Overview
- Dwain Hall, 53, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and kidnapping and is being held without bond following a Nov. 17 court appearance.
- Investigators say a shovel bearing DNA from both Hall and Sonia Exelby was found in his garage, and a seven-inch Tanto blade with her blood was recovered from a package sent to Ohio.
- Affidavit excerpts describe a video from Hall’s phone showing Exelby bruised and stating she wanted to be stabbed, with detectives noting visible hesitation and distress.
- Discord messages attributed to Exelby on Oct. 11 express fear, claim Hall kept her phone, and indicate she was having second thoughts and believed there was no escape.
- Exelby’s body was found in a shallow grave in Marion County on Oct. 17 after she missed an Oct. 13 flight, with an autopsy citing four stab wounds as the cause of death amid a probe involving FDLE, local deputies, UK police and INTERPOL.