Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.
A man from Florida has been taken into custody after a British woman, described as ‘suicidal’, traveled to the United States with the alleged intention of experiencing torture, sexual assault, and ‘possibly murder’, as heard in court.
Concerns regarding Sonia Exelby, who hails from the south coast of England, arose when she did not board her scheduled return flight at Gainesville Regional Airport on October 13.
On that day, police in the UK contacted authorities in Florida through INTERPOL, informing them that Exelby was suicidal and seeking someone to violently end her life. A few days later, the 32-year-old’s body was discovered in Marion Oaks, Florida, with four stab wounds.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is treating the death as a suspected homicide, as reported by PEOPLE.
Nearly a month after her body was found, 53-year-old Dwain Hall was apprehended in connection with her death by Marion County Sheriff and FDLE officers. Hall was taken into custody on Monday and is now facing charges of sexual abuse, torture, and murder.
In a statement, the FDLE confirmed they had ‘arrested Dwain Hall, 53, of Ocala, on charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping in the homicide of a missing woman from the United Kingdom’.
Commissioner Mark Glass delivered a strong message following the tragic incident, stating: “This type of violent crime and disregard for human life will not be tolerated in our state – those who commit such heinous crimes will be held fully accountable.”
Documentation seen by PEOPLE reveals that Exelby was ‘suicidal and traveling to the United States to be sexually abused, tortured, and possibly murdered’, as indicated by files found on her computer.
UK authorities also uncovered what appeared to be a suicide note, where the 32-year-old predicted being ‘mutilated and disabled for the rest of my life’ after meeting her abuser, whom she had connected with via a fetish website.
Hall, aged 53, was captured through extensive efforts by various law enforcement bodies, which tracked unauthorized transactions from Exelby’s credit cards and bank account to the Ocala resident.
This led to his detention as investigators linked him to the British woman’s torture and death.
The arrest affidavit shows Hall initially denied knowing the victim and provided several conflicting stories, but later conceded they had conversed about ‘bondage, suicide, and her desire to have someone kill her’.
He also mentioned plans of taking her to the state’s ‘Alligator Alley’, suggesting local wildlife would dispose of her body. While he did not confess to killing Exelby, he informed investigators that ‘she’s happy now because she got what she wanted’.
On Monday, October 17, authorities re-arrested Hall, adding charges of kidnapping and murder to his previous charges of fraudulent use of credit cards and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
Following her disappearance, Exelby’s boyfriend, Stevie Hunt, posted an emotional appeal on social media for her return.
He wrote: “It pains me to write this, I never thought I’d be writing this. The love of my life Sonia Exelby is missing.
“She’s struggling deeply right now with her mental health and we are terrified for her safety.”
Tragically, it seems the 32-year-old Brit may have reconsidered her plans for torture and murder, confiding to a friend via Discord that she was being held against her will, without revealing her captor’s identity.
“He made it clear there was no way out unless I shoot him. I was questioning it last night. I can’t kill anyone,” she explained.
“I was questioning it last night… I thought he’d do it quick and not give my mind time to stew,” she added.
Exelby also informed her friend that Hall had coerced her into recording a series of ‘disclaimer’ messages and writing a letter to her family, which he found amusing.
Florida police reviewed a cell phone video allegedly recorded by Hall.
In the video, Hall can be seen asking Exelby how she would prefer to die, to which the distressed Brit responds, albeit with apparent hesitation before expressing her consent.
Hall has denied all charges against him.
The FDLE is calling for anyone with information to reach out to the Gainesville Field Office tip line at [email protected].
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 to reach a 24-hour crisis center or you can webchat at 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.