Ohio Jury Convicts Man of Murder of Retired Deputy
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A Hamilton County, Ohio, jury has convicted Rodney Hinton Jr. of murder in the death of retired Hamilton County Sheriff's Deputy Larry Henderson, rejecting his plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.
The verdict came on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court in Cincinnati, before Judge Jody Luebbers. Jurors heard from nearly 20 witnesses and deliberated for more than two days.
Prosecutors say Hinton, 40, deliberately struck and killed Henderson with his car on May 2, 2025, as Henderson directed traffic for the University of Cincinnati's graduation near Burnet Woods. Henderson had retired from the sheriff's office months earlier after 33 years but continued working special assignments.
The crash came hours after Hinton watched police body-camera video of a Cincinnati police officer fatally shooting his son, 18-year-old Ryan Hinton, on May 1, 2025, as Ryan fled a stolen car. Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich later ruled the officer was legally justified in using force. Ryan Hinton's family disputed that finding.
The jury convicted Hinton of murder, two counts of felonious assault and two counts of reckless homicide. It did not convict him on two counts of aggravated murder, finding him guilty of the lesser offense of reckless homicide on those counts instead. The result appears split, because murder requires a purposeful killing while reckless homicide does not. Because he was not convicted of aggravated murder, Hinton could be eligible for parole.
"Make no mistake — this was murder," Assistant Prosecutor Kate Burroughs told jurors in closing arguments. Hinton's attorney, Clyde Bennett II, argued that his client had severe mental illness and plans to appeal.
Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 16, 2026. Murder carries a sentence of 15 years to life with the possibility of parole. Each reckless homicide count carries up to 3 years, and each felonious assault count up to 8 years.
