky State Police are investigating violent threats and the release of personal information targeting Parole Board members following public outrage over the early release of a man who served only seven years of a 20-year sentence for killing a 6-year-old boy.

The threats come amid public outrage over the release of Ronald Exantus, who was convicted in connection with the 2015 stabbing death of 6-year-old Logan Tipton and freed last week after serving just seven years of a 20-year sentence.

According to KSP, board members and their families have been threatened with violence and death over the past several days. The agency is warning that making such threats is a crime under Kentucky law, punishable by jail time.

"KSP is urging individuals to stop the threats against Board members," the agency stated. "For those who continue to participate in this criminal activity, an investigation will be opened and charges may be issued."

But this is important- while threats are never ok- in this case, they are being directed to the wrong people.

The Kentucky Parole Board did not release Exantus- it actually voted unanimously for him to remain in prison.

Kentucky law required the Department of Corrections to release the inmate on Mandatory Reentry Supervision.

“Despite repeatedly voting for Ronald Exantus to remain in prison, Parole Board members have faced significant threats over the last several days, even having their personal addresses released publicly,” said Ladeidra N. Jones, chair of the Kentucky Parole Board, “We are encouraging individuals to take these threats seriously and to prioritize factual information, which is that the board did not release Exantus- instead, a law passed by the General Assembly did.”

The case that sparked the backlash has drawn attention from the highest levels of government. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt condemned the release on social media, calling it "wholly unacceptable for a child killer to walk free after just several years in prison," and confirmed the White House is looking into the matter.

Exantus broke into the Tipton family's Versailles home in December 2015 and used a knife from their kitchen to fatally stab Logan while he slept. The attack was completely random, with no connection between Exantus and the family.

While he was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity, he was convicted on assault charges for attacks against Logan's father and sister.

Exantus is now on supervised parole until June of next year, according to the Kentucky Department of Corrections.

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