CINCINNATI — The trial of Rodney Hinton Jr., 38, commenced recently with significant implications, as it will be prosecuted as a death penalty case. Hinton is accused of intentionally striking and killing Hamilton County Sheriff’s Deputy Larry Henderson with his vehicle on May 2, a violent act prosecutors describe as retaliation for the police-involved shooting death of Hinton’s 18-year-old son, Ryan, just a day prior.
Hinton faces a single count of aggravated murder, the only charge in Ohio that can lead to a death sentence. However, securing a conviction in a death penalty case and actually carrying out an execution have proven complex tasks in the state. As of May 2025, there are 113 individuals on death row in Ohio, with the last execution occurring in 2018.
Hinton’s prosecution is part of a troubling trend in Hamilton County, where no new death sentences have been issued since 2018. The most recent case prior to this one involved serial killer Anthony Kirkland, sentenced for a series of murders committed between 2006 and 2009. The state has struggled with logistical issues concerning lethal injection drugs, as pharmaceutical companies have increasingly refused to supply the necessary substances for executions.
While fatal attacks on law enforcement officers in the Cincinnati region are infrequent, the case against Hinton brings to light recent episodes of violence against police. One notable precedent is that of Terry Blankenship, who pleaded guilty to killing Springdale police officer Kaia Grant with his vehicle in 2020. Initially facing the death penalty, Blankenship ultimately accepted a plea deal that resulted in a life sentence.
If Hinton chooses not to take a plea deal and is convicted of aggravated murder, the decision regarding a potential death sentence will rest with a jury. They would need to recommend such a sentence, which would then allow the presiding judge, Tyrone Yates, to exercise discretion in imposing it.
Earlier this week, Hinton entered a not-guilty plea in court. His attorney acknowledged that Hinton caused Deputy Henderson’s death but contended that his mental health issues should exempt him from the aggravated murder charge. They argued that his state of mind at the time of the incident prevented him from making rational choices.
As Hinton’s trial unfolds, a spotlight will be placed not only on the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Deputy Henderson but also on broader issues surrounding capital punishment in Ohio. The trial is set to continue, with Hinton scheduled to return to court on May 12.