A man is accused of planning to feed alligators a British woman who traveled to the US with the intent of being killed.
Sonia Exelby, a 32-year-old woman from Portsmouth, flew to Florida on October 10 and allegedly met Dwain Hall, 53, who is accused of murdering her after connecting on a fetish website. The duo drove to an Airbnb in Reddick, approximately 100 miles northwest of Orlando, where Hall purportedly filmed a video coercing Sonia to consent to harm.
According to arrest documents reviewed by The Mirror, Sonia had left evidence on her computer suggesting she was suicidal and traveled to the US to be abused, tortured, and potentially killed. Sonia’s body was discovered in a shallow grave in woodland in nearby Marion County on October 17.
An autopsy revealed that Sonia had been stabbed four times with a knife. Subsequently, authorities found a knife with Sonia’s DNA in a package sent to a friend of Hall’s in Ohio.
Hall voluntarily presented himself at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office on the same day after allegedly trying to withdraw $1,200 (£905.11) using Sonia’s credit card. Initially, Hall denied meeting Sonia and claimed someone had provided him the card number over the phone for unspecified services.
He initially denied providing services to anyone on that day, later changing his story to say that he picked up a woman and dropped her off at the Airbnb where Sonia was killed. The documents further alleged that Hall confessed to messaging Sonia about her supposed desire to be killed.
According to the documents, Hall disclosed that he was the last person to see Sonia alive and suggested that he would have taken her to Alligator Alley, where she could encounter wildlife that would harm her. When asked if that would be violent enough, he implied that he would have ensured it was.
Hall did not elaborate on Sonia’s fate when questioned about killing her, stating he couldn’t provide an answer.
Hall is facing charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, fraudulent credit card use, and unlawful use of two transmission devices. He is scheduled to appear in court on December 23 and has pleaded not guilty.
A social media post from one of Sonia’s loved ones on October 16 described her as a vulnerable individual who had flown from the UK to Tallahassee, Florida.
For emotional support, individuals can contact the Samaritans 24-hour helpline at 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person, or access their website.