The wife of a slain Ohio sheriff’s deputy is taking legal action against the family of the man accused of murdering her husband. The deputy, Larry Henderson, was allegedly killed by Rodney Hinton Jr., a 38-year-old man, after Hinton’s son was shot by a Cincinnati police officer the day before.
The lawsuit filed by Henderson’s widow on July 14 claims that Hinton’s family should not be allowed to keep the money raised through online fundraisers set up for Hinton’s legal defense and other expenses.
The Murder and Its Aftermath
On May 2, 2025, Rodney Hinton allegedly ran over retired Hamilton County Sheriff’s Deputy Larry Henderson while he was directing traffic for the University of Cincinnati’s commencement ceremony.
This tragic incident occurred the day after Hinton’s son, Ryan Hinton, was fatally shot by a Cincinnati cop. The situation surrounding this tragedy has sparked outrage, with many people questioning the actions of those involved.
The Fundraisers and Legal Action
After the incident, Hinton’s family created online fundraisers using platforms like GoFundMe and GiveSendGo, raising significant amounts of money. These funds were reportedly intended to help with legal bills and family-related expenses.
However, Ohio officials and police groups took action, urging these fundraisers to be removed. GoFundMe complied and took down the campaigns after pressure from law enforcement. A similar fundraiser on GiveSendGo was also removed.
On July 14, Henderson’s widow filed a lawsuit against Hinton and his family, claiming that they should not benefit financially from Hinton’s alleged crime.
The lawsuit asserts that the money raised through these fundraisers should be considered “ill-gotten gains” because they were collected as a result of Hinton’s criminal actions. It also points out that Ohio law prohibits criminals from profiting from their crimes, but there is no specific provision for crowdfunding.
Legal Basis of the Lawsuit
The lawsuit is based on the idea of preventing criminals or their families from making money from the notoriety of a crime. Known as the “Son of Sam” law, this principle was originally designed to stop criminals from selling the rights to their stories for profit.
The suit accuses Hinton’s family of capitalizing on his “public status and notoriety” that came solely from the act of killing Deputy Henderson.
Henderson’s widow is seeking that any money raised by Hinton’s family be returned to her, along with additional compensatory and punitive damages. The legal action also holds Hinton accountable for the wrongful death of her husband, accusing him of deliberate, intentional, and malicious acts.
The Defense’s Argument
Hinton’s defense attorney has claimed that Hinton was mentally unstable at the time of the incident. According to the lawyer, Hinton suffered a psychotic break after viewing footage of his son being shot by a police officer.
This mental breakdown, they argue, led Hinton to attack Deputy Henderson. However, the details of Hinton’s defense and the validity of his claims remain a subject of legal debate.
The case has sparked a wider conversation about crowdfunding in the wake of criminal acts and the potential for financial gain.
While the law prohibits criminals from profiting from their crimes through book deals or movie rights, the issue of crowdfunding remains less clear. As the lawsuit proceeds, it could set a precedent for how similar cases will be handled in the future.
