A detailed postmortem report on the demise of Sonia Exelby, a British national, has been unveiled following allegations that she traveled to the United States with the intent of being violently murdered by an individual she met on a fetish platform.
Sonia, a 32-year-old woman from Portsmouth, Hampshire, was discovered in a shallow grave in Marion County, Florida, shortly after arriving in the state on October 10 and meeting Dwain Hall, a 53-year-old suspect. Law enforcement officials suggest that Sonia had mental health struggles and had planned her trip to the US with the purpose of being violently killed by Hall.
The Marion County Medical Examiner conducted a thorough autopsy on October 18, with the findings made public recently before Hall’s upcoming court appearance in February. The autopsy concluded that Sonia succumbed to stab wounds in her torso, ruling her death as a homicide.
Examination of Sonia’s body revealed she was covered in sandy dirt, displaying discolored skin with tissue decomposition beginning. She sustained four stab wounds to her torso, two on the left side of her chest, and two on the left side of her back.
The medical examiner estimated the depth of the torso wounds to be between four to six inches, with one back wound ranging from five to seven inches deep and the other between four to six inches. Additionally, the autopsy mentioned potential obscured injuries and a distinct “V”-shaped abrasion on the right side of Sonia’s neck.
The report also highlighted dark red discoloration around Sonia’s breasts and mentioned an affidavit implying that Hall had recorded a video featuring Sonia covered in bruises, answering questions about her desire to be physically harmed and killed.
Toxicology results from October 30, released recently, indicated the likely presence of cannabinoids and a blood alcohol concentration of 0.064 in Sonia’s body. The Cleveland Clinic explained that a blood alcohol level between 0.05% to 0.08% could lead to inhibited feelings, reduced alertness, and impaired judgment.
Hall became a suspect after authorities traced multiple attempted money transfers from Sonia’s bank account to him. During police interrogations, Hall provided conflicting statements regarding his acquaintance with Sonia and their meeting. Surveillance footage linked a vehicle associated with Hall to the time Sonia arrived at Gainsville airport.
Following the discovery of Sonia’s remains in a shallow grave, Hall was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping. His attorney, Julia Williamson, maintained his innocence in a written plea and stated that Hall would retain his right to silence regarding the allegations until further evidence is disclosed.
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