Share and Follow
A man from Florida has been arrested for the murder of a woman who reportedly traveled from the United Kingdom with the intention of being killed.
Sonia Exelby, who was believed to be experiencing mental health challenges, connected with 53-year-old Dwain Hall on a fetish website, where she sought someone to inflict harm on her. Exelby traveled to Florida from the UK just a week before her body was discovered buried in a shallow grave at a residence in Marion Oaks on October 17, according to reports from WOFL.
Concerns arose when Exelby did not return home as planned, missing her October 13 flight back to the UK. Authorities confirmed her identity using fingerprints taken from the body.
An autopsy revealed that Exelby died from four stab wounds. WOFL also reported that, during phone calls from jail, Hall instructed his wife to watch for a package from a friend expected to arrive in six months. These calls led to the discovery of Facebook messages allegedly sent by Hall from jail to a friend in Ohio.
Police eventually intercepted the package, which was found to contain a knife stained with Exelby’s blood, solidifying the case against Hall.
Investigators said the Facebook messages Hall sent to the friend “showed that Hall was controlling her [Exelby], that she was afraid, and had made a mistake,” according to WCJB.
Surveillance footage allegedly showed Hall purchasing a shovel, which was later recovered from his home. The shovel not only contained his and Exelby’s DNA, but a label for a shovel was found in the shallow grave.
WOFL reported that the label matched the brand of shovel Hall was seen purchasing in the surveillance footage.
While Hall initially denied knowing Exelby, records indicated that his business billed expenses on Exelby’s bank card. Additionally, license plate readers confirmed Hall’s vehicle picked up Exelby from the Gainesville airport on October 10.
According to investigators, bank records and surveillance footage also established that Hall bought a shovel, rope, and a gun cleaner right before picking up Exelby from the airport.
Eventually, Hall allegedly confessed to meeting Exelby on a fetish site two years earlier. He claimed that he was acting as a mentor to Exelby and was trying to convince her not to kill herself. He reportedly also admitted to having sex with Exelby at an Airbnb.
Hall reportedly also stated that he had some violent tendencies. Investigators recovered a video Hall deleted, which showed Hall asking Exelby — covered in bruises — why she was there. According to WCJB. Exelby responded, “Because I’m an awful person. I’ve crushed everyone who ever loves me.”
“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,” she allegedly told a friend on Discord on October 11.
WOFL reported that authorities in the United Kingdom said Exelby looked for someone to kill her last year, but she was stopped and underwent treatment.
Hall was charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, credit card fraud, and unlawful use of a communication device. A judge denied bond earlier this week.
[Feature Photo: Facebook; Marion County Jail