British Teacher Allegedly Murdered in Florida After Being Groomed on Fetish Website
Family of Sonia Exelby claim she was groomed for two years before traveling to the U.S. to be killed.
A British music teacher allegedly traveled to Florida to be murdered after being groomed on a fetish website, according to her family. Sonia Exelby, 32, was found in a shallow grave in October, days after arriving in Ocala from the United Kingdom.
Dwain Hall, 54, faces a first-degree murder and kidnapping trial next month in connection with Exelby's death. He has denied the charges. Authorities believe Exelby, who reportedly suffered from depression and body dysmorphia, paid Hall to end her life after months of online communication. Evidence on her computer suggested she intended to be harmed, according to investigators.
However, Exelby's family contends she was groomed for two years on a website used by individuals seeking to orchestrate murders. Her brother, Barry Wilton, told The Times of London that the family's goal is to have such sites removed and to seek justice for Exelby. "We want the maximum sentence and full extent of justice," Wilton stated.
According to police, Hall, who identifies as a pagan worshipping the Egyptian god of death Anubis, purchased gun cleaner, rope, a shovel, and paracord on October 10, 2025. He then picked up Exelby at Gainesville Regional Airport and took her to an Airbnb in Reddick. The following day, Hall transferred $1,200 from Exelby's bank card and recorded a four-minute video of her on his phone. In the video, Exelby, who appeared bruised, stated she had traveled to the U.S. to die and was not coerced. Hall reportedly deleted the video before authorities could retrieve it.
Exelby's body was discovered in woodland near a highway in Marion Oaks on October 17, 2025. Hall was arrested ten days later on credit card fraud charges related to Exelby's bank account. He was subsequently charged with murder and kidnapping in November and is being held without bond.
Exelby's sister, Gemma Isaj, launched a GoFundMe campaign to help family members attend the trial and share Exelby's story. She emphasized that the case highlights both mental health issues and the broader dangers posed by online communities and potential grooming. "This is about mental health [but also] there are websites and a bigger movement. We had our experience with our sister [and] we don’t know how big it goes," Isaj told The Times.