A man from Florida is in custody, awaiting trial, after allegedly murdering a woman from the UK. Court records indicate that the woman traveled to meet him with plans to be sexually abused, tortured, and murdered. Sonia Exelby, from Portsmouth, England, was reported missing in October 2025 after not returning home from an American trip.
Text messages to a friend suggest Exelby regretted the arrangement and wanted to cancel her plan with Dwain Hall. She was found dead days later in a shallow grave in Ocala, Florida. Dwain Hall, 54, faces charges of premeditated first-degree murder and kidnapping. His trial is set for November 5 in Marion County.
Origins of a Tragic Plan
Hall and Exelby met on a fetish website in 2023, where they discussed bondage, suicide, and Exelby’s desire to die, according to court documents. Hall self-identified as a sadist who began ‘mentoring’ Exelby, stated investigators reviewing their communication. Hall’s Facebook page showed interest in Anubis, an Egyptian god associated with the underworld.
In the lead-up to her death, Exelby allegedly promised Hall $4,000 to pay off his IRS debt in exchange for his assistance in fulfilling her dark wishes, court records state. Both Exelby and Hall crafted a cover story to explain their interactions to family and possibly law enforcement.
Exelby, who had a passion for singing, booked a flight from England to North Florida to meet Hall after two years of online communication. Previously, in 2024, UK authorities had thwarted her attempt to meet people online willing to kill her, and investigators noted her mental health history.
Her computer left evidence of a suicidal mindset and her plans to be abused and killed in the U.S. On October 10, 2025, Exelby flew to Gainesville, Florida, with a return flight scheduled for October 13.
The Meeting Leads to Tragedy
Upon arrival, Hall drove Exelby to an Airbnb in Reddick, Florida, booked under her name. Before picking her up, Hall bought items including rope, a shovel, and gun cleaner at a Gainesville Walmart.
Messages sent by Exelby on October 11, the day after meeting Hall, describe a distressing scenario. Through Discord, Exelby reportedly said she spent a bad night with Hall, who had allegedly taken her phone and kept her locked in due to distrust. She described the location as remote with poor signal.
In her messages marked by regret, Exelby voiced distress over a gruesome decision, expressing fear and describing dire emotional pain.
Discovery of the Crime
On October 11, Hall’s business account made multiple charges to Exelby’s debit card. After she missed her return flight, Hall was linked to the disappearance when charges led investigators to him. Her body was discovered in Marion County on October 17, with stab wounds, at a site where the shovel’s label purchased by Hall was found.
Hall was stopped by deputies while driving his Jeep on Interstate 75 in Ocala. Before his arrest, Hall reportedly discussed a package of valuable personal items with a friend through Facebook messages.
Investigators retrieved the package, which contained a bracelet and a custom knife with an engraving. Blood from the knife matched Exelby’s DNA.
Video and Final Days
Initially, Hall denied knowing Exelby. Later, he admitted recording a video of her but claimed he deleted it because ‘she wasn’t behaving right.’ However, the video shows a bruised and disturbed Exelby sitting and being questioned by Hall. Exelby appeared upset and hesitant to answer his questions.
In the video, under Hall’s continued questioning, Exelby acknowledges her feelings of worthlessness and desire to be beaten. Hall’s accusations and comments are evident as he prompts Exelby for admissions on camera.
Hall later expressed dissatisfaction over Exelby not bringing cash as expected, and instead using her debit card which only allowed limited withdrawals. Currently, Hall remains in the Marion County Jail facing six felony charges. His lawyer has not commented.