Sonia Exelby, a 32-year-old music tutor from Portsmouth, England, was found murdered in a Florida forest in late 2025, authorities said. Her body was discovered in a shallow grave near dense woodland several days after she was reported missing. She had been stabbed four times.

Exelby had traveled to Florida in October 2025 to meet Dwain Hall, a 53-year-old former pizza deliveryman. The two had connected through a niche online fetish community. Hall was charged in November 2025 with kidnapping and first-degree murder. He has denied the allegations, asserting that he was attempting to assist Exelby and rejecting the characterization of himself as a perpetrator.

According to investigators, Exelby was held captive in a remote cabin during her final hours. While her alleged captor was reportedly in the shower, she sent a message to a friend expressing resignation about her imminent death. Exelby wrote, “I thought he’d do it quick and not give my mind time to stew," followed by, "My time’s up.”

Hall is scheduled to stand trial later this year, where he could face the death penalty if convicted. Authorities noted that Hall had made multiple attempts to use Exelby’s bank cards during her stay in Florida. Police also recovered a video allegedly recorded by Hall, which purported to show Exelby’s consent to certain activities, a claim disputed by her family and legal representatives.

Exelby’s family described her as a kind and gentle person, who was “softly spoken,” “compassionate,” and deeply sensitive. A vegan by choice, she sought to avoid causing suffering to animals. Her relatives emphasized her calming presence and unconditional acceptance of others.

Born in England, Exelby was adopted by a civil servant and his wife. She maintained a close relationship with her birth mother and siblings after being reunited with them in childhood. She excelled in music during her school years and was remembered fondly by friends. However, in her twenties, she experienced deteriorating mental health and increasingly isolated herself. By 2023, she was living as a recluse, spending time on video games and online forums related to suicide.

Authorities reported that Exelby had previously arranged travel to the United States in 2024 with the intention of ending her life, but those plans were interrupted by law enforcement. In the spring of 2025, she again planned to visit Florida to meet Hall, who canceled at the last minute citing a family illness. The subsequent October trip ultimately culminated in her death.

Police are continuing their investigation as Exelby’s family seeks to focus on preserving her memory rather than the circumstances of her death. The upcoming trial is expected to provide further details about the case.