WARNING GRAPHIC DETAILS: Dwain Hall, 53 was charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping after the body of Brit Sonia Exelby, 32, was found in a shallow grave in Florida
A man allegedly plotted to have alligators eat a British woman who travelled to the US with the intention of being killed.
Sonia Exelby, 32, from Portsmouth, arrived in Florida on October 10 where reportedly met with Dwain Hall, 53, who is alleged to have killed her after meeting her on a fetish website. The pair reportedly drove to an Airbnb in Reddick, about 100 miles northwest of Orlando, where Hall was alleged to have recorded a video where he pressed Sonia to consent to being harmed.
Arrest documents seen by The Mirror said Sonia “left evidence on her computer indicating she was suicidal and travelling to the United States to be abused, tortured, and possibly murdered.” Sonia’s remains were found in a shallow grave in woodland in nearby Marion County, on October 17.
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An autopsy later determined she had been stabbed four times with a knife. Authorities later found a knife with Sonia’s DNA in a package that had been sent to a friend of Hall’s in Ohio.
Hall voluntarily arrived at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office the same day after he allegedly attempted to use Sonia’s credit card to withdraw $1,200 (£905.11). Documents claimed Hall initially denied meeting Sonia and said a man had provided the card number to him over the phone for unspecified services.
He said he didn’t provide a service to anyone that day, before claiming to have picked up a woman and dropping her off at the Airbnb where Sonia was murdered. The documents later alleged Hall admitted to messaging Sonia where they discussed her supposed “desire to have someone kill her”.
“Hall then admitted to being the last person to seeing Exelby alive and said if he were to help her, he would have taken her to Alligator Alley and she could just walk in any direction to encounter wildlife that would have taken care of her,” the documents claimed.
“When questioned if Exelby walking in the Everglades would be violent enough for her, he said he would have taken care of that ahead of time. Hall motioned with his hands as though he would use his hands to exact violence on Exelby.”
Hall reportedly did not discuss further details about what happened to Sonia when asked if he killed her. He “indicated he could not answer that question.”
Hall was charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, fraudulent use of credit cards and unlawful use of two transmission devices. He is next due in court on December 23 and has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
A loved one of Sonia said in a social media post on October 16 that she was a “vulnerable person”. It continued: “We believe she got on a plane on Friday and made her way to Florida, Tallahassee, from the UK.”
For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email [email protected], visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
