Wade Wilson, the ‘Deadpool killer’ gets death sentence Convicted of Double Murder in Cape Coral
On the morning of October 7, 2019, Cape Coral, Florida, was rocked by two brutal murders. Kristine Melton, 35, was strangled in her bed while she slept. Hours later, Diane Ruiz, 43, was beaten, strangled, thrown from a car, and run over repeatedly.
Wade Wilson, 25 at the time, was arrested the following day and charged with both murders. Five years later, on June 12, 2024, a Lee County jury found him guilty, recommending the death penalty for each murder. Judge Nicholas Thompson upheld the jury’s recommendation and sentenced Wilson to death on August 27, 2024.
“The evidence showed both murders were heinous, atrocious, and cruel, and that the second murder was cold, calculated, and premeditated,” said Judge Thompson during sentencing.
Victims Remembered: Who Were Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz?
Kristine Melton
Kristine Melton grew up in Illinois before relocating to Cape Coral, where she worked as a waitress. Known for her quick wit and warm presence, Melton was cherished by her family and friends. Her cousin, Samantha Catomer, described her as someone who made others feel safe and understood.
Melton loved Halloween and enjoyed dressing up for the occasion. She met Wade Wilson at Buddah LIVE, a Fort Myers bar, and invited him, along with a friend, back to her home. After her friend left, Wilson strangled Melton while she slept and stole her car.
Diane Ruiz
Diane Ruiz, a mother and fiancée, was known for her hard work and caring nature. For five years, she worked as a bartender at Cape Coral’s Moose Lodge, never missing a shift.
On the day of the murders, Ruiz was walking to her 10 a.m. shift when Wilson approached her. After luring her into his car under the guise of needing directions, Wilson attacked her when she tried to leave. He beat and strangled Ruiz before pushing her out of the car and running her over multiple times. Her body was discovered in a field on October 10, 2019.
Wade Wilson’s Troubled History and the Murders
Wade Wilson was born on May 20, 1994, in Tallahassee. His troubled history includes multiple arrests for crimes such as burglary, child cruelty, and firearms offenses. He served two separate prison sentences between 2013 and 2018 and was acquitted in a 2015 sexual battery and kidnapping case.
On October 7, 2019, Wilson met Kristine Melton at a bar and later murdered her in her home. Shortly after, he encountered Diane Ruiz, whom he lured into his vehicle and killed in a similarly brutal manner. Following the murders, Wilson confessed the details to his biological father, Steven Testasecca, who notified the police. Wilson was arrested on October 8, 2019, in an unoccupied home he had broken into.
Wade Wilson’s Trial and Sentencing
During the trial, Wilson’s history of violence and the chilling details of the murders were laid bare. The jury recommended the death penalty with votes of 9-3 in Melton’s case and 10-2 in Ruiz’s case. Judge Thompson imposed the sentences on August 27, 2024.
Where Is Wade Wilson Now?
Following his death sentence, Wilson remained in Lee County Jail to resolve unrelated charges, including drug trafficking and an attempted escape. As part of a plea agreement, he received a 12-year concurrent sentence for the drug charges, and escape-related charges were dropped. On August 30, 2024, Wilson was transferred to Florida’s death row at Union Correctional Institution in Raiford.
Wilson’s Escape Attempt and Connections to White Supremacy Gang
In 2020, Wilson attempted to escape from the Lee County Jail by tampering with a window in his cell. Although the charges were later dropped, court records linked Wilson to the white supremacy gang “Unforgiven.”
Will Wade Wilson Be Executed?
Like all capital cases, Wilson’s case will automatically be appealed to the Florida Supreme Court. If his conviction and sentence are upheld, he can petition the United States Supreme Court for a review. Only after exhausting all appeals and being denied clemency by the governor can his execution proceed.