Case File · Marion County, Florida · Charged: First-Degree Murder & Kidnapping · Pleaded Not Guilty · Trial Reported for Nov 2026
The Case of Sonia Exelby & Dwain Hall
A 32-year-old woman from Portsmouth, England, travelled to Florida in October 2025 to meet a man she had spoken to online for about two years. She was found dead in a shallow grave in Marion County on 17 October. Dwain Hall has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and kidnapping — the allegations below remain unproven unless established at trial.
Subject
Sonia Exelby
Age
32
Body Found
Oct 17, 2025
Location
Marion County, FL
Defendant
Dwain Hall
The case centres on allegations that Dwain Hall lured or facilitated the killing of Sonia Exelby after meeting her online. Exelby travelled from England to Florida in October 2025, stayed with Hall at an Airbnb in or near Reddick, and did not board her scheduled flight home. Her body was later found in a shallow grave in a wooded area of Marion County. Hall has pleaded not guilty, so the allegations remain unproven unless established at trial.
NEW Case Status — Charges, Plea & Trial Setting
Charges & Plea — Dwain Hall
Ref: FOX 35 Orlando, BBC
Charges
Hall faces first-degree murder and kidnapping charges in connection with Exelby's death. He was initially arrested on allegations involving fraudulent use of Exelby's credit card and unlawful use of a two-way communication device, and was later charged with the more serious offences.
Plea
Hall pleaded not guilty and is being held without bond. At this stage he is an accused defendant, not a convicted murderer; a not-guilty plea means the prosecution must prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Trial
A trial was reported as scheduled for November 2026. Trial dates can change because of discovery disputes, motions, psychiatric evaluations, evidentiary rulings or scheduling issues.
Source of Claims
The evidence described in news coverage generally comes from arrest affidavits, investigators, prosecutors or court filings — sources that present the state's allegations. The significance and reliability of each item will ultimately be tested through pretrial litigation and trial evidence.
Presumption
Every factual claim on this page is an allegation or a report until proven in court. The trial — not the arrest affidavit or media coverage — will determine whether the prosecution's interpretation of the evidence is sufficient for conviction.
Sources: BBC (bbc.com/news/articles/cyvlqv1q0rno) · FOX 35 Orlando · Oxygen
00 Case Overview — What Is Alleged
The Trip to Florida — October 2025
Ref: BBC, FOX 35 Orlando
Background
Sonia Exelby was a 32-year-old woman from Portsmouth, England. Authorities say she had communicated with Dwain Hall online for roughly two years through a fetish-oriented website.
Conversations
Reports describe conversations involving bondage, suicide, and her stated wish to be killed. News coverage also cites family members' belief that Exelby was groomed over an extended period — "grooming" is a characterization rather than necessarily a charged offence.
Arrival
Exelby reportedly arrived in Florida on October 10, 2025 and stayed with Hall at an Airbnb in or near Reddick, Florida.
Missed Flight
She was expected to return to the United Kingdom shortly afterward but did not board her scheduled flight. British authorities then reported her missing to Florida law enforcement through international channels.
Discovery & Investigation
Ref: Law-enforcement accounts, FOX 35 Orlando, Oxygen
Body Found
Exelby's body was found on October 17, 2025, in a shallow grave in a wooded area of Marion County.
How Hall Was Linked
Investigators say they connected Hall to the case through phone records, location data, financial transactions, and evidence recovered from locations associated with him.
Belongings
Police recovered Exelby's belongings from a clothing-donation bin in Gainesville, approximately 46 miles from the area where her body was found.
Location Data
Investigators reportedly used Hall's GPS or cellphone-location data to place him in the vicinity of the burial site.
Cause of Death & Physical Evidence
Ref: Medical examiner, investigators, court-related reporting
Cause of Death
The medical examiner reportedly determined that Exelby died from four sharp-force injuries, apparently inflicted with a knife.
The Knife
A customized Cold Steel tanto-style knife associated with Hall reportedly tested positive for Exelby's blood.
The Shovel
A shovel recovered from Hall's home reportedly contained DNA from both Hall and Exelby.
Caveat
These details come from law-enforcement accounts and court-related reporting. Their significance and reliability will be tested through pretrial litigation and at trial.
01 The Victim — Sonia Exelby
Dossier — Established Facts
Ref: Family reports, BBC
Background
A 32-year-old woman from Portsmouth, England.
Online Contact
Had communicated with Dwain Hall for roughly two years through a fetish-oriented website; reports describe conversations involving bondage, suicide and a stated wish to be killed.
Travel
Arrived in Florida on October 10, 2025 to meet Hall in person, staying at an Airbnb in or near Reddick.
Expected Return
Was expected back in the United Kingdom shortly afterward but did not board her scheduled flight.
Missing Report
British authorities reported her missing to Florida law enforcement through international channels after she failed to return.
02 Timeline — October 2025 to Trial Setting
~2 Years Prior
Online contact begins
Exelby and Hall communicate online for roughly two years through a fetish-oriented website, according to authorities and reporting.
Oct 10, 2025
Arrival in Florida
Exelby flies from the United Kingdom to Florida to meet Hall.
Oct 2025
Stays at an Airbnb near Reddick
She stays with Hall at an Airbnb in or near Reddick, Florida — a short distance from Ocala in Marion County.
Shortly After
Missed return flight
Exelby does not board her scheduled flight back to the United Kingdom. British authorities report her missing to Florida law enforcement through international channels.
Oct 17, 2025
Body discovered
Exelby's body is found in a shallow grave in a wooded area of Marion County, seven days after her arrival.
Investigation
Phone, location and financial records
Investigators say they connected Hall to the case through phone records, location data, financial transactions and evidence recovered from locations associated with him.
Initial Arrest
Arrested on fraud and device charges
Hall was initially arrested on allegations involving fraudulent use of Exelby's credit card and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
Later Charge
First-degree murder and kidnapping
Hall is subsequently charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping in Exelby's death.
Plea
Not guilty — held without bond
Hall pleads not guilty to the charges and is held without bond pending trial.
Nov 2026
Trial reported as scheduled
Reporting indicates a trial date of November 2026, subject to change because of motions, discovery disputes or scheduling issues.
03 The Central Question — Consent, Coercion & the Video
1 The Recovered Video
Investigators reportedly recovered a deleted video recorded at the Airbnb showing Exelby with visible bruising. In the recording, Hall allegedly questioned her about why she had come to Florida, while she responded that she was an awful person and had harmed people who loved her.
2 The Prosecution's View
Authorities appear to view the recording as evidence of coercion, abuse, or Hall's participation in a plan to harm her. Prosecutors may argue that Exelby's suicidal statements did not give Hall legal permission to kill her, particularly if he physically injured, restrained, manipulated, transported or otherwise exploited her.
3 Hall's Account
Investigators say Hall claimed he was acting as a "mentor," believed Exelby was suicidal, and did not intend for her to be killed. He reportedly told investigators that he last saw her entering a vehicle with another person.
4 The Defense's Ground
The defense may challenge the interpretation of the video, the circumstances of Exelby's decisions, the chain of custody for the physical evidence, and whether investigators have proved that Hall caused her death.
Legal Principle — Willingness Does Not Remove Liability
A person's apparent willingness to die does not automatically eliminate criminal liability for another person who kills them. Prosecutors would still generally need to prove the required elements of the charged offences, including Hall's identity as the perpetrator and the mental state required for first-degree murder.
04 Key Evidence
K Cold Steel Tanto-Style Knife Blood Reported
A customized Cold Steel tanto-style knife associated with Hall reportedly tested positive for Exelby's blood. Investigators link the weapon to the four sharp-force injuries identified by the medical examiner.
D Shovel From Hall's Home Dual DNA
A shovel recovered from Hall's home reportedly contained DNA from both Hall and Exelby — evidence the state is expected to connect to the shallow grave in Marion County.
B Belongings in a Donation Bin 46 Miles Away
Police recovered Exelby's belongings from a clothing-donation bin in Gainesville, approximately 46 miles from the area where her body was found.
G Phone, Location & Financial Records Circumstantial
Investigators say they linked Hall to the case through phone records, location data, financial transactions and evidence from locations associated with him, including GPS or cellphone-location data placing him near the burial site.
V The Deleted Airbnb Video Disputed Meaning
A recovered deleted video reportedly shows Exelby with visible bruising while Hall questioned her about why she had come to Florida. Authorities treat it as evidence of coercion or abuse; Hall's reported account is materially different (see section 03).
Sources: FOX 35 Orlando · Oxygen · BBC · Law-enforcement accounts and court-related reporting
05 Cause of Death & Physical Evidence
The medical examiner reportedly determined that Sonia Exelby died from four sharp-force injuries, apparently inflicted with a knife. Investigators say a customized Cold Steel tanto-style knife associated with Hall tested positive for Exelby's blood, and that a shovel recovered from Hall's home contained DNA from both Hall and Exelby.
Exelby's body was found on October 17, 2025 in a shallow grave in a wooded area of Marion County — seven days after she arrived in Florida. Her belongings were recovered from a clothing-donation bin in Gainesville, about 46 miles from the burial area, and investigators reportedly used Hall's GPS or cellphone-location data to place him in the vicinity of the site.
All of these items derive from law-enforcement accounts and court-related reporting. Whether the knife, shovel, digital records and other physical evidence can be reliably connected to the killing is one of the questions the trial will have to resolve.
Chain of Custody & Admissibility Are Live Issues
The defense may contest the chain of custody for the knife, shovel, clothing, video, DNA and digital data, and may challenge whether statements made by Hall or evidence recovered from electronic devices are admissible and reliable. Nothing described above has been proven to a jury.
06 The Central Legal Questions
Did Hall cause Exelby's death? Core Issue
The prosecution must prove Hall's identity as the perpetrator — that his conduct, not another person's, caused the fatal injuries.
Can the physical evidence be reliably connected to the killing? Contested
Whether the knife, shovel, digital records and other physical evidence can be tied to the killing, and whether the chain of custody was adequately preserved for the knife, shovel, clothing, video, DNA and digital data.
Was Exelby alive and under Hall's control when the injuries were inflicted? Unresolved
A necessary factual question for the murder count and potentially relevant to the kidnapping theory.
Was Exelby unlawfully confined or transported? Kidnapping Count
Whether Hall unlawfully confined, transported, held or prevented her from leaving, and whether she was free to leave at relevant times.
Can premeditation or the required mental state be proved? First-Degree Murder
The prosecution must prove the mental state required for first-degree murder, including any premeditation element, beyond a reasonable doubt.
Does the video show consent, or coercive control and abuse? Disputed
Whether the video and online communications show genuine consent, coercive control, manipulation or abuse — the interpretive heart of the case.
Are Hall's statements and device evidence admissible and reliable? Pretrial
Statements attributed to Hall and evidence recovered from electronic devices may be challenged on reliability, context and admissibility grounds.
How will the jury separate Exelby's mental state from Hall's conduct? Under Review
The alleged suicidal intent and purported agreement to be harmed may be relevant to the defense, but they do not by themselves resolve whether Hall's conduct was criminal. The jury would need to distinguish between her mental state and his independent actions, including any alleged violence, confinement, concealment or efforts to dispose of evidence.
07 Why Kidnapping Is Charged
The kidnapping charge may relate to the prosecution's theory that Exelby was unlawfully confined, transported, held, or prevented from leaving. The available reports do not establish the final prosecution theory in sufficient detail. Kidnapping can be legally distinct from murder even when the alleged confinement occurs shortly before the victim's death.
Possible evidence could include travel records, surveillance footage, communications, the Airbnb evidence, phone-location data, witness testimony, and any proof concerning whether Exelby was free to leave. The prosecution may also argue that the alleged confinement supported or facilitated the murder.
08 Procedural Status — Dwain Hall
Where the Case Stands
Ref: Court reporting, FOX 35 Orlando
Initial Arrest
Arrested on allegations involving fraudulent use of Exelby's credit card and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
Later Charges
Charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping.
Plea & Custody
Pleaded not guilty; reported as held without bond.
Trial
Reported as scheduled for November 2026, though trial dates can change because of discovery disputes, motions, psychiatric evaluations, evidentiary rulings or scheduling issues.
Standing
At this stage, Hall is an accused defendant, not a convicted murderer. The evidence described in news coverage generally comes from arrest affidavits, investigators, prosecutors or court filings, and those sources present the state's allegations.
09 Current Status Summary
Victim Identified
Sonia Exelby, 32, of Portsmouth, England. Found October 17, 2025 in a shallow grave in a wooded area of Marion County, Florida, after travelling to Florida on October 10.
Charges Murder & Kidnapping
Dwain Hall faces first-degree murder and kidnapping charges, following an initial arrest on credit-card fraud and two-way communication device allegations.
Plea Not Guilty
Hall pleaded not guilty and is held without bond. All allegations remain unproven unless established at trial.
Trial Reported Nov 2026
A trial was reported as scheduled for November 2026; dates can change because of motions, discovery disputes or scheduling issues.
Prosecution Evidence Reported
Medical examiner's finding of four sharp-force injuries; a knife associated with Hall reportedly positive for Exelby's blood; a shovel with DNA from both; belongings in a Gainesville donation bin; phone, location and financial records; a recovered deleted video.
Defense Position Denied
Hall reportedly says he acted as a "mentor," believed Exelby was suicidal, did not intend for her to be killed, and last saw her entering a vehicle with another person. He denies criminal responsibility.
10 What Remains Uncertain
"Grooming" — characterization or offence? Unproven
News reports have described family members' belief that Exelby was groomed over an extended period, but "grooming" is a characterization rather than necessarily a charged offence.
The video, DNA findings and location records May Be Disputed
The reported video, DNA findings, location records and statements attributed to Hall may be disputed in court, including on interpretation, chain of custody and admissibility.
The final prosecution theory on kidnapping Not Established
Available reports do not establish the prosecution's kidnapping theory in sufficient detail; the specific confinement alleged, and its timing relative to the death, will come out at trial.
Whether Hall caused the death To Be Tried
Investigators believe Hall was involved; Hall denies it. Whether the prosecution's interpretation of the evidence is sufficient for conviction is precisely what the trial will determine.
The most reliable current conclusion is that Exelby died violently in Florida after travelling there to meet Hall, investigators believe Hall was involved, and Hall faces first-degree murder and kidnapping charges while denying criminal responsibility.
11 What's Next
Trial Reported Nov 2026
The central next step is trial, where the prosecution must prove first-degree murder and kidnapping beyond a reasonable doubt. Pretrial litigation — motions, discovery disputes, evidentiary rulings and any psychiatric evaluations — could move the date.
Pretrial Motions & Evidence Testing Pending
Expect challenges to the interpretation of the video, the chain of custody for the knife, shovel, clothing, DNA and digital data, and the admissibility of statements attributed to Hall.
Sentencing Exposure If Convicted Contingent
Any question about penalties depends on a conviction and on Florida sentencing law at the time of judgment. Nothing follows until and unless the jury returns a verdict.
"A person's apparent willingness to die does not automatically eliminate criminal liability for another person who kills them."
— Central legal issue in the prosecution's theory
Caution: This page compiles reported allegations, not established facts. Dwain Hall has pleaded not guilty. Confirm information through official law-enforcement statements, court records and credible news outlets before sharing.