The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has arrested an Ocala man, Dwain Hall, 53, on charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping in connection with the homicide of a missing woman from the United Kingdom. The arrest on Monday, November 17, culminates a swift and intensive investigation that led to the discovery of the victim’s remains in Marion County less than one week after she was reported missing.
The investigation began on Monday, October 13, when the FDLE received a request for investigative assistance from U.K. authorities via INTERPOL regarding a missing and endangered woman from England. FDLE agents soon confirmed the woman had missed her scheduled flight back to England that same afternoon.
Within days of the report, agents from FDLE’s Jacksonville Regional Operations Center, working closely with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, located human remains in Marion Oaks on Friday, October 17. The remains were positively identified as those of the missing woman from England, and further examination determined her death was a homicide.
“Our agents worked with extraordinary speed and unwavering determination to ensure justice was served and closure was brought to the victim’s family,” said FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass. “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.”
Hall was arrested this week while already incarcerated on prior charges related to the victim: fraudulent use of credit cards and unlawful use of a two-way communication device, which were tied to the fraudulent use of the victim’s credit cards.
“Florida’s tough stance against crime is due largely in part to the professional cooperation between local and state law enforcement,” said Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods. “This powerful partnership between my office and the FDLE will continue to come together and bring swift justice.”
Hall is currently being held in custody facing the new charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping.
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