Marion County, Florida – A British woman’s desperate search for a “violent death” ended in unimaginable horror when her mutilated body was discovered in a shallow grave, just days after she arrived in the US. Sonia Exelby, 32, from Portsmouth, UK, had flown to Florida amid severe mental health issues, reportedly arranging to meet someone willing to kill her. Instead, authorities say she fell victim to a predator who exploited her vulnerability, leading to her stabbing death and the arrest of Dwain Hall on murder charges. (58 words)
Desperate Journey: Exelby’s Flight from UK to Florida
Sonia Exelby touched down at Gainesville Regional Airport on October 10, 2025, after a direct flight from London. What should have been a short visit turned deadly when she missed her scheduled return flight three days later. Loved ones in the UK, alarmed by her silence, reported her missing to Hampshire Constabulary, who alerted US authorities via INTERPOL.
According to a Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) affidavit, Exelby had a documented history of suicidal ideation and mental health diagnoses. UK police informed their counterparts that she intended to meet “online individuals who would be willing to kill her violently.” This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision; investigators later uncovered messages showing she had connected with Hall two years prior on a fetish website, where she expressed her dark wishes.
Her boyfriend, Stevie Hunt, took to social media in a frantic plea on October 16, posting: “Sonia is such a vulnerable person and really struggling with her mental health. We believe she got on a plane on Friday and made her way to Florida.” Hunt’s post, shared widely, highlighted her fragility and urged anyone with information to come forward, but it was too late—Exelby’s path had already led her into grave danger.
The Predator’s Web: Meeting Dwain Hall Online
Dwain C. Hall, 53, from Ocala, Florida, emerged as the prime suspect after a rapid investigation. Court documents reveal he and Exelby had been in contact since 2023 via a site catering to extreme fetishes. Hall positioned himself as a “mentor” intent on helping her navigate her suicidal thoughts, rather than enabling suicide, though he admitted to detectives his own “violent tendencies.”
Upon her arrival, Hall picked her up and took her to an Airbnb in Reddick, where he claimed they had consensual sex multiple times. But recovered digital evidence painted a darker picture: A deleted video from Hall’s phone showed Exelby bruised and disheveled, appearing “hesitant” and “visibly upset.” In it, Hall asks why she’s there, and she responds softly, “To die.” Prosecutors allege Hall sought her consent to harm her on camera, which she nodded to reluctantly.
Further messages, including one Exelby sent to a friend via Discord on October 11, expressed doubts: “I think I’ve made a mistake.” The affidavit suggests Hall was “controlling” her, with Exelby fearing for her safety. Bank records linked Hall to unauthorized transfer attempts from her account post-death, sealing his connection to the crime.
Discovery in the Woods: Uncovering the Shallow Grave
On October 17, just a week after Exelby’s arrival, a group of hikers stumbled upon disturbed earth in a wooded area near SW 30th Terrace and SW 27th Circle in Marion Oaks, Marion County. FDLE agents excavated the site, revealing Exelby’s remains in a hastily dug shallow grave, partially covered with a shovel later traced to a purchase on her credit card.
An autopsy on October 18 confirmed the cause of death: four sharp-force injuries consistent with stab wounds from a knife, ruling it a homicide. Her body showed signs of mutilation and prior abuse, including extensive bruising. Cellphone data placed Hall at the burial site around the time of her death, and a bloodied knife—mailed by him to a friend in Ohio shortly after—was recovered and is undergoing DNA testing.
Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods praised the inter-agency effort: “Florida’s tough stance against crime is due largely in part to the professional cooperation between local and state law enforcement.” The grim find shocked the quiet suburban neighborhood, prompting road closures and media swarms.
Key evidence in the case includes:
- Digital Forensics: Recovered video and messages showing coercion and abuse.
- Financial Trails: Unauthorized transfers and the shovel purchase linking Hall to the scene.
- Physical Items: Bloody knife with potential Exelby DNA; cellphone pings at the grave site.
- Witness Statements: Hall’s friend in Ohio who received the mailed weapon.
- Autopsy Results: Four stab wounds; signs of torture preceding death.
Arrest and Charges: Hall’s Chilling Confession
Hall was apprehended on October 18 at his Ocala home, where agents found additional evidence tying him to the killing. During interrogation, he offered conflicting stories—first denying involvement, then admitting to the sexual encounters but claiming Exelby “got what she wanted.” When pressed on her death, he reportedly gestured violently, mimicking strangulation, and mused about feeding her to alligators in the Everglades for a “more fitting” end.
Charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping, Hall remains in Marion County Jail without bond. FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass lauded the “extraordinary speed and unwavering determination” of the probe: “This type of violent crime and disregard for human life will not be tolerated in our state—those who commit such heinous crimes will be held fully accountable.” UK police are assisting, providing family support through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
This isn’t Hall’s first brush with danger; a woman who knew him came forward, revealing a prior 2024 incident where Exelby had attempted to hire him for a similar act in the UK, but it was foiled, leading to her treatment and his fine. She expressed shock: “Thinking of somebody that you came across in life killing somebody else… it’s very shocking.”
Shadows of Vulnerability: Mental Health and Online Dangers
Exelby’s story spotlights the lethal intersection of mental health crises and the dark web. Friends described her as an artist grappling with profound struggles, active on platforms under handles like “uk.violentartist.” In 2024, a similar plot was thwarted when UK authorities intervened after she sought a killer online, resulting in mandatory counseling.
Experts warn that fetish sites can prey on the isolated, with a 2025 Interpol report noting a 40% rise in cross-border exploitation cases involving vulnerable individuals. Advocacy groups like the UK’s Mind have renewed calls for global monitoring of such platforms and better suicide prevention hotlines integrated with social media.
On X, reactions poured in, with users like @BritishUnitedx posting: “Missing woman found stabbed and buried in shallow grave after ‘flying to Florida to be killed’. She wanted a really violent death. Jesus!” Hashtags #JusticeForSonia and #MentalHealthMatters trended, blending grief with demands for reform.
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Sonia Exelby’s death is a gut-wrenching reminder of unchecked despair meeting unchecked predation, turning a cry for help into a crime scene. As Dwain Hall faces justice, her story urges stronger safeguards for those in mental health freefall—more intervention, less isolation. May her memory fuel change, honoring a life that deserved compassion, not cruelty.