Timeline of events as murdered Brit woman travelled to US to 'meet man from fetish website'
Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.
Here is everything we know so fair about the case of Sonia Exelby, a British national who was found dead in Florida after failing to board her flight home.
Concerns for Sonia's welfare were raised after she failed to return home from her trip to the US on 13 October, with social media posts from the 32-year-old's family highlighting she was a 'vulnerable person' with mental health concerns and had gotten herself into a dangerous situation.
Her body was tragically discovered days later, buried in a shallow grave in Marion Oaks, Florida.
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US man Dwain Hall has since been arrested and charged with killing Sonia, with the pair believed to have met on a fetish website.
It is here where Sonia allegedly made a post asking for someone to abuse and kill her, an offer which Hall is accused of taking her up on, per Fox35 Orlando.
Timeline of events leading up to the death of Sonia Exelby
10 October
According to Fox Orlando, citing law enforcement officials, Sonia landed at Gainesville Regional Airport on the evening of 10 October and was collected by Hall at 6:30 pm and driven to an Airbnb she'd reserved for her trip.
Prior to her arrival, Hall purchased paracord (a type of nylon rope), gun cleaner, rope, Lume Spray and a shovel at his local Walmart.
11 October
In the early afternoon, he charges Sonia’s bank card $1,200 (£918) from his business.
At 3:30pm, a vehicle which matches the description of Hall's emergency roadside business is spotted outside the Airbnb. It is around this time that Hall records a video of Sonia showing her with cuts and bruises across her body and asks her to consent to being stabbed.
She later contacts a friend and sends messages over Discord such as: "I’m so, so scared. I’m so broken and in so much pain," and: "I thought he’d do it quick and not give my mind time to stew."
12 October
Hall purchases a piece of tarp. Surveillance footage later shows someone moving in front of his car.
He then drives to the location where Sonia's body was later found.
13 October
Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) receives an alert from British authorities regarding a missing and vulnerable person.
Hall is later interviewed by law enforcement before texting a friend '[there] might be a big storm coming for me'.
14 October
Hall is interviewed once again regarding the charges made to Sonia's card. He also sends a package to a friend in Ohio, which includes a knife containing Sonia's blood and a bracelet containing both of their DNA.
17 October
Hall is arrested on charges of fraud and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. These are later dropped.
Sonia's body is discovered by law enforcement, buried in a shallow grave.
18 October
An autopsy determined that she likely died from injuries caused by a knife.
27 October
Hall contacts his wife and asks her to look out for a package from a friend.
31 October
Facebook messages between Hall and his contact in Ohio are read by authorities, who later search his home, where the alleged murder weapon is recovered.
17 November
Dwain Hall is arrested and charged with the kidnapping and killing of Sonia Exelby. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, according to PEOPLE.
18 November
Hall is denied bail and will remain in jail until his trial.
If you're experiencing distressing thoughts and feelings, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is there to support you. They're open from 5pm–midnight, 365 days a year. Their national number is 0800 58 58 58 and they also have a webchat service if you're not comfortable talking on the phone.
Topics: UK News, US News, Crime, Mental Health
Brenna Cooper