CINCINNATI, Ohio — Prosecutors in Hamilton County will not seek the death penalty against Rodney Hinton Jr. after agreeing he has a qualifying serious mental illness, a decision that could significantly shape the future of the high-profile case.
The agreement was reached during a court hearing Monday and is based on evaluations from three mental health experts, prosecutors said. If accepted by the judge, the finding would make Hinton legally ineligible for capital punishment under Ohio law.
Hinton is charged with aggravated murder and other counts in the death of Hamilton County Sheriff’s Deputy Larry Henderson, who was killed last May while directing traffic outside the University of Cincinnati’s graduation ceremony…