Nationwide — Rodney Hinton Jr., a father from Cincinnati, Ohio, has been convicted of murder after fatally striking a sheriff’s deputy with his car one day after police killed his 18-year-old son. The jury rejected his insanity defense in the May 2025 crash, and he now faces the possibility of life in prison.
Hinton struck Deputy Larry Ray Henderson Jr. while the officer was directing traffic near a college graduation. Henderson, who had spent decades with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, was working an off-duty assignment after retiring from the department a few months earlier. The jury also found Hinton guilty of reckless homicide and felonious assault, according to CNN.
The trial centered on whether Hinton understood his actions when he drove into the deputy. His attorney, Clyde Bennett II, argued that Hinton was experiencing a psychotic episode and was trying to kill himself rather than deliberately target Henderson. Hinton had been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and other mental illnesses. Prosecutors countered that while he was grieving, he knew what he was doing and understood the difference between right and wrong. Bennett said he plans to appeal the conviction.
The crash came just hours after Hinton and his family watched police body camera footage of the fatal shooting of his son, Ryan Hinton. The 18-year-old was shot twice during a chase. Cincinnati’s police chief said the officer involved told investigators that Ryan had pointed a gun at him. Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich later said a review found the officer’s use of force legally justified. She also said Ryan had a fully loaded gun and pointed it at officers when they confronted him. The officer was not charged in the shooting.
Henderson’s death brought an end to a long career in law enforcement. During his funeral, colleagues remembered him as a dedicated public servant who often volunteered for dangerous assignments. Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey said the jury’s verdict offered some closure to those mourning his death and helped deliver justice for the deputy.
Hinton faces a prison sentence of 15 years to life, with the possibility of parole. His sentencing is scheduled for November 16. His planned appeal could challenge the jury’s decision, which came after a trial examining how his mental health and grief affected his actions.