Final moments revealed of Brit who ‘needed man she met on fetish web site to kill her’
WARNING DISTRESSING CONTENT: Sonia Exelby was said to be struggling with her mental health when she left the UK for Florida, where her mutilated remains were found in a shallow grave
A British woman who “flew to the US” to be killed by a man she met on a fetish website was stabbed in the heart, throat, stomach and back, an autopsy has revealed.
Sonia Exelby, 32, was found in a woodland area of Marion Oaks, Florida, on October 17 last year, days after she failed to board a return flight to the UK.
Investigators said Sonia, from Portsmouth, had left evidence on her computer “indicating she was suicidal and travelling to the United States to be sexually abused, tortured and possibly murdered.” Now an autopsy has revealed for the first time her chilling injuries.
The report from the Marion County Medical Examiner, which was shared with the Mirror, revealed Sonia was stabbed four times and that she suffered injuries to her aorta, oesophagus, stomach, spleen, pancreas and left kidney.
The autopsy, which was finalised on November 4, revealed Sonia died as a result of stab wounds to her torso and that her death was ruled a homicide.
It said Sonia had suffered stab founds between four to seven inches deep. It also noted she had suffered a “dried, red-orange, “V”-shaped abrasion.
A toxicology report found a likely presence of cannabinoids -compounds found in the cannabis plant -in Sonia’s body. A sample also found a blood alcohol concentration of 0.064.
The Cleveland Clinic said a BAC between 0.05 per cent and 0.08 per cent could result in a person feeling inhibited and having lower alertness and impaired judgement.
The documents were shared after entering Discovery, a process ahead of trial where parties gather information about facts, the Mirror reports.
Cops in Florida arrested Dwain Hall, 53, on suspicion of first-degree murder and kidnapping charges after Sonia’s remains were recovered from a shallow grave. He was nicked on October 18 after he allegedly tied to use her credit cards.
Hall reportedly initially denied knowing Sonia before allegedly admitting to picking her up and driving her to an Airbnb. Hall claimed he was her mentor who wanted to help her, not let her kill herself. But he did reportedly admit to having violent tendencies.
Sonia’s family raised the alarm with Hampshire Police, who alerted Interpol before American authorities launched its probe and found her butchered remains in a shallow grave.
Sonia’s family said she struggled with her mental health and that she flew to the US on October 10. Licence plate readers placed Hall’s vehicle at Gainsville airport around the time Sonia arrived.
Hall allegedly admitted during police interview that he and Sonia “discussed bondage, suicide and her desire to have someone kill her.”
Attorney Julia Williamson, who is representing Hall, previously said he is expected in court in February. She added: “I filed a written plea of not guilty. At this time my client will be maintaining his right to silence concerning all aspects of the allegations.”
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