A British woman who travelled to the United States while experiencing a mental health crisis was allegedly tortured and murdered by a man she met on a fetish website, with the suspect now making disturbing claims from his prison cell.
Vulnerable Journey Ends in Tragedy
Sonia Exelby, a 32-year-old woman from Portsmouth, Hampshire, landed in Tallahassee, Florida, on 10 October last year. She had flown to meet 53-year-old Dwain Hall, a man with whom she had been communicating online via a fetish website. Friends, aware of Sonia's struggles with her mental health, immediately feared she had entered what they described as "an extremely vulnerable situation".
Her body was discovered in a wooded area of Marion Oaks, Florida, on 13 October, after she failed to board her scheduled return flight to the UK. Police later confirmed she had been stabbed multiple times and her death was ruled a homicide.
Chilling Prison Calls and a Warped Defence
Dwain Hall was subsequently arrested and charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, credit card fraud, and unlawful use of a communication device. Since his incarceration at Marion County Jail, he has made numerous phone calls and video visits to his wife, Ginger Stein.
Transcripts of these conversations reveal Hall telling his wife he doesn't believe he is "ever coming home". He stated, "It is a lot to deal with, I'm sorry... like I said initially we needed money but we didn't need it this bad." His wife responded that she had a "bad feeling" and should have forbidden him from meeting Sonia.
In a twisted attempt to justify his actions, Hall claimed to his wife that he was "trying to help somebody" and was not "the monster that they are painting me out to be". He asserted, "I tried to give Sonia what she wanted... in a sense that was compassionate." Hall further argued that people should have the right to choose to die and select who helps them, concluding, "I don't believe I did anything wrong."
A Desperate Plea for Help Ignored
Evidence gathered by investigators paints a harrowing picture of Sonia's final days. She had left evidence on her computer indicating she was suicidal and had travelled to the US "to be sexually abused, tortured and possibly murdered". However, police believe she may have changed her mind but found herself trapped.
On 11 October, the day after she arrived, Sonia managed to send desperate messages to a friend via Discord. She wrote, "I'm sorry he keeps taking my phone... He made it clear there was no way out unless I shoot him. I was questioning it last night." Describing being locked in a room with no signal, she added, "I'm so scared I'm so broken and in so much pain all I can do is lay here and doing what he wants."
Police also recovered footage allegedly showing Hall filming a bruised Sonia, coercing her to give consent and state how she wanted to die. Detectives noted she appeared hesitant and visibly upset in the video.
The Gruesome Facts and Legal Proceedings
The Marion County Medical Examiner's autopsy report, finalised on 4 November, detailed the horrific extent of Sonia's injuries. She suffered four stab wounds to her torso, between four and seven inches deep, which damaged her aorta, oesophagus, stomach, spleen, pancreas, and left kidney.
Hall, who changed his story several times during police interviews, allegedly told investigators that Sonia had promised him $4,000 (£3,000) to help pay off tax debt and he became angry when she arrived without the cash. He later withdrew £900 from her UK bank account. An affidavit states he made her record disclaimer messages and write a letter to her family because he thought it was "funny".
Hall's attorney, Julia Williamson, filed a written plea of not guilty. She stated her client maintains his right to silence and that the plea will stand until they receive discovery evidence from the prosecution. Hall is expected in court in February.
For emotional support in the UK, you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
