A comprehensive postmortem examination has been conducted in the case of Sonia Exelby, a British woman who reportedly traveled to the United States to meet a man she connected with on a fetish website and was subsequently killed. Sonia’s body, aged 32 and hailing from Portsmouth, Hampshire, was discovered in a shallow grave in Marion County, Florida, shortly after her arrival in the state on October 10 to meet Dwain Hall, a 53-year-old resident. Authorities indicate that Sonia, who had mental health issues, had planned to be violently killed by Hall in Florida.
The Marion County Medical Examiner performed a detailed autopsy on October 18, with the findings recently made public in preparation for Hall’s upcoming court appearance in February. The examination revealed that Sonia succumbed to stab wounds to her torso, leading to her death being classified as a homicide.
The autopsy report detailed that Sonia’s body showed signs of sandy dirt covering and skin discoloration, with decomposition starting. She sustained four stab wounds to her torso, two on the left side of her chest, and two on her back. The depth of the wounds ranged from four to seven inches.
Additional injuries possibly obscured by post-mortem changes were noted, including a distinctive “V”-shaped abrasion on her neck. The report also mentioned dark red discoloration around her breasts. An affidavit stated that Hall had created a video featuring Sonia with bruises, questioning her about desires to be physically harmed.
Toxicology results, released this week, indicated the presence of cannabinoids and a blood alcohol concentration of 0.064 in Sonia’s body. The Cleveland Clinic explained that such levels could lead to decreased alertness and impaired judgment. Hall came under suspicion after attempting to transfer funds from Sonia’s bank account.
During police questioning, Hall provided conflicting statements about his relationship with Sonia. Surveillance footage linked Hall’s vehicle to the time of Sonia’s arrival at Gainsville airport. Following the discovery of Sonia’s remains in a shallow grave, Hall was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping. His lawyer, Julia Williamson, confirmed his plea of not guilty and maintained his right to silence.
Williamson expressed condolences to Sonia’s loved ones and mentioned the possibility of addressing them in the future. For support, individuals can reach out to Samaritans helpline at 116 123 or visit the Samaritans website.