19.10.2026 15:03
Sonia Exelby, 32, who lived in England, traveled about 6,000 kilometers to the US to meet a 54-year-old man she had met online. Days later, the young woman was found dead in a shallow grave in a wooded area in Florida. It emerged that Exelby, who was found to have four stab wounds on her body, had sent help messages to her friends before her death.
Remarkable details have emerged in the case concerning the killing in the United States of 32-year-old music teacher Sonia Exelby, who lived in Portsmouth, England. The young woman, who traveled to Florida to meet a man she had met online, was found in a shallow grave in a wooded area near a highway on October 17, 2025.
Dwain Hall, 54, a father of two, was arrested on charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping in connection with Exelby's death.
THEY MET ON A FETISH SITE
According to the investigation file, Sonia Exelby and Dwain Hall met through a website with sexual fetish content.
According to reports in the British press, Exelby left the UK a few days before her death and went to Marion County in the US state of Florida.
In the police's initial investigations, they focused on the possibility that the young woman may have paid Hall to kill her.
However, her family opposed this interpretation of the incident, arguing that Exelby had been subjected to psychological manipulation for a long time.
FAMILY ALLEGES TWO YEARS OF MANIPULATION
Sonia Exelby's five siblings argued that the young woman had been manipulated by Hall, whom she met online, for about two years. The family stated that Hall knew Exelby was in a vulnerable situation and that the relationship continued nonetheless.
The young woman's 47-year-old older brother, Luke Wilton, recounted that his sister had previously told them about a group in the US that targeted vulnerable women. Wilton said Sonia wanted to expose these people's activities and prevent other women from being harmed.
SHE ASKED HER FRIENDS FOR HELP BEFORE SHE DIED
According to her family's statement, Sonia Exelby sent messages asking her friends for help after arriving in Florida. Her relatives stated that the young woman was worried about the people she had encountered online before going to the US and believed that these people might have harmed other women.
As part of the investigation, Exelby's computer was also examined. Police announced that various records concerning the young woman's mental state were found. The family emphasized, however, that Exelby's psychological problems should not overshadow the investigation of the murder charge and possible manipulation.
FOUR STAB WOUNDS DETECTED ON HER LIFELESS BODY
A forensic medical examination determined that four stab wounds were found on Sonia Exelby's body. As part of the investigation, footage assessed to have been recorded on Dwain Hall's phone before the young woman's death was also obtained.
In the footage, Exelby was found to have signs of beating on her face and body, and Hall was said to have asked the young woman about the reason for her coming to the US and her thoughts about her death. Investigators took the recordings under review to assess the conditions the young woman was in and the suspect's behavior.
POLICE OFFICER'S REMARKS DREW REACTION
Police body-camera footage that had previously emerged in connection with the incident also caused controversy. A police officer working at the scene where Exelby's body was found was seen using dismissive language about the deceased woman during a phone call with his mother. It was reported that during the conversation, the officer said that, in addition to Florida law enforcement, Interpol officials were also at the scene.
FAMILY RAISING FUNDS TO ATTEND THE TRIAL
Sonia Exelby's family is preparing to travel to the US to follow the murder trial, which is scheduled to begin on November 16. However, her five siblings and other relatives are struggling to cover the costs of plane tickets and accommodation.
The eldest sibling in the family, Gemma Isaj, launched a donation campaign on GoFundMe so that relatives can attend the hearing.
Isaj stated that they want her sister's story to be heard in court, saying the case is not only about mental health but also about vulnerable people being targeted online.
MURDER TRIAL TO BEGIN ON NOVEMBER 16
Dwain Hall, who will stand trial on charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping, denied the charges against him. The defendant's trial is scheduled to begin on November 16 in Marion County, Florida, with jury selection. The family wants the young woman's death to be clarified in all its aspects and those responsible to be held accountable before justice.