A British woman who travelled to the United States with the intention of being killed by a man she met on a fetish site was found stabbed four times, authorities have revealed. Sonia Exelby, from Portsmouth, was reported missing by UK officials via INTERPOL on October 13, and her remains were discovered in a shallow grave in Marion County, Florida, on October 17.
Dwain Hall, 53, from Ocala, was arrested and charged with kidnapping and first-degree murder. Police allege that Hall responded to Exelby's request on an undisclosed fetish site to abuse and kill her. Investigators recovered a video showing Exelby covered in bruises, appearing subdued and visibly upset, as she answered questions about her wish to be beaten and killed.
Evidence against Hall includes phone calls from jail in which he allegedly told his wife to expect a package from a friend in six months. Detectives traced the package to a friend in Ohio and found a knife inside, which later tested positive for Exelby's blood. Additionally, a shovel with traces of both Hall's and Exelby's DNA was found in Hall's garage.
An autopsy confirmed Exelby died from four stab wounds. UK police noted that Exelby had previously attempted to hire someone to kill her in 2024, but the attempt was foiled and she received treatment. Hall remains in custody without bail, with a judge citing a 'large amount of evidence' against him.
