Dwain Hall: Man accused of murdering ‘suicidal’ Sonia Exelby who 'travelled to US’

WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT

A man has been charged with murder after the body of a “suicidal” UK woman was found in a shallow grave in the United States.

Sonia Exelby, 32, was found buried in the woods of Marion County Florida on October 17, just one week after she landed in the US.

Concerns where raised over her wellbeing after she missed her flight home to Portsmouth, England, on October 13.

UK authorities then contacted Florida’s law enforcement department that same day.

In a heartbreaking Instagram post, Ms Exelby’s long term partner identified only as Stevie pleaded for help to spread the word of her disappearance

He described Ms Exelby as a “vulnerable person” who was “really struggling with her mental health”.

“We believe she got on a plane on Friday and made her way to Florida Tallahassee from the UK,” he wrote.

“We believe she has arranged to meet someone there and has got herself into an extremely vulnerable situation.”

According to the New York Post, UK officials seconded Stevie’s warnings, and told Florida law enforcement that Ms Exelby had likely travelled to the US with the specific intention of meeting people who would give her a violent death.

Authorities arrested Dwain Hall, 53, on October 18 and charged him with first degree murder, kidnapping, credit card fraud and unlawful use of a communication device.

Mr Hall allegedly met Ms Exelby on a fetish website about two years ago.

According to police reports obtained by WCJB, Mr Hall collected Ms Exelby from Gainesville Regional Airport on October 10 and took her to an Airbnb in Reddick.

He allegedly had sex with her several times and recorded a video that he said he later deleted.

Police have reportedly been able to recover the video, which they said shows Ms Exelby covered in bruises.

The 32-year-old reportedly messaged a friend on Discord and explained her doubts over the situation.

“He made it clear there was no way out unless I shoot him. I was questioning it last night… I thought he’d do it quick and not give my mind time to stew,” she wrote, according to WCJB.

When Ms Exelby’s body was found, authorities also uncovered a label for a shovel that matched a brand Mr Hall owns.

They then found the shovel in Mr Hall’s garage which they said had traces of Ms Exelby’s DNA on it.

Before he was arrested, Mr Hall sent a package to a friend in Ohio which contained a knife that tested positive for blood.

An autopsy has found that Ms Exelby was stabbed with a knife four times.

Mr Hall is being held without bond. He is due to appear before court in relation to his lesser fraud and communication charges on November 18.

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