The stabbing death of a kindergartner asleep in his home has plunged a Kentucky town into mourning, and shaken neighbors are rallying around the family even as they worry about their security. A man from Indiana described by authorities as having no apparent ties to the town or family has been charged with murder.
The death of the 6-year-old boy has police, neighbors and family in this small community of Versailles puzzled after the man from 200 miles away in Indiana was arrested and accused in police documents of repeatedly stabbing the boy in the head with a large kitchen knife. No motivation in the killing has been reported by authorities.
“It kind of hits close to home when it’s a couple houses down from you,” said neighbor Tiffany Crow, who is now thinking of buying more locks for her home.
Logan Tipton was killed before dawn Monday when the intruder broke into his home, grabbed a large kitchen knife and stabbed the boy, police said.
“Babies aren’t supposed to have anything like this happen to them,” said the boy’s aunt, Melissa Pujol. “You can’t make sense of it. You just have to try to get through it. We’re just trying to get through it.”
Logan was a happy child, always smiling, she said. He loved to play football.
Police said Ronald Exantus, 32, of Indianapolis is accused of breaking into the house where the boy lived with his parents and siblings in Versailles, near Lexington in Kentucky’s thoroughbred and bourbon country. The police citation alleges Exantus wandered around after gaining entry, then headed to an upstairs bedroom where the boy was asleep, stabbing him several times in the head.
Exantus has been charged with murder and first-degree burglary. He appeared in a Woodford County courtroom and entered a plea of not guilty Monday with bond set at $1 million by District Court Judge Vanessa Dickson.
“We’re all kind of bumping our heads again a wall; it’s mind-boggling,” said Versailles police Lt. Michael Fortney. “It’s a child who had no opportunity to defend himself.”
Christmas lights and decorations, including a Snoopy wearing a Santa hat, adorned the small frame house where Logan had lived with his family. Two bikes and a basketball were strewn in the front yard. Neighbors said Logan and his siblings would be outside playing whenever weather permitted. Nearby are a couple of churches, one with a front yard sign reading: “Jesus is the reason for the season.”
The town has rallied around Logan’s family.
Laura Burton Lacy, a family friend, set up an online fundraising account to raise money for his funeral, counseling for his siblings and other expenses. Community members collected $15,000 in just a few hours alone.
The family plans to move out of their house in the neighborhood.
Two of the boy’s sisters suffered non-life-threatening cuts in the attack, and the suspect was held by the boy’s father until police arrived, the arrest citation said. The boy’s family told police they have never seen Exantus before.
“The family did all that they could,” Pujol said.
Fortney said police have found nothing to connect Extanus to the family or to the town.
Hours after the killing, an attorney appointed to represent Exantus questioned his mental competency. Bridget Hofler said at her client’s arraignment that he was unresponsive when she asked him about his background and family. He didn’t know his mother’s phone number nor could he tell her his occupation or what he was doing in town, she said.
“I have discussed various things with him on two separate occasions this morning and he’s not able to really discuss anything; he’s not here,” Hofler told reporters afterward.
She told the judge she has heard her client is a registered nurse, but has been unable to confirm that. The Indiana Professional Licensing Agency lists a Ronald Exantus of Indianapolis as having an active nursing license.
Logan was a kindergartner at Simmons Elementary in Versailles. His classmates were told he had died, but not about the circumstances of his death, said county schools Superintendent Scott Hawkins.
“He was extremely well liked,” Hawkins said of the boy. “He had a lot of friends at the school. Just a great, great little boy, and one that you certainly loved having in your building.”
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Sounds like a psychotic break–likely brought on by SSRI (Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) antidepressants (Prozac,Effexor, etc). The drug corps. have known, for many years, that about 5% of the people who take SSRIs, will have psychotic breaks while on them. The longer one is on an SSRI the greater the chance of having a psychotic break. The danger is that serotonin will build up in the brain to toxic proportions–inducing psychosis, especially if combined with an herb like, St. John’s Wort which works in another way to increase serotonin levels. If it turns out that he is a Registered Nurse, I would be willing to bet that is the case. Nurses have a much higher rate of the use of pharmaceuticals of all sorts–probably because they are around drugs all the time. If it turns out that the murderer was on SSRI antidepressants (and some people take 4 or 5 at the same time) I would like to see the parents of the boy bring suit against the medical establishment (especially the drug companies for not warning of the disastrous consequences). The vast majority of mass killers have had a history of anti-depressant use. With an estimated 40 million Americans on antidepressants, the next psychotic killer spree is only a matter of time.
The father held the murderer until the police arrived.
We can only say “What was wrong with the father?”
Just put the murderer into the general prison population and let justice take its course.
Do not delude yourselves with the forgiveness mantra.
This is what Jesus Christ said about the likes of this killer who strike out at children and their siblings.
But whoever shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Matthew 18:6 American King James Version
Christ has said tortuously killing him would be better, obviously then what is to come..
Words from the same Son of God who violently overturned the tables in the Temple; please note Christ did not have words of any kind of forgiveness for this type of scum.
If I were that father, the guy would have been dead from self defense when the police arrived!
I wonder if he was listening to the Eagles of Death Metal while he was planning his attack? Apparently, one of their songs promotes stealing into a home at night and stabbing a child and his mother. Something must be done about those who promote violence against the innocent–they are always worshipers of the Antichrist, (who is obviously coming soon) and their aim is always, ultimately political (and to make money through the promotion of mayhem and rebellion against God). The Bible (in First John) describes anyone who denies that Jesus is the Son of God, as being “anti-Christ”. That fits with Satanists like the scummy rock group, Eagles of Death Metal and radical Muslims who would kill everyone who doesn’t follow their foul anti-Christ religion. Ironic that they collided in one place at one time in the Paris massacre. The rock group responded to criticism by denying that they are a Satanic group–that their lead singer is nicknamed “devil”. Do they think anyone, other than their demented fans, actually believes that? (Just moments before the attack, the fans were photographed making “devil horns” with their hands.) There is an old adage that goes, “Speak of the devil and he is sure to appear.” Jesus said, “If Satan wars against Satan, can his kingdom last?” I thank God that the answer is a resounding, “NO!” Soon, the devil and all of his followers will go to the place that God has prepared for them. Amen?