Ohio Man, 83, Convicted in Uber Driver's Murder

Photo by U.S. National Archives / Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia Commons

An 83-year-old Ohio man has been convicted of murdering an Uber driver after prosecutors said he fatally shot a woman he wrongly believed was part of a phone scam targeting him. A jury found William J. Brock guilty of murder, felonious assault, and kidnapping, placing him at risk of spending the rest of his life in prison.

The verdict stems from the March 2024 killing of 61-year-old Uber driver Lo-Letha Toland-Hall. Sentencing has not yet taken place, but prosecutors said Brock faces a potential life sentence under Ohio law.

The case has drawn national attention because of Brock’s age and the unusual circumstances that led to the shooting.

The Killing of an Uber Driver

According to prosecutors, Toland-Hall was working as an Uber driver when she was sent to Brock’s home in Clark County, Ohio. Authorities said Brock believed the ride was connected to a series of scam phone calls that convinced him someone was trying to steal $12,000 from him.

Investigators said Brock forced Toland-Hall to drive him to multiple locations as he attempted to resolve the supposed scam. At no point, prosecutors emphasized, did Toland-Hall have any involvement in the calls or the alleged scheme.

The encounter ended when Brock shot Toland-Hall, killing her. Medical examiners later ruled her death a homicide.

Prosecutors Detail the Scam Misunderstanding

During the trial, prosecutors outlined how Brock had been targeted by phone scammers posing as law enforcement or financial officials. They said the callers pressured him into believing his money was at risk and that the Uber driver was somehow involved.

Authorities stressed that the scam was real, but Brock’s belief that Toland-Hall posed a threat was not supported by any evidence. Prosecutors argued that nothing Toland-Hall did justified the violence that followed.

“This was a complete stranger simply doing her job,” prosecutors said in court filings cited by reporting. They argued the shooting was a tragic result of fear fueled by deception, not self-defense.

Defense Arguments and Jury Decision

Brock’s defense team pointed to his age and confusion caused by the scam calls, suggesting he believed he was in immediate danger. Attorneys argued that he acted out of fear after being manipulated by criminals who never physically appeared.

Jurors, however, rejected those arguments. The guilty verdicts indicated the jury agreed with prosecutors that Brock’s actions went far beyond any reasonable response to a perceived threat.

Court records show the jury deliberated before convicting Brock on all major counts. The decision cleared the way for sentencing, which will determine whether Brock spends the remainder of his life in prison.

The Human Cost and Wider Impact

Toland-Hall’s death has left her family grieving and has resonated deeply with the rideshare community. Loved ones described her as a hardworking woman who was simply trying to earn a living when she was killed.

The case has also renewed warnings from law enforcement about phone scams, particularly those targeting older adults. Authorities have urged the public to verify calls claiming to involve law enforcement or financial emergencies.

As Brock awaits sentencing, prosecutors say the focus remains on accountability for Toland-Hall’s death. The conviction, they argue, sends a message that even in cases involving fear and deception, violence against innocent people carries severe consequences.

References: AP News: Uber Driver Scam Shooting | WHIO: Trial Begins for 83-Year-Old Man Charged in Deadly Shooting of Uber Driver | CBS News: Ohio Man Convicted of Killing Uber Driver He Wrongly Thought Was Robbing Him in Scam Calls