At a Glance
- William J. Brock, 83, convicted of murdering Uber driver Lo-Letha Toland-Hall, 61
- Brock shot her six times after mistaking her for part of a $12,000 phone scam
- Toland-Hall was hired via Uber to collect a package from Brock’s home
- Why it matters: The case exposes how phone scams can spiral into deadly violence
A grandfather who fell for a phone scam has been found guilty of murder after he shot the Uber driver sent to collect the cash he had withdrawn.
Scam Victim Turns Gun on Driver
William J. Brock shot Lo-Letha Toland-Hall, 61, on March 25, 2024, at his home in South Charleston, Ohio. A Clark County jury convicted the 83-year-old on Wednesday, January 14.
Brock had been tricked into believing his grandson needed $12,000 in bond money after a crash that supposedly killed a pregnant woman. Scammers posing as a lawyer, judge, and his grandson instructed him to hand the cash to “the driver in the driveway.”
Toland-Hall, hired through the Uber app by the scammer or an accomplice, arrived to pick up what she thought was a routine package. Dash-cam footage shows she walked to Brock’s door, explained she worked for Uber, and tried to leave when he grew agitated.
Fatal Confrontation Caught on Camera
Brock held Toland-Hall at gunpoint, threatened to shoot her in the head, and blocked her path. When she said she would call 911, he shot her in the leg, then fired five more times. He called 911 himself moments later.
Toland-Hall died during surgery at a local hospital.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Scam phone calls begin | March 25, 2024 |
| Toland-Hall arrives at Brock home | March 25, 2024 |
| Brock convicted of murder | January 14, 2025 |
| Sentencing scheduled | January 21, 2025 |
Aftermath and Civil Suit
Prosecutor Daniel Driscoll said both families had “lost loved ones” and noted the scammers remain at large. The FBI continues to hunt the overseas callers.
Toland-Hall’s estate filed a wrongful-death suit in March 2025 against Brock and the unidentified scammers. Her obituary described her as a retired Regional Income Tax Agency employee, avid gardener and cook, faithful churchgoer, and loving mother to son Mario.
Brock will be sentenced on January 21.
