An 83-year-old Ohio man is set to be sentenced on Tuesday after a jury convicted him of murdering an Uber driver he mistakenly thought was trying to rob him.
A Fatal Misunderstanding Fuelled by Fraud
William J. Brock fatally shot 61-year-old driver Lo-Letha Toland-Hall outside his home in South Charleston, Ohio, on 25 March 2024. The court heard that both Brock and his victim had been separately targeted by the same scammer in a sophisticated phone fraud.
The scam involved calls deceiving them into believing a relative needed $12,000 in bond money. Toland-Hall, from Dublin, Ohio, was sent to Brock's address to collect a package, unaware of the threatening calls Brock had received. Prosecutors stated she was completely innocent of the plot.
Trial Rejects Self-Defence Claim
Brock's defence argued he acted in self-defence, testifying that he felt threatened when the driver arrived. His attorney said the scammer had made threats against Brock and his family.
However, prosecutors successfully countered that Toland-Hall was unarmed and posed no threat when Brock shot her six times. Investigators confirmed the driver had no knowledge of the scam calls Brock had received.
Last Wednesday, a jury found Brock guilty of murder, felonious assault, and kidnapping. He is expected to receive a life sentence at his hearing.
A Broader Pattern and Unanswered Justice
The tragic case highlights the deadly consequences of phone scams and has been noted as part of a disturbing pattern of Black Americans being harmed while engaged in everyday activities. William Brock is white; Lo-Letha Toland-Hall was Black.
Following the verdict, Clark County Prosecutor Daniel Driscoll emphasised the double tragedy, stating both families lost loved ones because of the criminals behind the fraud. “The really sad part about this is that we know there are still criminals out there,” Driscoll told reporters. “We know that the scammers, the folks who started this, haven’t been brought to justice.”
A message seeking comment was left with Brock's attorney after the conviction.
