The family of a British woman allegedly murdered in the US has paid tribute to her "magic" ahead of the upcoming trial in Florida. Sonia Exelby, 32, from Portsmouth, was found dead in a shallow grave in Florida just days after she travelled from the UK to the US in October last year.
Tribute to a 'magic' sister
In a tribute penned by her eldest sister, Gemma Isaj, the family described their broken hearts and praised Sonia's compassionate nature. "She had this incredibly calming, gentle and completely non-judgemental nature," the tribute said. "A magic healing hug that would wrap comfort around you."
"You could talk to Sonia about anything, and she would never make you feel judged. Sonia was a person who just wanted to help," it continued. "She couldn't bear to see anything hurt. She was even vegan because she couldn't stand the thought of an animal suffering so that she could eat."
Details of the case
Sonia is alleged to have met with Dwain Hall, 53, after they exchanged messages in an explicit online chat room in the months before her death. A medical examiner later said the music teacher had been stabbed multiple times. Hall was later charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping - he denies the charges against him.
The Marion County Medical Examiner revealed Sonia was stabbed four times and sustained injuries to her aorta, oesophagus, stomach, spleen, pancreas and left kidney. Arrest documents following Hall's arrest said Sonia "left evidence on her computer indicating she was suicidal and travelling to the United States to be sexually abused, tortured and possibly murdered".
Family fundraising for trial
Hall is alleged to have admitted during police interview that he and Sonia "discussed bondage, suicide, and her desire to have someone kill her". He was arrested on October 17 last year after he allegedly attempted to use Sonia's credit cards to withdraw the equivalent of £918.
The family is attempting to raise funds to fly to Florida for Hall's trial, which is expected to begin in November. Gemma said only four of Sonia's siblings are able to receive some type of support toward the cost of travelling. The GoFundMe campaign has raised £4,600 out of a £10,000 target, with any surplus donations to be given to a mental health charity in Sonia's honour.
"We want people to know how kind she was," Gemma added. "How compassionate she was. How she would try to help people, even when she was struggling herself. We want people to remember the good she brought into people's lives. We can't change what happened to Sonia. We can't bring our sister back. But we can be there for her in this last hurdle."
