81-year-old pleads not guilty to murder of Uber driver following scam call confusion

CLARK COUNTY, Ohio (WKEF) — An 81-year-old man accused of killing an Uber driver appeared in an Ohio court Wednesday morning.

William Brock stood before a Clark County judge at 9 a.m. to plead not guilty to the murder of 61-year-old Lo-Letha Hall.

81-year-old Brock called 911 on Monday, March 25 after shooting a woman who knocked on his door to pick up a package.

Investigators said he told them he'd been threatened all day over the phone, and said the person on the other line said that someone was coming to kill him.

Investigators say Hall was also a victim of the scam and was requested to pick up a package from Brock's house.

This week, WKEF obtained the 911 call and body camera footage from sheriff deputies.

"I'm sure glad to see you guys out here cause I've been on this phone for a couple of hours with this guy saying I had a nephew in jail, had a wreck in Charleston and he just kept hanging on, needing bond money and this woman was supposed to," explained William Brock on Clark County Sheriff's deputy's body camera.

"So it was a scam," said sheriff deputy.

"Yeah I figured it, I kept getting different names and different stories out of him," said Brock.

The body camera footage from shows the chaotic moments after the 81-year-old man shot a woman he thought was trying to scam him.

Brock told deputies on scene that he had been getting phone calls all day from a scammer, who said one of Brock's residents needed help.

Brock told deputies that the scammer also told him a woman was coming to his house to get money from him.

However, the woman who showed up was actually an Uber driver who was also a victim of the scam. Hall was shot three times and later died.

Investigators say she was directed by someone through the Uber app to pick up a package from Brock's home.

"It was the guy on the phone who sent her here," Brock said in the 911 call.

"So the man on the phone was trying to get money from you and she was knocking on the door at the same time?" asked the dispatcher.

"Yes and he was telling me that he was going to kill me, and my family, and everyone else around," Brock said.

In a crazy turn of events, the Clark County Sheriff's Office was able to get that scammer on the line and the conversation was picked up on body cam.

"May I ask who I'm talking to?" asked Clark County Sheriff's Office Detective Cruz.

"Yes, this is the officer speaking," said the scammer.

"Okay, what officer?" asked Cruz.

"Yes," said the scammer.

"No, I need to know what officer sir," Cruz said.

"You are gonna be in trouble," said the scammer.

"Okay. Let me ask you this, the female that you sent over here, do you know who she is?" asked Cruz.

"Yes I do," said the scammer.

"Okay, well she's been in an accident and this is actually an officer. It's Detective Cruz with the Clark County Sheriff's Office and I need you to dial this number, get this number so that I can explain more to you," said Cruz.

The scammer then ended the call.

According to the police report, one Clark County Sheriff's deputy ran that scammer's phone number and it came back to Bell Mobility in Canada.

Brock was then charged with murder, felonious assault, and kidnapping.

Investigators say Hall never threatened him or posed any sort of threat. They say she was also shot while trying to leave, and that he waited to call 911 until after she was shot.

Uber released the following statement WSYX:

This is a horrific tragedy and our hearts continue to be with Lo-Letha’s loved ones as they grieve. We have been in contact with law enforcement and remain committed to supporting their investigation.

The company also indicates the account of the individual who ordered the Uber trip has been banned.

Uber pointed out to WSYX that the company has a team of former law enforcement professionals around the globe who are on call to work with police 24-7 to respond to urgent needs and walk them through how we can assist in an investigation.

The FBI said that they are aware of the case, but wouldn’t say if they are investigating the scammer due to Department of Justice policies.

Brock is now out on bond. He is due back in court on Monday, April 22 for a preliminary hearing.