A Florida man is awaiting trial after authorities accused him of killing Sonia Exelby, a woman from Portsmouth, England, who traveled to North Florida in October 2025. Investigators say Exelby had arranged online to be sexually abused, tortured and killed, but later appeared to regret the plan. Her body was found in a shallow grave in Marion County after she failed to board a flight home.
Dwain Hall, 54, of Ocala, faces premeditated first-degree murder and kidnapping charges among six felony charges. His trial is scheduled for November 5 in Marion County, Florida. He could face the death penalty if convicted.
Investigators cited digital messages, surveillance footage, financial transactions, a recovered video and DNA found on a knife. Hall has been held in the Marion County Jail.
| Number | Subheading |
|---|---|
| 1 | Online contact led to an alleged deadly arrangement |
| 2 | Exelby traveled from Britain to North Florida |
| 3 | Messages described fear and an attempt to withdraw |
| 4 | Investigators linked Hall to the grave and weapon |
| 5 | A recovered video became central evidence |
Online contact led to an alleged deadly arrangement
According to court records, Hall and Exelby met in 2023 through a fetish website. Their discussions reportedly included bondage, suicide and Exelby’s desire for someone to kill her. Hall described himself as a sadist and characterized his interactions with Exelby as mentoring.
Investigators said Exelby offered to help Hall pay an IRS debt, and the pair agreed she would provide $4,000 in cash in exchange for his help carrying out what she wanted. Records also indicate that they created a cover story for relatives and possibly law enforcement.
Exelby traveled from Britain to North Florida
Exelby flew from England into Gainesville Regional Airport on the evening of October 10, 2025. Her return flight was scheduled for October 13. Investigators said Hall collected her and drove her to an Airbnb in Reddick, about 40 minutes south of the airport, which she had reserved in her own name.
Walmart surveillance footage and receipts allegedly showed Hall buying gun cleaner, rope, parachute cord, deodorant and a shovel before collecting Exelby. Court records also refer to a 2024 attempt by British authorities to stop Exelby from traveling to meet people she believed would kill her violently.
Messages described fear and an attempt to withdraw
On October 11, after spending a night with Hall, Exelby sent lengthy messages to a friend on Discord. Investigators said she described being locked inside, having her phone taken and being in an isolated location with weak cellphone service. She appeared frightened, in pain and reconsidering the agreement.
Exelby wrote that the previous night had been “so bad” and said she had expected Hall to act quickly rather than give her time to regret the decision. She also told her friend that Hall allegedly made her record disclaimer videos and write a letter to her family.
“I’m so so scared I’m so broken and in so much pain all I can do is lay here,” Exelby wrote in a message cited by investigators.
The same day, Hall’s roadside assistance business allegedly charged Exelby’s debit card seven times in roughly 10 minutes.
Investigators linked Hall to the grave and weapon
Exelby was reported missing after failing to return home. On October 17, law enforcement found her body in a shallow grave in a wooded area of Marion County. Court records state that four stab wounds were found on her body, and investigators recovered a shovel label from the upper layers of soil.
That day, deputies stopped Hall while he drove a black Jeep Cherokee on Interstate 75 near Ocala. Investigators said he had sent a friend a Facebook message about a package containing valuable personal items, including a bracelet and a seven-inch steel knife designed for piercing and stabbing.
DNA from blood recovered on the knife matched Exelby, according to court records. Investigators said Hall initially denied knowing her but later acknowledged recording a video, saying he deleted it because she was not behaving properly.
A recovered video became central evidence
Investigators recovered a four-minute, 16-second video recorded at the Airbnb on the day Exelby contacted her friend. Although it had allegedly been deleted three seconds after it was made, authorities obtained it during the investigation.
The affidavit describes Exelby as bruised and disheveled while sitting on furniture. Investigators said she appeared hesitant, became upset and avoided looking toward the camera. She reportedly said she was an awful person and wanted to be stabbed. The affidavit also states that she indicated she had been beaten.
“This is how you wanted to die, right? You wanted to be beaten and made to suffer because you’re such a piece of s—,” Hall allegedly said in the video, according to investigators.
Hall later allegedly told investigators that Exelby had not done what she was supposed to do and that he was upset because she had not brought cash. He said he obtained $1,200 through charges to her debit card after several transactions were declined.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Hall faces premeditated first-degree murder and kidnapping charges. |
| 2 | Exelby traveled from England to Florida in October 2025. |
| 3 | Her body was found in a shallow Marion County grave on October 17. |
| 4 | Investigators cited financial records, DNA and digital evidence. |
| 5 | Hall’s trial is scheduled for November 5 in Marion County. |
Summary
The prosecution’s case rests on online communications, Exelby’s final messages, alleged financial activity, physical evidence and video recovered from the Airbnb. Authorities say those materials show that Hall arranged to meet Exelby, subjected her to violence and later buried her body. Hall remains accused, not convicted, and the charges will be tested at trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is charged in the case?
Dwain Hall, 54, of Ocala, Florida, is charged with premeditated first-degree murder and kidnapping among six felony charges.
Who was Sonia Exelby?
Sonia Exelby was a woman from Portsmouth, England, who traveled to North Florida in October 2025 and was later found dead in Marion County.
When is the trial scheduled?
Hall’s trial is scheduled for November 5 in Marion County, Florida. He is being held in the Marion County Jail and could face the death penalty if convicted.
