MARION COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — A man who stabbed a 6-year-old to death in Kentucky has been arrested in Florida on a parole violation, Attorney General James Usmayer announced Tuesday.
Ronald Exantus, 42, was arrested and extradited to Kentucky for failing to register as a convicted felon with the local sheriff’s office.
In 2015, Exantus stabbed a 6-year-old to death in Versailles, Kentucky.
A Kentucky jury later found Mr. Exantus not guilty by reason of insanity and convicted him of two counts of second-degree assault and one count of fourth-degree assault, and he was sentenced to 20 years in prison, the AG’s office announced.
After serving less than half of his sentence, Exantus was granted parole and released from custody.
“Today, this child murderer is on his way home to Kentucky, which is his home,” said Attorney General James Usmayer. “I want to thank State Attorney McVeigh, State Attorney Gladson, Sheriff Woods, and Department of Corrections Secretary Dickson for their vigilance and decisive action. I encourage all violent criminals to stay far away from Florida.”
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office announced that it received information from the State Attorney’s Office and the Fifth Judicial Circuit that Exantus had recently moved from Kentucky to Florida and may be residing in Marion County.
MCSO conducted an investigation and determined that Exantus resides in Marion County.
“This case and arrest are a perfect example of how a collaborative effort in our justice system should work,” said Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods. “This is why Florida is better than any other state at protecting its citizens and state from the true evils of the world.”
Exantus failed to register as a felon within 48 hours, as required by law.
Exantus was booked into the Marion County Jail and held without bail.
