A British woman who travelled to Florida with the intention of being killed by a man she met on a fetish site has been found dead in a shallow grave. Sonia Exelby, 53, from Portsmouth, was reported missing by UK authorities via INTERPOL on October 13. Her remains were discovered four days later in Marion County, Florida.
Dwain Hall, also 53, from Ocala, has been arrested and charged with kidnapping and first-degree murder. He pleaded not guilty in court. Police allege that Hall responded to Exelby's request on an undisclosed fetish site to be abused and killed. Investigators recovered a video showing Exelby covered in bruises, appearing subdued and tearful as she answered questions about her wish to be beaten and killed.
Authorities found a knife in a package Hall had sent to a friend in Ohio, which later tested positive for Exelby's blood. They also discovered a shovel in Hall's garage with traces of both his and Exelby's DNA. An autopsy revealed Exelby was fatally stabbed four times.
UK police confirmed that Exelby had previously attempted to hire someone to kill her in 2024, but the plan was foiled and she received treatment. Hall remains in custody without bail.
