83-year-old man convicted of killing Uber driver he mistakenly believed was scamming him
An 83-year-old man in Ohio has been convicted of murder for fatally shooting an Uber driver whom he mistakenly believed was involved in a scam targeting him. William J. Brock was found guilty this week by a Clark County jury on charges that include murder, felonious assault, and kidnapping in connection with the March 25, 2024 incident.
The victim, 61-year-old Lo-Letha Toland-Hall, had driven to Brock’s home in South Charleston, Ohio as part of an Uber assignment to pick up a package. Prosecutors said Brock wrongly assumed she was part of a scam plot that had already deceived him into withdrawing $12,000 under false pretences involving a relative in supposed legal trouble. When Toland-Hall arrived, Brock shot her six times, even after she attempted to explain she was there for the delivery and was unarmed.
Brock’s attorney argued that he acted in self-defense, claiming that threatening calls had made him fearful. Prosecutors rejected this defence, noting that Toland-Hall had no connection to the scam and posed no threat to him. Investigators also disclosed that she, like Brock, had been targeted by the scammer, which added to the tragic misunderstanding.
Following the verdict, Clark County Prosecutor Daniel Driscoll expressed sorrow for the families on both sides and lamented the broader impact of scam-related crimes, noting that the individuals who orchestrated the phone scam have not yet been brought to justice. Sentencing for Brock is scheduled to take place soon.
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