Ronald Hinton

Ronald Hinton (born September 17, 1972) is an American serial killer and rapist who committed the murders of a teenage girl and two women in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, between 1996 and 1999. He pleaded guilty to each murder in 2004 to avoid a death sentence and was subsequently given three life terms.

Early life Hinton was born on September 17, 1972. A native of Chicago, he was raised by an abusive mother who often beat him and his siblings with a belt constantly under the belief they had been tainted by Satan. Eventually, his mother abandoned the entire family. Growing up Hinton struggled with severe drug addiction, which only got worse as an adult with the death of his son. Police subsequently saw the body for themselves, and a coroner stated that Mullins, who was also a mother of three, had been murdered via strangulation. The duo then took belongings from her apartment, including her ID, and disposed of them in a trash can just outside of the building. They then took Ares' belongings, including her bank card and used it to withdraw money from an ATM. Eventually, Hinton, Sanders, and Wales were arrested. DNA evidence left at the crime scene confirmed their guilt in the murder of Ares. It also exposed Hinton and Sanders's involvement in the murder of Gagnier and exposed Hinton in the murder of Mullins.

Plea and conviction Hinton was charged with all three killings, while Sanders was charged with the two, and Wales was charged in one. In 2003, Wales was convicted for his role in Ares' murder and received a 40-year sentence. Hinton, since he was accused of being the mastermind and the one whose name was being headlined as a serial killer, decided to take a plea deal which allowed him to plead guilty to all counts in order to avoid a death sentence and instead receive multiple life sentences.

In October 2023, Wales's sentence was commuted by Governor JB Pritzker to make him eligible for parole, due to concerns about the degree of his guilt. On June 4, 2024, he was released on parole.

As of August 2025, Hinton is incarcerated at Hill Correctional Center, while Sanders is serving his sentences at Stateville Correctional Center.