Sonia Exelby

📍 Location

📝 Description

Sonia Exelby, a 32-year-old UK national from Portsmouth, traveled to Florida after engaging with Dwain Hall, a man she met online on a fetish site, with the stated aim of experiencing a violent death. She was reported missing on October 13, 2025, after failing to board her return flight. Her remains were found four days later, October 17, in a shallow grave in the Marion Oaks area of Marion County, Florida, and were identified by fingerprints. An autopsy determined she died from four stab wounds likely inflicted by a knife. Investigators allege Hall, a local Ocala resident, picked Exelby up from Gainesville Airport on October 10, took her to an Airbnb in Reddick, and conducted or facilitated activities that culminated in her death. Evidence cited includes surveillance showing Hall purchasing a shovel and other items before meeting Exelby, bank card activity linked to Exelby’s accounts, a video of Exelby with bruises, and distress messages she sent indicating fear and coercion. Hall was arrested on October 18, 2025 on fraud charges and later charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping; by November 18–20, 2025, reports note that he pleaded not guilty to the murder/kidnapping charges. The case has drawn international attention due to the cross‑border aspects and the disturbing circumstances surrounding Exelby’s death.

🔍 Circumstances

Timeline: Oct 10 Hall purchases rope, a shovel, and other items in Gainesville; Oct 10 Hall picks Exelby up from Gainesville Regional Airport and takes her to an Airbnb in Reddick, FL; Oct 13 Exelby is reported missing after not boarding her return flight to the UK; Oct 17 remains found in a Marion County woods (Marion Oaks area); Oct 18 Hall arrested for fraud related to Exelby’s cards and later charged with murder and kidnapping; Nov 17 Hall charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping; Nov 19–20 Hall pleads not guilty to the murder/kidnapping charges. Investigators cite online communications between Exelby and Hall, a video showing bruises on Exelby, and purchases (including a shovel) linked to Hall prior to meeting her.

👤 Physical Description

32-year-old woman from Portsmouth, England; publicly released details identify nationality and age, but no widely published specifics on height/weight; publicly available materials note Exelby was shown in distress in a video and had bruising.

ℹ️ Additional Details

Investigators allege Hall is the owner of Solver Wolf's Roadside Assistance, with bank card transactions tied to Exelby's accounts; a knife with Exelby’s blood was recovered; a shovel with matching branding was found in Hall’s home; UK INTERPOL involvement assisted in locating Exelby; by late November 2025, Hall faced charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping and had entered a not-guilty plea; the case highlights concerns about online exploitation, vulnerability, and cross-border crime.

🔗 Sources (7)

👥 Community Contributions

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