A Hamilton County jury convicted Rodney Hinton Jr. of murder on Friday, Oct. 23, for driving his car into Deputy Larry Henderson Jr. and killing him while Henderson directed traffic near the University of Cincinnati in May 2025.
Jurors found Hinton guilty of one count of murder, two counts of felonious assault and two counts of reckless homicide n the third day of deliberations, WLWT reported. They rejected the defense's insanity argument. They did not convict on the most serious charges of aggravated murder.
The jury found Henderson was a peace officer at the time of the offense for the felonious assault charges, according to WLWT's live trial coverage. The reckless homicide counts were allowed as lesser charges to the aggravated murder counts.
Prosecutors said Hinton faces a minimum of 15 years to life in prison on the murder charge. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 16 at 9 a.m.
What happened on May 2, 2025
Both sides agreed Hinton drove his car into Henderson on May 2, 2025, while the deputy worked a traffic detail near Burnet Woods for the University of Cincinnati's graduation, WVXU reported.
The crash came hours after Hinton watched body camera footage of Cincinnati police fatally shooting his son, Ryan Hinton, during a stolen car investigation. Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich said Ryan Hinton was running from police, dropped a gun and later picked it back up, according to Fox 19. The shooting was later deemed justified.
Prosecutors argued Hinton saw Henderson's uniform, connected it to the loss of his son and intentionally drove into the deputy.
Mental health defense rejected
The the 10-day trial opened Oct. 7 with deliberations beginning Oct. 20. The central question was Hinton's mental state.
Defense attorney Clyde Bennett II pursued a not-guilty-by-reason-of-insanity defense. He presented evidence of Hinton's history of schizoaffective disorder and argued Hinton did not understand the wrongfulness of his actions. In closing statements, Bennett also argued Hinton may have been trying to kill himself, not Henderson, when he drove into a pole.
Three psychologists testified. All agreed Hinton has a serious mental illness, according to WLWT. They disagreed on whether that illness prevented him from understanding his actions were wrong.
Forensic psychologist Jennifer O'Donnell testified for the prosecution that Hinton obeyed traffic laws while driving from a Cincinnati Police Department facility in Queensgate, where he viewed the body camera footage, to the crash site, WVXU reported. The state's experts said Hinton was grieving and in extreme emotional pain but still knew his actions were wrong.
Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Jody Luebbers had ruled out the death penalty before trial after experts testified to Hinton's mental illness during pretrial hearings.
Reactions after the verdict
Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey spoke after the verdict. "No one's happy. This is not a happy occasion … But we are certainly satisfied. We want justice, and today we have justice for Larry," McGuffey said, according to WLWT.
Bennett said he was disappointed and plans to file an appeal within 30 days of sentencing.
Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson issued a statement calling Henderson "a dedicated public servant" who spent 33 years in law enforcement, as reported by ABC 6.
Hinton did not testify. Jurors were not shown a recorded police interrogation or body camera video of law enforcement's initial contact with Hinton after the crash, according to local trial attorney Jay Clark, who followed the proceedings but was not involved in the case.
