Dashcam video and quick jury deliberations helped seal the conviction in the 2024 shooting of driver Lo-Letha Toland-Hall.
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — An Ohio man was sentenced Monday to 21 years to life for killing Uber driver Lo-Letha Toland-Hall after a series of scam calls sent her to his Clark County address for a “package pickup,” a confrontation captured on her dash camera.
The sentence for William J. Brock, 83, capped a three-week span in which jurors convicted him of murder, felonious assault and kidnapping after less than two hours of deliberation on Jan. 14. Prosecutors said the shooting was not a split-second mistake but a sustained use of force that began with Brock confronting Toland-Hall at gunpoint and continued as she tried to leave. The case put a spotlight on “grandparent” bail scams that pressure older people to hand over money and sometimes direct couriers to homes. Investigators have not charged the unknown caller who set the encounter in motion.
According to testimony, Brock received calls demanding $12,000 for a relative’s bail and was told someone would come to collect the cash. On March 25, 2024, Toland-Hall, 61, arrived at Brock’s South Charleston home on an Uber Connect job to pick up a small parcel. Video from her car showed Brock pointing a .22-caliber revolver and ordering her to identify herself. When she said she would call 911, he shot her in the leg and fired five more times as she moved toward the driver’s seat. She died in surgery later that day. “She posed no threat,” Clark County Prosecutor Daniel Driscoll said in court, adding that Toland-Hall never demanded money and carried no weapon.
Brock testified he feared the caller’s threats would be carried out and believed the driver was part of the same crew. The defense argued he was on his own porch and acted lawfully. Jurors disagreed, finding the kidnapping count proved by evidence that Brock restrained her movements and blocked her from leaving. Detectives collected the handgun, casings and the driver’s phone; the dashcam recordings were played for the jury. After the verdict, relatives of Toland-Hall said they wanted accountability not only for the shooter but also for the people who “set a trap” with the phone scheme. Authorities say those people remain unidentified.
Toland-Hall lived in the Columbus area and had taken delivery assignments to supplement her income, relatives said. She was dispatched to Brock’s address by the app’s courier service feature rather than through a traditional ride. Prosecutors said scammers often try to keep their distance, using gig workers to fetch envelopes or parcels so they do not have to appear at the door. The shooting, they said, echoed other cases where service workers — from delivery drivers to utility technicians — faced armed confrontations while performing normal tasks. Neighbors told reporters they first heard raised voices on the porch and then several rapid shots.
Defense attorney Jon H. Rion has challenged the jury instructions and argued parts of Brock’s porch should be considered within the home under Ohio law, a point the defense believes could affect how jurors weighed self-defense. With sentencing imposed, Brock can appeal his conviction to the Second District Court of Appeals. Separately, filings by Toland-Hall’s estate seek damages tied to her death and the alleged scheme. Prosecutors said investigators are still pursuing leads on the unknown caller and any accomplices but have not announced arrests or a timetable for updates.
During Monday’s hearing, relatives described Toland-Hall as a steady presence for her family. In brief remarks, Brock apologized and said he believed he was protecting his household. Outside the courthouse, Driscoll said, “There are no winners here,” noting that the scammer’s role remains unresolved and that the office will continue to review evidence as it emerges.
As of Monday evening, Brock was in custody to begin serving his life term with the possibility of parole after 21 years. Appeals and the civil case are expected to advance in the coming weeks.
Author note: Last updated February 5, 2026.