Sonia Exelby, 32, from Portsmouth, flew to Tallahassee, Florida, where she was later found dead in Marion Oaks after meeting a man from a fetish website
Details of Sonia Exelby’s Death in Florida
Sonia Exelby, 32, from Portsmouth, reportedly flew from the UK to Florida to meet Dwain Hall, a man she had met on a fetish website. She was later found dead in Marion Oaks. Hall has been charged with first-degree murder and pleaded not guilty.
Timeline of Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| October 10 | Sonia Exelby arrives in Tallahassee, Florida. |
| October 13 | Sonia’s body is found in Marion Oaks. |
On October 10, Sonia Exelby arrived in Tallahassee, Florida, to meet Dwain Hall. Her friends became concerned because Sonia had been battling mental health challenges. They felt she had entered “an extremely vulnerable situation.”
Three days later, when Sonia did not return home, authorities were notified. Her body was found in a wooded area of Marion Oaks, northwest of Orlando. An autopsy confirmed that Sonia died after being stabbed four times with a knife, with wounds ranging from four to seven inches deep.
The autopsy report also noted a “dried, red-orange, V-shaped abrasion.” Her death was classified as a homicide. Authorities revealed that Sonia had left evidence on her computer, indicating she was suicidal and traveling to the U.S. to be sexually abused, tortured, and possibly murdered.
Charges Against Dwain Hall
Law enforcement in Florida arrested Hall on charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping after linking him to transactions using Sonia’s credit cards. Hall, 53, picked up Sonia from the airport and took her to a Reddick Airbnb cabin. He acknowledged having violent inclinations and claimed Sonia expressed suicidal thoughts and a wish to die.
Court documents show Sonia wrote a suicide note stating she would be “mutilated and disabled for the rest of my life” if she “managed to get to him.” Hall allegedly portrayed himself as a guide who intended to help Sonia, stating they discussed bondage, suicide, and her desire to have someone kill her.
Hall claimed he and Sonia engaged in sexual activity, describing it as ‘vanilla.’ He insisted this was Sonia’s idea, not his. Court records indicate that Hall stated if he had to help Sonia end her life, he would have taken her to Alligator Alley, where local predators “would have taken care of her.” When asked if he killed Sonia, Hall did not respond but remarked, “She’s happy now because she got what she wanted.”
Psychological Insights
Psychologist Alex Iszatt stated this situation does not constitute a “suicide pact.” Iszatt explained that Hall’s role was not that of a participant; he validated Sonia’s despair. Hall’s behavior showed traits of Antisocial Personality Disorder and malignant narcissism.
Investigators noted Sonia left evidence on her computer. They stated Hall allegedly believed killing Sonia was an act of service. His behavior showed a pattern, as seen in his 2014 conviction for aggravated battery of a pregnant woman.
Investigators found video evidence of Hall attempting to record Sonia, who appeared bruised. He pressed her to confirm her consent. Sonia expressed distress in messages sent to a friend on October 11, stating she felt trapped and scared.
Final Messages and Investigation Findings
Sonia’s last messages revealed her fear and confusion. She wrote, “I’m so scared, I’m so broken, and in so much pain.” Iszatt noted that Sonia’s final messages suggested she may have been psychologically shutting down.
Hall’s account shifted during police questioning. He claimed Sonia agreed to give him $4,000 to settle his IRS obligations and became enraged when she arrived without money. He withdrew £900 from Sonia’s UK bank account and forced her to create recordings and write a letter to her relatives.
After Sonia’s death, Hall mailed a package to an acquaintance in Ohio. Authorities recovered a seven-inch Tanto blade with Sonia’s blood and a shovel from Hall’s garage that tested positive for traces of her DNA. A toxicology analysis showed a probable presence of cannabinoids and a blood alcohol concentration of 0.064.
Attorney Julia Williamson, representing Hall, stated he is scheduled to appear in court in February and has filed a plea of not guilty. She expressed condolences to those grieving Sonia’s tragic loss.
