Versailles police search for motive in 6-year-old boy's murder

As the community rallies around the family of 6-year-old Logan Tipton, police are still trying to answer one question: why?

Investigators say preliminary it appears as though Logan's slaying early Monday was random.

Versailles police say they can't find any connection between Ronald Exantus, who is charged with murder and burglary, and the Tipton family. Police say Exantus, who is originally from Florida, but lives in Indianapolis, does not appear to have any criminal history.

"It's kind of mind-boggling ... puzzling," said Versailles Police Lt. Michael Fortney. "As the community rallies around a 6-year-old murder victim Versailles police are still trying to answer the question why."

Police have said Exantus went into the house through an unlocked door, took a knife from the kitchen and repeatedly stabbed Logan. They said the oldest daughter tried to intervene. In fact, at a vigil last night, Dean Tipton, the children's father, said she was a hero.

"This girl right here, my oldest daughter, fought this guy off until I could get upstairs. She fought this grown man trying to kill them off until I got upstairs," he said.

Police arrested Exantus at the house where they say Dean Tipton subdued him. In his arrest citation, the officer says Exantus admitted stabbing Logan, but the report did not provide a motive.

Bridget Hofler, a court-appointed attorney for Exantus, said she feels certain "he's mentally ill." She said at his arraignment that Exantus, who was arraigned Monday afternoon, was unresponsive when she asked him about his background and family.

"We've kind of been looking around at a motive or a reasoning why Mr. Exantus came to Versailles Kentucky," Fortney said. "At this point, we can find no correlation between Mr. Exantus and Versailles or even Kentucky."

A GoFundMe site for the family has raised more than $30,000 since Monday. Friends hope that will help the family move into a new home so they don't have to go back to the place Logan was murdered.

Logan and his siblings were students in Woodford County schools and his death has really hit everyone hard.

The high school orchestra already had a benefit concert for the Salvation Army scheduled for Thursday night at First Christian Church. After Logan was killed, they decided to help the Tipton's too. Half the money raised will go to the family.

Woodford County Schools orchestra director Greg Marsee is hoping to compose a little comfort.

"Hopefully our music will provide a healing for that," he said. "It's just a crying shame. I know a lot of teachers who are just heartbroken over it.

"If someone's hurt or suffering, Woodford County's one of the best communities I've ever seen for stepping in and wrapping their arms around them," Marsee said.