Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Jury finds 83-year-old man guilty Ohio people murder Taking a photo Uber After a scam call fooled the pair, he mistakenly believed the driver was trying to rob him.
Authorities said William J. Brock shot the driver, wrongly believing he was part of a conspiracy to obtain $12,000 in so-called bail for a relative.
The driver fell victim to the same scammer while driving to Bullock’s home. Dayton and columbus to pick up packages and prepare them for delivery, according to investigators.
Bullock shot the driver, 61-year-old Lo-Letha Toland-Hall. dublinone columbus She showed up at his home six times in March 2024, authorities said.
Bullock, of South Charleston, was found guilty Wednesday of murder, felony murder and kidnapping. He is scheduled to be sentenced next week. A message seeking comment was left with his attorney.
Bullock’s attorney said the shooting was in self-defense and that the scammers had made threats against him and his family. Brock testified during the trial that he felt threatened when the driver arrived at his home.
But prosecutors said Hall was unarmed and posed no threat when Bullock shot him. Investigators said the driver was unaware Brock had received scam calls threatening and demanding money.
Grandparent scams have become increasingly common over the past 10 to 15 years, in part because there is so much personal information about people online.
Platkarnis’ research includes fraud crimes, where criminals retrieve specific details of someone’s relatives on social media and use that information to make victims believe their loved ones are in trouble.
clark county Prosecutor Daniel Driscoll told reporters after the verdict that both families had lost loved ones to the fraud.
“What’s really sad is we know there are still criminal elements out there,” he said. “We know the scammers, the ones who started this, have not yet been brought to justice.”
An obituary after Hall’s death described her as the parent of a son and a stepson, a devoted member of her church and a talented cook known for her delicious pound cake.
She retired from the Ohio District Income Tax Agency and also worked in behavioral health in schools and at Uber. She studied horticulture at Ohio State University and began working janitorially.
At a memorial service livestreamed online, her son Mario Hall spoke of their close relationship, even though they lived in different states and often spoke on the phone multiple times a day. He said they had “an unparalleled bond.”
“Thank you for all the sacrifices you’ve made and everything you’ve instilled in me,” he said. “You are the best mom anyone could ask for. I promise to continue to make you proud.”
