SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — An Ohio jury on Wednesday convicted an 83-year-old man of murder in the fatal shooting of an Uber driver he wrongly believed was working with scammers who had threatened him — a case in which the driver was herself an unwitting victim of the same scheme.
William J. Brock, of South Charleston, fatally shot Lo-Letha Toland-Hall, 61, six times when she arrived at his home between Dayton and Columbus in March 2024, authorities said. Toland-Hall, of Dublin, a Columbus suburb, had been directed to Brock’s address by the same scammers who called Brock demanding $12,000 in supposed bond money for a relative. Investigators said she was there to pick up a package for delivery and was unaware of the threatening call Brock had received.
The case illustrates how telephone fraud schemes can set two sets of victims against each other with lethal consequences, while the architects of the crime remain unpunished. Clark County Prosecutor Daniel Driscoll said Wednesday that the scammers responsible have not been brought to justice.
Conviction and sentencing
Brock was convicted of murder, felonious assault, and kidnapping. He is scheduled to be sentenced the following week. A message seeking comment was left with his attorney, the Associated Press reported.
Trial arguments
During trial, Brock’s attorney argued the shooting was justified as self-defense, saying the scammers had made threats against Brock and his family. Brock testified that he felt threatened when Toland-Hall arrived at his house.
Prosecutors said Toland-Hall was unarmed and posed no threat when Brock shot her.
Prosecutor’s statement
Driscoll spoke to reporters after the verdict was announced.
“The really sad part about this is that we know there are still criminals out there,” Driscoll said. “We know that the scammers, the folks who started this, haven’t been brought to justice.”
Driscoll said both families lost loved ones because of the scam.