WARNING GRAPHIC DETAILS: Sonia Exelby, 32, from Portsmouth, reportedly met with Dwain Hall, 53, in Florida with the intention of being killed by him, authorities
11:01, 19 Nov 2025
Sonia Exelby(Image: Facebook)
A “vulnerable” British woman is believed to have flown to America to be allegedly killed by a man she met on on a fetish website. Sonia Exelby’s body was found in a shallow grave in woods a week after she arrived in Florida.
The 32-year-old, of Portsmouth, had landed at Florida’s Gainesville Regional Airport on October 10 but never arrived back for her return flight three days later. A body was later found in Marion County woods, north west of Orlando, Florida, with fingerprints matching Sonia’s.
British authorities had contacted the Florida Department of Law Enforcement via the worldwide police cooperation organisation INTERPOL following her disappearance, the Mirror reports.
Her friend had issued a plea(Image: Instagram)
They believe she was living with a mental health condition and was suicidal, according to investigation reports. Authorities are said to believe she travelled to Florida in order to meet with a man who would allegedly violently kill her.
Her friend had issued a public plea for her to come home after fears that she had got herself “into an extremely vulnerable situation”. The pal wrote on Instagram: “Sonia is such a vulnerable person and really struggling with her mental health.
“We believe she got on a plane on Friday and made her way to Florida Tallahassee from the UK. We believe she has arranged to meet someone there and has got herself into an extremely vulnerable situation. That’s all I can really say on that.”
Investigators arrested Dwain Hall, 53, after allegedly connecting him to transactions that were allegedly made using Sonia’s credit cards. Officers claimed Hall picked Sonia up from the airport before taking her to an Airbnb in Reddick.
Dwain Hall(Image: MCSO)
Hall is said to have initially told police several different stories before admitting to have first spoken to her on a fetish website two years ago. He claimed she was suicidal and wanted to be killed, according to reports.
The suspect went on to describe himself as a mentor who would help her and not kill her, an arrest report obtained by TV20 said. He allegedly admitted to having violent tendencies.
Hall went on to claim they had sex multiple times and that he took videos of her which he later deleted.
A video obtained by police reportedly shows Sonia appearing with bruises over her body with Hall allegedly asking her why she was there. Hall pressed Sonia further in a bid to get her to consent to being harmed.
Sonia’s remains were food in woodlands in Marion County, Florida (Image: WCJB)
Detectives claimed that her demeanour in the video appeared to be hesitant and that she looked visibly and upset as she nodded. Investigators found a message reportedly sent by Sonia to a friend via the online messaging platform Discord on October 11.
Further messages from Sonia to a friend are said to have shown that she believed a mistake had been made. Investigators claimed that the messages, “showed that Hall was controlling her, that she was afraid, and had made a mistake”.
Sonia Exelby(Image: Facebook)
Appearing to express regret during her time at the Airbnb, she reportedly said: “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.”
A shovel found in Hall’s garage allegedly had Sonia’s DNA on it.
An autopsy found that Sonia had died after being stabbed four times with a knife. Investigators said that Hall had sent a package to a friend in Ohio following her death.
Authorities in the state found a knife that allegedly had blood on it and was suspected of being Sonia’s DNA. Hall has been arrested on first-degree murder, kidnapping, credit card fraud and unlawful use of a communication device charges.
For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
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