Widow of Slain Ohio Deputy Sues Alleged Killer’s Family Over Fundraisers

Widow of Slain Ohio Deputy Sues Alleged Killer’s Family Over Fundraisers

The widow of a retired Ohio sheriff’s deputy has filed a civil lawsuit against the family of the man accused of killing her husband, accusing them of profiting off his alleged crime through online fundraisers.

Rodney Hinton Jr., 38, is currently in the Clermont County Jail, charged with aggravated murder for the May 2, 2024 death of Larry Henderson, a 57-year-old retired Hamilton County Sheriff’s deputy who was working a special duty traffic detail during the University of Cincinnati’s commencement ceremonies.

Authorities say that Hinton deliberately accelerated his silver Ford Focus and struck Henderson from behind while he was directing traffic at the intersection of Jefferson and Corry Streets near the university’s Fifth Third Arena. Surveillance footage reportedly shows Hinton turning around after initially driving past Henderson, circling back, and intentionally aiming the vehicle at the deputy. Henderson was thrown several feet and suffered fatal injuries. He was pronounced dead shortly after being transported to a hospital.

Police say the attack appeared to be motivated by rage and grief, as just one day earlier, Hinton’s 26-year-old son, Ryan Hinton, was shot and killed by Cincinnati police officers during an altercation. According to the Cincinnati Police Department, Ryan Hinton was involved in a domestic violence situation and allegedly charged at officers with a knife before being fatally shot. Body camera footage was shown to Rodney Hinton shortly after the incident, and his defense attorney has since claimed that seeing the video triggered a psychotic break.

Prosecutors, however, allege that Hinton acted with intent, describing the incident as a targeted and deliberate attack on law enforcement. They charged him with aggravated murder, felonious assault, and vehicular homicide. At his arraignment, prosecutors noted the calculated nature of the attack and emphasized that Henderson had no connection to the officer who shot Ryan Hinton.

Following Hinton’s arrest, members of his family created crowdfunding campaigns on platforms including GoFundMe and GiveSendGo to raise money for legal expenses and family support. These fundraisers were met with swift backlash from law enforcement organizations and political officials, who condemned them as an exploitation of a tragic crime. Both platforms ultimately removed the campaigns after public outcry.

On July 14, 2025, Henderson’s widow filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Clermont County Common Pleas Court against Rodney Hinton and several of his family members. The lawsuit, claims that the fundraisers amassed over $100,000 and that the family capitalized on Hinton’s "public status and notoriety gained solely through his criminal act of killing Deputy Henderson."

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