Dwain Hall arrested for murder of UK woman in Florida

Dwain Hall, 54, has been arrested on charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping following the death of Sonia Exelby in Marion County, Florida. Exelby, a 32-year-old music teacher from Portsmouth, United Kingdom, traveled to the United States to meet Hall after they connected on a sexual fetish website.

Exelby’s body was discovered in a shallow grave in a wooded area near a highway on October 17, 2025. Forensic examinations revealed she had sustained four stab wounds. While initial police investigations considered the possibility that Exelby may have paid Hall to kill her, her family strongly disputes this theory.

Exelby’s siblings allege she was a victim of prolonged psychological manipulation by Hall over a two-year period. Her brother, Luke Wilton, stated that Sonia had previously expressed concerns regarding a group targeting vulnerable women in the United States and may have been attempting to uncover their activities. Before her death, Exelby reportedly sent messages to friends in Florida requesting assistance.