A man accused of the torture and murder of a British woman who traveled to the US with suicidal intentions has been making alarming phone calls to his wife from prison, according to records. The body of Sonia Exelby was discovered in a wooded area in Marion Oaks, Florida, after she did not board her return flight to the UK on October 13. Sonia, a 32-year-old from Portsmouth, Hampshire, had arrived in Tallahessee to meet Dwain Hall, whom she had been communicating with online through a fetish website.
Concerned friends suspected Sonia, who had mental health issues, was in a vulnerable situation when they learned of her trip to the US. Authorities revealed that evidence on her computer suggested she had suicidal intentions and had traveled to the US to be subjected to sexual abuse, torture, and potentially murder.
Following the recovery of Sonia’s remains from a shallow grave, Dwain Hall was arrested by Florida police on charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping. It has now emerged that Hall has been making multiple calls from Marion County Jail and engaging in video visits, including a troubling conversation with his wife Ginger Stein.
During the call, Hall expressed doubts about returning home and mentioned financial stress, to which Ginger regretted not stopping him. Hall also expressed concern about the negative publicity surrounding the case. Police connected Hall to transactions made using Sonia’s credit cards and he claimed she owed him money to settle his IRS debt, leading to a confrontation when she arrived empty-handed in the US.
Investigators found that Hall withdrew money from Sonia’s UK bank account, made her record messages, and wrote a letter to her family under his instructions. They concluded that Sonia was under his control and fearful. Surveillance footage showed Hall filming Sonia, who appeared hesitant and distressed.
Text messages sent by Sonia to a friend on an online platform revealed her fear and desperation to escape the situation. The messages highlighted her distress and fear of her circumstances.
In a subsequent conversation with his wife from jail, Hall changed his story multiple times and defended his actions, claiming he was acting out of compassion and love for Sonia. The medical examiner’s report confirmed Sonia’s cause of death as stab wounds to her torso, ruling it a homicide.
Hall’s attorney stated that he pleaded not guilty and will maintain his silence on the allegations. She extended condolences to Sonia’s family and friends. The case is expected to proceed to court in February.
For emotional support, individuals can contact the Samaritans helpline or visit their website.