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Convicted child killer arrested in Marion County
A convicted killer who served less than half of a 20-year prison sentence in Kentucky for the death of a child was arrested in Marion County after deputies discovered he had failed to register as a felon, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. FOX 35's Marley Capper gives us a preview ahead of what we know in the case so far ahead of a press conference Friday morning.
OCALA, Fla. - A "child killer" who served less than half of a 20-year prison sentence in Kentucky for the death of a child was arrested in Marion County after deputies discovered he had failed to register as a felon, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
Ronald Exantus recently moved to Florida, investigators said, and was living in a home next to an elementary school.
What we know:
A "child killer" from Kentucky was arrested in Marion County after failing to register as a felon, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
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Deputies identified the man as 42-year-old Ronald Exantus, who recently moved from Kentucky to a home on Southwest 43rd Terrace in Marion Oaks. The home was located next to Sunrise Elementary School and only a few blocks from Horizon Academy.
Exantus was taken into custody Wednesday after investigators confirmed his location and learned he had not registered within 48 hours, as required by Florida law.
Ronald Exantus
The backstory:
Exantus was convicted in 2015 for the stabbing of 6-year-old Logan Tipton' sister in Versailles, Kentucky, a crime that shocked the community. He was found "not guilty by reason of insanity" in Logan's death. He received a 20-year prison sentence but was released on parole after serving less than half of it.
His early release and subsequent move to Florida reignited concerns about how parolees are monitored once they leave prison and cross state lines.
What they're saying:
Marion County officials emphasized the seriousness of Exantus living near schools.
"I am proud of the quick response by my deputies and the interagency teamwork that helped locate and arrest this disgusting individual," Sheriff Billy Woods said in a statement. "The fact that he was living right next to an elementary school is even more repulsive. I have no tolerance for this type of dangerous person flaunting our laws."
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Marion sheriff's office speaks after arrest of 'child killer'
The Marion County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) hosted a news conference Friday morning to share updates and answer questions after the arrest of 42-year-old Ronald Exantus. Exantus, a convicted felon who served less than half of a 20-year prison sentence in Kentucky for the death of a child, allegedly failed to register as a felon.
What we don't know:
Authorities have not said how long Exantus had been in Marion County before his arrest or whether he faces additional charges beyond failing to register. It is also unclear if Kentucky parole officials were aware of his relocation to Florida.
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Timeline:
The stabbings occurred in 2015, and Exantus served roughly eight years before being released on parole. He reportedly moved to Florida in 2025 and was arrested Wednesday after deputies tracked him to his Marion Oaks residence.
The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the Marion County Sheriff's Office.