Rodney Hinton Jr. faces aggravated murder charges in the death of Hamilton County Sheriff’s Deputy Larry Henderson. The crash happened May 2, 2025. Hinton has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
Judge Jody Luebbers ruled Thursday that jurors can also consider reckless homicide as a lesser charge. She made the call after hearing from both sides.
Defense attorney Clyde Bennett said evidence could point to different intents. He argued Hinton’s actions looked consistent with suicide or with homicide. Bennett pointed to Hinton’s history of mental illness and major depressive disorder. Relatives feared Hinton might harm himself after he watched police body-camera video of his son Ryan’s fatal shooting hours earlier.
Prosecutors opposed the lesser charge. Prosecutor Kip Guinan said the state believes Hinton intentionally targeted Henderson. Guinan argued that suicide itself is intentional, not reckless.
Luebbers said the reckless homicide question focuses on Henderson’s death, not on whether Hinton meant to kill himself. She noted conflicting eyewitness accounts. Some said Hinton drove straight at the deputy. One said he aimed at a utility pole first and the car bounced into Henderson.
The judge told jurors they will decide how much weight to give each witness. The aggravated murder charge stays in place. Jurors simply get one more option when they deliberate.
State psychologist Dr. Jaime Adkins testified that Hinton had schizoaffective disorder but showed no acute symptoms that day. She said grief and trauma from his son’s death explained his behavior. Adkins concluded Hinton still knew his actions were wrong.
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