Woman traveled from UK to US to be killed by man she met on fetish website, authorities say

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Woman traveled from UK to US to be killed by man she met on fetish website, authorities say​

Sonia Exelby (left); and Dwain Hall.Credit :
Sonia Exelby/Facebook; Marion County Jail


A woman from the U.K. traveled to the U.S. to have a man in Florida kill her last month, according to investigation reports. (Source: WCJB)

By Ryan Wyatt Turbeville, Kayla Lewis and Emily Van de Riet

Published: Nov. 19, 2025 at 2:48 AM GMT+8

OCALA, Fla. (WCJB/Gray News) – A woman was murdered last month after she traveled from the United Kingdom to the United States to have a man in Florida kill her, according to investigation reports obtained by WCJB.

Authorities say Sonia Exelby, 32, of Portsmouth, England, landed at the Gainesville Regional Airport in Florida on Oct. 10 and did not make it to her return flight three days later.

UK authorities contacted the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, reporting Exelby as missing.

UK officials told Florida authorities that Exelby had mental health diagnoses and was suicidal. They believed she planned to travel to Florida to meet with people who would kill her violently.

Investigators connected Dwain Hall, 53, to the case after reviewing transactions made on Exelby’s credit cards.

Hall reportedly picked Exelby up from the airport on Oct. 10 and took her to an Airbnb on Northwest 122nd Terrace in Reddick, Florida.

Police reports show Hall eventually admitted to first interacting with Exelby on a fetish website about two years ago. He said she was suicidal and wanted to be killed.

Hall described himself as a “mentor” who wanted to “help” Exelby. He also admitted to having violent tendencies, according to the police reports.

At the Airbnb, Hall said he had sex with Exelby 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 with bruises all over her body. In the video, Hall asks why she’s there.

“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, police said. Detectives describe her demeanor as “hesitant” and “visibly upset” as she nods affirmatively.

Investigators say they learned of a message Exelby sent to a friend the next day on Oct. 11 on Discord, an online messaging platform, expressing regret while staying with Hall at the rental property.

Exelby reportedly wrote, “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.”

Investigators say this message “showed that Hall was controlling her, that she was afraid, and had made a mistake.”

Six days later, on Oct. 17, Exelby’s body was found in a shallow grave in a wooded area of Marion County, Florida. Fingerprints of the remains confirmed the identity.

Investigators say inside the grave, they found the label for a shovel that matched the brand purchased by Hall just before he picked up Exelby at the airport. The shovel was later found in his garage with Exelby’s DNA on it.

An autopsy determined Exelby died from 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.

Online records show Hall is being held at the Marion County Jail without bond.

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