A chilling case involving online fetishism, financial exploitation, and fatal violence has led to first-degree murder charges for a 53-year-old Florida man accused of killing a woman who traveled from the United Kingdom to be murdered.
Dwain C. Hall is facing multiple felony charges, including first-degree murder, kidnapping, and credit card fraud, in connection with the death of 32-year-old Sonia Exelby of Portsmouth, England.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Exelby, who had a documented history of mental health struggles and a previous, thwarted attempt to travel to the U.S. to be “killed violently” by online contacts, traveled to Florida on October 10.
Investigators uncovered evidence that Exelby wanted to be “sexually abused, tortured and murdered” and had been communicating with Hall, who used the screen name “alphasadist” on a fetish website, for two years regarding bondage and suicide.
Hall admitted to investigators that they had devised a plan for her to come to Florida. However, digital and physical evidence recovered by police directly contradicts Hall’s claim that the ensuing violence was consensual.
Surveillance footage captured Hall purchasing a shovel, 50 feet of rope, a paracord, and gun cleaner just an hour before picking up Exelby from the Gainesville Regional Airport. He drove her to an Airbnb in Reddick, Florida, which she had rented.
Investigators quickly uncovered a pattern of financial exploitation. On October 11, Hall allegedly attempted seven charges on Exelby’s debit card through his business, Solver Wolf’s Roadside Assistance, successfully transferring $1,200 to his account after multiple declines.
Digital evidence suggests Exelby was held against her will. On October 11, she sent a desperate and disjointed message to a friend on Discord, stating she was “locked in and there is no signal in the middle of nowhere.”
The message claimed Hall was “so bad,” kept taking her phone, and made it clear there was “no way out unless I shoot him.” She alleged he forced her to record “three disclaimer videos” and write a letter to her family “because he thought it was funny,” and concluded: “I’m so so scared I’m so broken and in so much pain…”
Investigators also recovered a deleted video from Hall’s phone, dated October 11, showing Exelby disheveled with visible bruises on her face, neck, and breasts. In the footage, Hall interrogates her, asking if she is “being forced or coerced.” While she shakes her head no, authorities emphasized that Exelby appeared subdued and terrified throughout. Hall is then heard ordering her to repeat a degrading phrase, emphasizing the coercion and lack of consent.
The investigation began on October 13 when UK authorities contacted the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) after Exelby failed to board her return flight. Hall was eventually connected to her disappearance and questioned by detectives while already in custody on an unrelated fraud charge.
When questioned about ending a person’s life, Hall asked, “If you end a person’s life, isn’t that murder?” He then provided a chilling statement about what he would say to Exelby’s family, claiming she was “happy because she was going to get what she wanted” and taking “responsibility” for her having a good last few weeks.
Authorities later recovered a blood-stained knife—which tested positive for Exelby’s blood—from a package Hall had sent to a man in Ohio, instructing him to “hold onto it and not tell anyone.”
Hall is currently being held without bond.
READ: Cockroach Infested & Meth Positive: Florida Dad Arrested On Child Neglect Charges
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