Jury Selection Begins for Ohio Father Accused of Killing Deputy
Rodney L. Hinton, an Ohio father accused of intentionally striking and killing a Hamilton County special deputy with his vehicle in May 2025, faces jury selection as proceedings began Monday in Hamilton County, nbcnews.com reported. Judge Jody Luebbers called 107 potential jurors for the trial, where Hinton is charged with two counts of aggravated murder, murder, and two counts of felonious assault.
Judge Summons 107 Prospective Jurors to Evaluate Bias
Judge Luebbers summoned 107 prospective jurors to evaluate potential bias in a case involving the death of a law enforcement officer. The jury selection process incorporates a 23-page questionnaire alongside days of questioning by attorneys, with more than a dozen potential jurors already dismissed, according to nbcnews.com.
Defense attorney Clyde Bennett II stated his primary objective is securing jurors capable of setting aside personal opinions regarding the death of a law enforcement officer. “That’s going to be difficult,” Bennett told the news station. “I’m looking for 12 individuals from Hamilton County that can be fair and impartial, notwithstanding the fact that you have a very valued, loved deputy that was killed in the line of duty for no reason.” Bennett did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Fatal Incident Near the University of Cincinnati
Prosecutors state that Hinton intentionally used his vehicle to run down Hamilton County special deputy Larry Henderson in May 2025. Henderson had retired from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office approximately five months prior to the incident and was working as a special deputy directing traffic near the University of Cincinnati during graduation.
The fatal vehicle collision occurred hours after Hinton watched body camera footage of an 18-year-old police shooting. Police reported that Hinton was upset and agitated after viewing the video of his son, Ryan Hinton, being shot by a Cincinnati police officer responding to a report of a stolen vehicle at an apartment complex. Family members described the viewing experience as harrowing. “I can only imagine how his father felt,” Theresa Larkin, Ryan Hinton’s aunt, told NBC News last year.
Insanity Plea Removes Death Penalty as Sentencing Option
In December, Hinton altered his plea from not guilty to not guilty by reason of insanity. During that hearing, a court-appointed forensic psychologist testified that Hinton has bipolar disorder. Bennett argued that his client’s mental illness severely impaired his decision-making capacity on the day Henderson died. Changing the plea to include insanity removed the death penalty as a sentencing option under Ohio law.
Jury Selection Resumes Tuesday in Hamilton County Court
Jury selection is scheduled to resume on Tuesday following Monday’s initial panel review. Legal teams will continue evaluating prospective jurors using the 23-page questionnaire to assemble a panel of 12 jurors before opening arguments commence in Hamilton County court.