Scam victim, 83, convicted of killing Uber driver who he wrongly thought was deceiving him
Dashcam video captured the moment before William J. Brock fatally shot Uber driver Lo-Letha Toland-Hall outside his home in South Charleston, Ohio, on March 25, 2024. AP
A jury has convicted an 83-year-old Ohio man of murder in the fatal shooting of an Uber driver he mistakenly believed was trying to rob him after both were targeted by a phone scam, authorities said.
William J. Brock shot and killed the driver after wrongly concluding she was involved in an effort to take $12,000 in supposed bond money for a relative, according to investigators.
The driver, 61-year-old Lo-Letha Toland-Hall of Dublin, Ohio, was also deceived by the same scammer. Authorities said she had been directed to Brock’s home, located between Dayton and Columbus, to pick up a package for delivery. When she arrived in March 2024, Brock shot her six times, investigators said.
Brock, who lives in South Charleston, was found guilty Wednesday of murder, felonious assault, and kidnapping. He is scheduled to be sentenced next week.
A message seeking comment was left with Brock’s attorney.
Defense attorneys argued the shooting was an act of self-defense, saying the scammer had made threats against Brock and his family. Brock testified during the trial that he felt endangered when the driver arrived at his home.
Prosecutors countered that Toland-Hall was unarmed and posed no threat. Investigators said she was unaware of the threatening scam calls Brock had received demanding money.
Clark County Prosecutor Daniel Driscoll said after the verdict that the case reflects the devastating consequences of scams.
“Both families lost loved ones because of this,” Driscoll said. “The truly tragic part is that the criminals who set this in motion are still out there and have not been brought to justice.”
About Post Author
