A Hamilton County jury on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, convicted Rodney Hinton Jr. of murder, felonious assault, and reckless homicide in the death of retired sheriff’s Deputy Larry Henderson. The verdict followed more than two days of deliberations. It concludes a 10-day trial that closely examined Hinton’s mental health and his actions on May 2, 2025.
Jurors ultimately rejected Hinton’s not guilty by reason of insanity defense. However, they declined to convict him on a more serious charge of aggravated murder, opting instead for the lesser offense of reckless homicide on that specific count. Hinton was immediately taken into custody following the announcement of the verdict in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court.
Trial Focus: Mental State and the Events of May 2, 2025
The trial, presided over by Judge Jody Luebbers, centered on a key question. Did Hinton intentionally drive his vehicle into Deputy Henderson, or was he suffering from a debilitating psychiatric crisis that prevented him from understanding his actions? Both the prosecution and the defense agreed that the collision occurred on May 2, 2025, near the University of Cincinnati. Henderson was working a special traffic detail there during graduation activities.
The fatal crash happened hours after Hinton visited a Cincinnati Police Department facility in Queensgate. He went there to view body-camera video of his 19-year-old son, Ryan Hinton, who had been fatally shot by a police officer during a stolen vehicle investigation the previous day. Hamilton County prosecutors subsequently ruled the officer’s use of deadly force to be legally justified.
Defense attorney Clyde Bennett II argued during the trial that Hinton suffered from a long-standing history of severe mental illness. This included schizoaffective disorder and bipolar disorder. Bennett contended that watching the body-camera footage pushed Hinton into an acute psychotic episode and a state of suicidal distress. He asserted that Hinton was attempting to steer his vehicle into a utility pole rather than target the deputy.
“It’s clear, by the preponderance of the evidence, that he didn’t understand the wrongfulness of his conduct because of acute psychotic symptoms,” Bennett said during closing arguments.
Prosecution Arguments and Expert Testimony
Hamilton County prosecutors acknowledged Hinton’s profound grief and mental health history. However, they maintained that his actions demonstrated clear intent. Assistant Prosecutor Kate Burroughs told jurors that Hinton waited for traffic to clear in the center lane before accelerating directly toward the traffic island where Henderson was standing.
The state presented expert testimony from forensic psychologists, including Dr. Jennifer O’Donnell and Dr. Jaime Adkins. They testified that Hinton displayed clear signs of awareness and obeyed traffic laws while driving from the police facility to the Uptown area. The experts concluded that the evidence did not support an acute psychotic break. They stated his condition would not have impaired his ability to recognize the wrongfulness of his conduct at the moment of the crash.
Sentencing and Legal Next Steps
Judge Luebbers had previously ruled out the death penalty before the trial. Psychological evaluations had established that Hinton met Ohio legal criteria to exempt him from capital punishment.
Under Ohio law, a murder conviction carries a mandatory sentence of 15 years to life in prison with the possibility of parole. The conviction for reckless homicide, a third-degree felony, carries an additional potential prison term of nine to 36 months.
Hinton’s formal sentencing hearing is scheduled for Nov. 16, 2026, at 9 a.m. Defense attorney Clyde Bennett stated following the verdict that his legal team intends to appeal the decision.
Key Case Details
- Incident Date: May 2, 2025
- Verdict Date: October 23, 2026
- Charges Convicted: Murder, Felonious Assault, Reckless Homicide
- Sentencing Date: November 16, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.
- Presiding Judge: Judge Jody Luebbers
