33 Years on the Job: Ohio Deputy's Killer Faces 15-to-Life

A Hamilton County, Ohio jury found Rodney L. Hinton, 40, guilty of murder, reckless homicide and felonious assault on Friday for running over Hamilton County special deputy Larry Henderson Jr. with his car, according to The Guardian.

What happened in the hours before the killing?

Hours before Henderson's death, Cincinnati police sat down with Hinton's family and their attorneys to show them body-worn camera footage of officers shooting and killing Hinton's 18-year-old son, Ryan Hinton, the day before, per the Guardian's reporting. Officers had responded to a report of a stolen vehicle at an apartment complex and attempted to detain four people, including Ryan, who were inside the car.

What did Hinton's defense argue?

During the 10-day trial, Hinton's defense told jurors he was so distressed over his son's killing that he could not legally distinguish right from wrong when he ran over Henderson, the Guardian reported. Jurors rejected that defense after deliberating starting Wednesday and convicted Hinton on all three counts: murder, reckless homicide and felonious assault.

How long was Deputy Henderson on the job?

Henderson had served 33 years in law enforcement at the time of his death, according to Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson, who called it "a painful reminder of the risks that law enforcement officers face every day while working to keep us safe." Wilson said the killing "shattered a family and left a community mourning the loss of a dedicated public servant."

What sentence does Hinton face, and when is it set?

Hinton faces a sentencing range of 15 years to life in prison. His sentencing hearing is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 16, 2026, per the Guardian.

Data box: the numbers in the case

• 40: Rodney Hinton's age at conviction
• 18: age of Ryan Hinton, the son killed by Cincinnati police the day before Henderson's death
• 33: years Deputy Larry Henderson Jr. had served in law enforcement
• 10: days the trial lasted before jury deliberations began
• 15 to life: sentencing range, in years, Hinton faces under Ohio law
• Nov. 16, 2026: tentative sentencing date

What happens next in the case?

• Sentencing hearing: Set for Nov. 16, 2026, where a judge will determine where in the 15-years-to-life range Hinton's sentence falls.
• Possible appeal: No appeal has been announced as of the verdict, but convictions carrying life-range sentences are commonly contested on post-trial motions.
• Separate police-shooting scrutiny: The Guardian's report does not indicate whether Cincinnati police face separate review over the shooting of Ryan Hinton; any findings from that process would run on a track independent of Hinton's sentencing.
• Family statements: Rodney Hinton Sr., the defendant's father and Ryan Hinton's grandfather, has spoken publicly before; whether he or other family members comment ahead of sentencing is unconfirmed.

The Ohio attorney general's office prosecuted the case after Wilson's statement credited the jury's verdict with reflecting "the evidence in this case." No additional sentencing details, such as whether Hinton's terms on the three counts would run concurrently, were specified in reporting as of Oct. 23, 2026.