OCALA, Fla. (WCJB) – A woman from the United Kingdom traveled to the United States to have a man in Marion County, Fla., kill her, according to investigation reports obtained by TV20.
This article contains graphic details regarding a murder committed in Marion County.
Authorities say Sonia Exelby, 32, of Portsmouth, England, landed at the Gainesville Regional Airport on Oct. 10 and never made it on her return flight three days later.
UK authorities contacted the Florida Department of Law Enforcement through INTERPOL, reporting Exelby was missing. They explained that she had mental health diagnoses and was suicidal. They believed she planned to travel to meet with people who would kill her violently.
Investigators connected Dwain Hall, 53, to transactions made on Exelby’s credit cards. They learned Hall picked her up from the airport and took her to an Airbnb on Northwest 122nd Terrace in Reddick.
After telling detectives multiple stories, eventually Hall admitted to first interacting with Exelby on a fetish website called Motherless.com about two years ago. He said she was suicidal and wanted to be killed. He described himself as a mentor who wanted to help her, not let her kill herself. He also admitted to having violent tendencies.
At the Airbnb, he said they had sex multiple times. He admitted to taking a video of her that he later deleted.
Investigators were able to recover the deleted video, which they say shows Exelby, disheveled, with bruises all over her body. In the video, Hall asks why she’s here.
“Because I’m an awful person,” Exelby responds. “I’ve crushed everyone who ever loves me.”
He continues to ask her questions, attempting to get her consent to be harmed. Detectives describe her demeanor as hesitant and visibly upset as she nods affirmatively.
Investigators say they learned of a message Exelby sent on Oct. 11 on Discord, an online messaging platform, to a friend expressing regret while staying with Hall at the rental property.
She states, “He made it clear there was no way out unless I shoot him. I was questioning it last night… I thought he’d do it quick and not give my mind time to stew.”
On Oct. 17, a body was found in a shallow grave in the wooded area of SW 30th Terrace and SW 27th Circle in Marion County. Fingerprints of the remains matched records for Exelby.
Inside the grave was the label for a shovel that matched the brand purchased by Hall just before he picked up Exelby. The shovel was found in his garage with Exelby’s DNA on it.
An autopsy determined Exelby died as a result of four stab wounds from a knife.
Investigators learned that Hall mailed a package to a friend in Ohio. Authorities there searched the man’s house and found a knife that tested positive for blood and likely contained Exelby’s DNA.
Hall was arrested on charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, credit card fraud, and unlawful use of a communication device.
Investigators say Hall planned to murder Exelby. They say the message she sent to a friend “showed that Hall was controlling her, that she was afraid, and had made a mistake.”
For those experiencing thoughts of suicide or other mental health concerns, 988 is a free lifeline for those in distress available 24/7. The number can be called or texted. Chat online here.
Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.
Copyright 2025 WCJB. All rights reserved.
