Change of venue ruling expected soon in child murder case

VERSAILLES, Ky. (WTVQ) – The judge in a high-profile murder case in Woodford County promised a decision within a week on whether to move the trial to another county.

In court on Thursday, the lawyer for accused child killer Ronald Exantus asked for the trial to be moved to neighboring Fayette County because of pre-trial publicity. Bridget Hofler also says there is a racial component as well based on comments she says she has read against her client on social media. She says media coverage and race give Exantus an unfair shot. Exantus is black, his reported victim was white.

Exantus is a divorced father of three from Indianapolis who police say drove from Indiana to Kentucky, broke into a Versailles home and stabbed 6-year old Logan Tipton to death while he slept in December 2015.

Investigators say there’s no evidence that Exantus had any ties to the Tipton family.

Exantus had no criminal or psychiatric history, according to authorities.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.