- The wife of a deceased Hamilton County sheriff’s deputy is suing the family of the man accused of killing him.
- The lawsuit targets over $100,000 raised online by the accused’s family, citing an Ohio law prohibiting profiting from wrongful conduct.
- The accused, Rodney Hinton Jr., faces charges including aggravated murder and a potential death penalty trial in 2026.
The wife of the Hamilton County sheriff’s deputy who was killed in May is suing over the more than $100,000 raised online by the accused killer’s family.
Lorena Henderson, the wife of Deputy Larry Henderson, is suing for damages over the more than $100,000 raised by the family of Rodney Hinton Jr. after police say he intentionally drove his car into the deputy. The lawsuit was filed Monday, July 14 in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court.
Henderson’s attorney, Zachary Gottesman, says Ohio law prohibits people from profiting from wrongful conduct, including by online crowdfunding. Hinton’s family should not be allowed to keep the money they raised, he said.
“Deputy Henderson was senselessly targeted and killed on May 2, 2025, simply for wearing the uniform of a Sheriff’s Deputy − an act of violence that reflects a deeply troubling disregard for the men and women who risk their lives to protect us,” Gottesman said in a statement to The Enquirer. “What compounds this tragedy is the unconscionable attempt by Rodney Hinton’s family members to exploit Deputy Henderson’s murder for financial gain.”
Henderson was killed a day after Hinton’s son, Ryan, was fatally shot by Cincinnati police while running from a stolen car with a gun in his hand.
The Enquirer has reached out for comment from The Cochran Firm, which is representing Ryan Hinton’s estate.
In Ohio, a “Son of Sam” law prohibits people convicted of a crime from profiting off the story, such as making money from writing a book or creating a movie. It does not include any provisions for raising money for a legal defense or an accused criminal’s family, such as the Hinton fundraiser claims.
Following his arrest on May 2, Rodney Hinton Jr. gained a following online and raised thousands in multiple fundraisers on the online crowdfunding platform, GiveSendGo.
The fundraisers, which have since been unpublished from the platform, appear to have been created by Hinton’s wife, mother and sister, who are named in the lawsuit. The funds were claimed to be intended for financial support toward the family and a fair trial.
The fundraisers were condemned by local and state officials, including Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, who called on the company to remove the fundraiser. A GiveSendGo spokesman defended keeping the fundraiser online at the time, saying they support people seeking help, even in controversial situations.
Police groups had successfully pressured GoFundMe, another online fundraising platform, to remove fundraisers launched on Hinton’s behalf.
In the aftermath of Hinton’s arrest, members of his family distanced themselves from his actions and instead hired an attorney to conduct a review of the fatal police shooting of his son.
Hinton faces charges including aggravated murder, and prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. A trial is set for January 2026. He is being held without bond at the Clermont County Jail.
