A Suicidal British Woman Flies To Florida To Be Murdered By A Man From A Fetish Site

Sonia Exelby was a 32 year old woman from Portsmouth, UK. A content creator by profession, she lived with her long-term boyfriend of 15 years, Stevie Hunt.

To the outside world, her life appeared ordinary and stable—a familiar routine, a settled relationship, a sense of normalcy. But beneath that calm surface, Sonia was quietly battling long-standing personal struggles, as her mental health began to deteriorate at an alarming pace.

In 2024, Sonia began frequenting a fetish website—an online space she turned to in search of escapism, validation, and human connection during a period of profound inner turmoil.

It was there that she encountered Dwain Hall, a 53 year old man from Florida. Their exchanges escalated rapidly in intensity, and Sonia soon began confiding in him more intimately than she did with anyone in her offline life.

As her mental health continued to decline, Sonia disclosed the most disturbing aspects of her struggle: persistent suicidal thoughts and a deeply troubling belief that she wanted someone else to end her life.

These conversations marked a dangerous escalation—drawing Sonia deeper into a world where her vulnerabilities were not protected, but exploited, and where her suffering went unchallenged.

Dwain was not someone intent on helping Sonia find a way out of her thoughts. Instead, he harboured his own violent fantasies and dark impulses—ones he was disturbingly willing to act upon. From this convergence of despair and depravity, a sinister plan emerged, one that would later dominate headlines and shock the nation to its core: Sonia would hire Dwain to take her life.

In October 2025, Sonia booked a flight to the United States, arriving at Gainesville Regional Airport on the 10th. She told none of her loved ones about the journey and left without saying goodbye.

Although she had a return flight to the UK scheduled for October 13th, it was a flight she would never board.

Shortly after her departure, Sonia’s unexplained absence began to alarm those closest to her. As concern mounted among her family and friends, her boyfriend, Stevie, turned to social media, sharing a heartfelt post that read:

After seeking help from law enforcement, UK police alerted the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, warning them that Sonia had previously expressed suicidal thoughts and was considered vulnerable.

Tragically, before authorities could locate her, Sonia’s body was discovered in dense woodland in Marion Oaks.

A subsequent autopsy revealed that she had been sexually assaulted, subjected to prolonged torture, and stabbed four times.

Meanwhile, law enforcement began working urgently to determine who was responsible for Sonia’s death. It did not take long for a suspect to emerge.

By tracing a series of recent transactions made using Sonia’s credit cards, investigators were led directly to Dwain Hall. He was swiftly arrested, and as the investigation unfolded, the tragic final hours of Sonia Exelby’s life began to come into focus.

Authorities determined that Hall had driven to the airport to meet Sonia upon her arrival, before taking her to an Airbnb in a remote area of Marion County.

CCTV footage later obtained from a local store showed Hall purchasing several highly incriminating items—including a gun, rope, and a shovel—in the period leading up to Sonia’s murder. The shovel would later be found beside Sonia’s remains.

A forensic examination of Hall’s mobile phone uncovered a video he had attempted to delete, reportedly showing Sonia bruised and visibly disheveled.

The footage was deeply disturbing. In it, Hall is heard asking Sonia why she was there. Sonia’s response would later become one of the most chilling details of the case:

"Because I'm an awful person. I've crushed everyone who ever loved me".

Hall then attempted to elicit Sonia’s consent to harm her. Although she appeared visibly hesitant and distressed, she ultimately nodded in apparent agreement.

Although Sonia had initially traveled to the United States believing she was meeting Hall for what she perceived as an “assisted suicide,” evidence suggests she experienced a change of heart once the reality of the situation set in.

Investigators later discovered a message Sonia had sent to a friend on Discord shortly before her death. In it, she expressed growing doubt and fear about her decision, writing:

Sonia continued...

Hall, who had been living with his partner of approximately 11 years, Ginger Stein, told officers that he and Sonia had engaged in consensual sex while at the Airbnb. Despite referring to Ginger as his “wife,” Hall claimed the encounter took place regardless of his feelings of guilt.

He further stated that Sonia had been the one to initiate the interaction.

Ginger, pictured in all known photographs with an oxygen tube, is believed to have young children with Hall. However, there is no indication that she had any knowledge of her partner’s violent actions.

On 17th November 2025, Dwain Hall was formally charged with first-degree murder, credit card fraud, and kidnapping.

Meanwhile, the knife used to take Sonia’s life had been mailed by Hall to a friend. The weapon was later recovered and still bore Sonia’s blood.

Hall told police that he and Sonia had reached an agreement in which she was to pay him $4,000. However, when she arrived in Florida without the promised funds, he accessed her bank accounts and withdrew approximately $1,200.

As of November 2025, the case remains active. Hall is being held without bail and is awaiting trial.

FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass commented: