A Florida man was arrested for the murder and kidnapping of a missing UK woman.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested 53-year-old Dwain Hall, of Ocala, on charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping in the homicide of a missing woman from the United Kingdom. The arrest follows a swift and intensive investigation that led to the discovery of her remains in Marion County less than one week after she was reported missing.
In October, FDLE received a request for investigative assistance from UK authorities through INTERPOL regarding a missing and endangered woman from England. FDLE’s investigation found that the woman missed her scheduled flight back to England on the afternoon of October 13th. Within days, agents from FDLE’s Jacksonville Regional Operations Center and Marion County Sheriff’s Office located human remains in Marion Oaks on October 17th.
The remains were determined to be those of the missing woman from England and further examination revealed that her death was ruled a homicide.
On November 17th, FDLE agents and detectives with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office arrested Hall for first-degree murder and kidnapping. Hall was already incarcerated on prior charges of fraudulent use of credit cards and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. The charges were tied to fraudulent use of the victim’s credit cards.
“Our agents worked with extraordinary speed and unwavering determination to ensure justice was served and closure was brought to the victim’s family,” said FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass. “This type of violent crime and disregard for human life will not be tolerated in our state – those who commit such heinous crimes will be held fully accountable.”
“Florida’s tough stance against crime is due largely in part to the professional cooperation between local and state law enforcement. This powerful partnership between my office and the FDLE will continue to come together and bring swift justice,” said Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods.
Multiple agencies assisted FDLE in the investigation, including the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Gainesville Police Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Belpre Police Department, Noble County Sheriff’s Office, Marietta Police Department, Ohio State Patrol, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary.
The State Attorney’s Office Fifth Judicial Circuit is prosecuting the case.
The investigation remains active, according to law enforcement.
