Florida Man Arrested for Murder of UK Visitor

A man in Florida has been apprehended on charges related to the brutal death of a woman from the UK who allegedly traveled there with suicidal intentions. Reports indicate that Sonia Exelby, aged 32, was found deceased in a shallow grave in Marion County on October 17, just a week after arriving in the U.S.

She missed her flight back to Portsmouth, England, on October 13, prompting her partner, Stevie, to report her disappearance to authorities in Florida the same day.

Stevie expressed his love for Exelby and mentioned concerns about her mental health, stating, “We believe she made an appointment to meet someone there and found herself in a very vulnerable position.” He added how much he missed her and her cat, who also wanted her back.

Investigators began looking into Dwayne Hall, 53, after Stevie shared his worries about Exelby’s intention to meet individuals who could lead to her demise. Hall and Exelby had connected on a fetish website around two years prior. According to police, he had introduced himself as a “mentor” seeking to help her.

Hall picked Exelby up from Gainesville Regional Airport on October 10 and took her to an Airbnb in Reddick, Florida, where they spent time together. Reports suggest Hall engaged in sexual acts with Exelby multiple times and even recorded some of it, deleting the footage later.

Police managed to recover a video showing Exelby with visible bruises. In this footage, she reportedly expressed feelings of worthlessness, saying, “I destroyed everyone who loved me.” Detectives noted her hesitations during the video, indicating she was under pressure.

On October 11, just a day after she arrived, Exelby reached out to a friend on Discord, expressing doubts about her situation and alluding to Hall’s constant pain. She remarked, “He made it clear that there was no way out unless I shot him,” suggesting a desperate state of mind.

Upon investigation, authorities found that Exelby had been fatally stabbed four times. A shovel found at the crime scene had matching labels to one purchased by Hall before picking Exelby up. Additionally, Hall had mailed a knife containing blood to a friend in Ohio before his arrest.

Hall was taken into custody on October 18 and faces charges including first-degree murder, kidnapping, credit card fraud, and illegal use of a communication device. He is currently being held without bail and is set to appear in court on November 18 for two misdemeanor charges.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has been contacted for further information regarding the case.