UK Woman Traveled to US to Be Murdered by Man from Fetish Site

A woman from the UK who traveled to the United States with the alleged intent of being murdered by a man she met on a fetish website had previously made arrangements for her own killing. The victim, Sonia Exelby, 32, from Portsmouth, was discovered in a shallow grave in Marion County, Florida. Dwain Hall, the man she had encountered on an online fetish chatroom, was apprehended and charged with kidnapping and first-degree murder. Hall, a 53-year-old father of two, is accused of sexually abusing and torturing Sonia before allegedly killing her at an Airbnb they were staying in. The timeline of events leading up to her tragic death indicates that Sonia and Hall had met on a fetish website two years prior to the incident. Sonia, who was struggling with mental health issues, had expressed a desire to be abused, which Hall apparently acted upon. Investigations revealed that Sonia had a prior incident in 2024 where she had planned to travel to the US to be violently killed by someone she met online, but the attempt was foiled. Sonia arrived in Florida on October 10, 2025, where she was picked up by Hall and taken to an Airbnb in Marion County. Disturbing evidence, including videos showing Sonia’s distress and physical abuse, was found. Sonia’s body was later discovered in a wooded area, showing signs of fatal stab wounds. Detectives recovered incriminating evidence, such as a shovel with Sonia’s DNA, from Hall’s property. Hall was arrested after attempting to use Sonia’s credit cards and has been charged with kidnapping and first-degree murder. A judge denied him bond, citing substantial evidence against him. If you require assistance, the Samaritans offer a free helpline for support.