A British woman who travelled to the United States with the intention of being killed was allegedly murdered by a man she met on a fetish website. Sonia Exelby, 32, from Portsmouth, arrived in Florida on October 10 and met Dwain Hall, 53, who has been charged with her murder.
According to arrest documents, Exelby left evidence on her computer indicating she was suicidal and travelled to the US to be abused, tortured, and possibly murdered. Hall allegedly drove her to an Airbnb in Reddick, about 100 miles northwest of Orlando, where he recorded a video pressing her to consent to being harmed.
Exelby's remains were found in a shallow grave in woodland in Marion County on October 17. An autopsy determined she had been stabbed four times. A knife with her DNA was later found in a package sent to a friend of Hall's in Ohio.
Hall voluntarily went to the Marion County Sheriff's Office on the same day after allegedly attempting to use Exelby's credit card to withdraw $1,200 (£905). He initially denied meeting her but later admitted to messaging her about her desire to be killed. He said if he were to help her, he would have taken her to Alligator Alley to be eaten by wildlife.
Hall has been charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, fraudulent use of credit cards, and unlawful use of two transmission devices. He has pleaded not guilty and is next due in court on December 23.
A loved one of Exelby described her as a vulnerable person in a social media post. For emotional support, the Samaritans can be contacted 24/7 on 116 123.
