Key Takeaways
- Sonia Exelby, a 23‑year‑old from Portsmouth, England, traveled to Florida in October 2025 to meet Dwain Hall, a man she met on a fetish website.
- Hall allegedly agreed to torture, sexually abuse, and kill Exelby for $4,000 she offered to pay toward his IRS debt.
- Investigators recovered Walmart receipts showing Hall bought rope, a shovel, gun cleaner, and other items before picking her up at the airport.
- Exelby sent distressed Discord messages to a friend the night after her arrival, indicating regret and fear.
- A deleted 4‑minute video recovered by police shows Hall directing Exelby to say she wanted to be stabbed and beaten.
- Exelby’s body was found in a shallow grave with four stab wounds; the shovel Hall purchased was located in the grave’s top layers.
- Hall was arrested after a traffic stop; forensic DNA from a knife found in a friend’s possession matched Exelby’s blood.
- He faces premeditated first‑degree murder and kidnapping charges, with a trial set for November 5, 2025, and could receive the death penalty.
- The case highlights Exelby’s known mental‑health struggles, a prior thwarted UK attempt to meet individuals who would kill her, and Hall’s self‑described sadistic identity.
- Authorities warn that Hall may have additional victims linked to his online activity and urge anyone with information to come forward.
Overview of the Case
In October 2025, Sonia Exelby, a young woman from Portsmouth, England, flew to Florida to meet Dwain Hall, a 54‑year‑old man she had contacted through a fetish‑focused website. Hall allegedly promised to carry out Exelby’s request to be sexually abused, tortured, and murdered in exchange for $4,000 she said she would use to settle his IRS debt. The plan culminated in Exelby’s death, her body discovered in a shallow grave near Ocala, Florida, and Hall’s subsequent arrest on multiple felony charges, including premeditated first‑degree murder and kidnapping.
Online CommunicationMeeting and Planning
CourtMeeting and Planning Online
Hall and Exelby first connected in 2023 on a site catering to bondage, suicide, and extreme fetishes. Hall described himself as a sadist and began “mentoring” Exelby, guiding her through discussions about her desire to be killed. Their exchanged messages revealed that Exelby offered to help Hall with money he owed the IRS, and they allegedly agreed on a $4,000 cash payment for his services. To conceal the true nature of their arrangement, they devised a cover story to tell family and, if necessary, law‑enforcement officials.
Purchase of Items and Travel
Before Exelby’s arrival, Hall visited a Walmart in Gainesville where he bought a shovel, 50 feet of rope, gun cleaner, Lume spray deodorant, and sturdy nylon parachute cord—items later cited by investigators as evidence of premeditation. He also purchased a second shovel after returning for the first. On the evening of October 10, 2025, Exelby landed at Gainesville Regional Airport; Hall picked her up and drove her to an Airbnb in Reddick, Florida, which she had reserved under her own name.
First Night and Discord Messages
After spending the first night with Hall, Exelby sent a series of long, at times disjointed messages to a friend via Discord. She wrote that the previous night had been “so bad,” that Hall had locked her in and taken her phone because he “doesn’t trust me with it,” and that cell service was poor in the remote location. Exelby expressed regret, fear, and anguish, stating she thought Hall would act quickly but instead felt her mind “stewing.” She also noted that Hall forced her to record three disclaimer videos and write a letter to her family, which he found “amusing.” In one message she lamented, “I’m so so scared I’m so broken and in so much pain all I can do is lay here.”
The Final Video and Statements
Investigators later retrieved a deleted video Hall had recorded the same day Exelby messaged her friend. The 4‑minute‑16‑second clip shows a bruised, disheveled Exelby sitting on furniture while Hall, off‑camera, asks her questions and directs her answers. She rarely looks at the camera, becomes visibly upset with tears, exhales deeply, swallows hard, and hesitates before responding. When Hall asks why she is there, she replies, “Because I’m an awful person.” Pressed further, she says she wants to be stabbed, acknowledges she has been beaten over the past days, and silently shakes her head when asked if she was coerced. Hall then demands she repeat, “I needed to be beaten and suffer cause I’m such a piece of s—,” which she does, after which Hall affirms, “Good, good,” and asks if she is happy with what she wants.
Disappearance and Discovery of the Body
On October 11, Hall’s roadside‑assistance business account was charged seven times in roughly ten minutes using Exelby’s debit card. When Exelby failed to appear for her scheduled October 13 return flight to the UK, her family reported her missing. Investigators traced the card charges to Hall, leading them to his location. On October 17, deputies discovered Exelby’s body buried in a shallow grave in a wooded area of Marion County; she had four stab wounds on her side. The label from the shovel Hall bought at Walmart was found in the top layers of dirt, directly linking the tool to the burial site.
Arrest and Forensic Evidence
Later that day, Hall was pulled over while driving his black Jeep Cherokee on Interstate 75 near Ocala. Before being taken into custody, he allegedly messaged a Facebook friend about sending a package containing “precious and valuable personal items,” instructing the friend to keep it safe for six months. Police recovered the package from the friend and found a bracelet and a black, seven‑inch steel knife designed for piercing and stabbing; the blade was engraved with “Dorkworf pointy end goes in the other guy.” DNA from blood on the knife matched Exelby’s. Initially, Hall denied knowing Exelby, but later admitted he had recorded a video of her, which he deleted because she “was not behaving right.”
Legal Proceedings and Potential Penalty
Hall is being held in the Marion County Jail on six felony charges, including premeditated first‑degree murder and kidnapping. His trial is set for November 5, 2025, in Marion County, Florida. Prosecutors intend to pursue the death penalty, citing the premeditated nature of the crime, the extensive planning evidenced by purchases and communications, and the brutality of the killing. Hall’s legal representative has not responded to requests for comment.
Broader Context and Mental‑Health Factors
Court records indicate Exelby had known mental‑health diagnoses and a history of suicidal ideation. In 2024, UK authorities thwarted an earlier attempt by her to travel to meet individuals who would kill her violently. Her online communications with Hall revealed repeated expressions of self‑loathing and a desire to be punished. Hall’s self‑portrayal as a sadist, his fascination with the Egyptian god Anubis, and the violent language he used in the recovered video suggest a pattern of exploiting vulnerable individuals seeking extreme forms of self‑harm.
Implications and Ongoing Investigation
Law‑enforcement officials warn that Hall may have additional victims linked to his activity on fetish and dating platforms. They urge anyone who interacted with him online or possesses relevant information to come forward. The case underscores the dangers posed by individuals who use online communities to facilitate violent crimes, especially when those individuals target people with documented mental‑health struggles. As the trial approaches, the outcome will likely serve as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance, better monitoring of high‑risk online interactions, and accessible mental‑health support for those at risk.