True Crime Today | A True Crime Podcast
'Deadpool Killer' Wade Wilson Sentenced to Death for Heinous 2019 Murders of Two Florida Women
Listen on
Episode notes
Wade Wilson, infamously dubbed the "Deadpool Killer," was sentenced to death on Tuesday for the gruesome 2019 murders of two Florida women, crimes the prosecution described as "killing for the sake of killing."
Wilson, 30, remained emotionless as Circuit Judge Nicholas Thompson delivered the capital sentence, highlighting the particularly heinous nature of the crimes. “The evidence shows the murders were heinous, atrocious, and cruel, and that the second murder was cold, calculated, and premeditated,” Judge Thompson stated.
Wilson was found guilty in June for the October 2019 murders of Kristine Melton, 35, and Diane Ruiz, 43. The jury unanimously recommended the death penalty, a decision the judge upheld without hesitation, noting there was “no basis” to overrule it.
Prosecutors revealed that Wilson strangled Melton in her home after a drug-fueled sexual encounter. He then stole her car and, in a chilling sequence of events, used her phone to call his girlfriend, whom he assaulted. Rebuffed by her refusal to join him, Wilson then encountered Ruiz, luring her into the car under the guise of helping her. He later admitted to strangling her before running her over multiple times, leaving her body unrecognizable.
“This case was about killing for the sake of the killing,” Assistant State Attorney Andreas Gardiner emphasized during the trial. “Strangulation is the epitome of life slipping through someone’s hands.”
Despite the horror of his crimes, Wilson became a macabre figure of fascination, receiving thousands of letters, including explicit photos, from admirers during his five years in prison. Many supporters, including misguided women, wrote to Judge Thompson, imploring him to spare Wilson’s life, citing his troubled past and mental health struggles.
Wilson’s defense argued that he suffered from brain damage due to drug addiction and abandonment issues, having been given up for adoption by his biological parents. His adoptive parents also pleaded with the court to spare his life, asserting that “the human is still in there.”
In addition to the murder charges, Wilson was also convicted of grand theft, burglary, battery, and petit theft. During Tuesday's sentencing, Circuit Judge Thompson inquired if there were any additional matters to address before concluding the case. Wilson's defense team then rose to make a final request. His attorney stated, “I recognize that Mr. Wilson has pending cases both here and elsewhere, but he has asked me to request that the court expedite his transfer to death row within your available authority.”
In response to the request, Circuit Judge Thompson noted that Wilson's other cases would not be addressed until at least September 16. Consequently, a date for his execution remains undetermined due to these unresolved charges.
State Attorney Amira Fox, who has been in the legal field for 34 years, described Wilson as "the most evil" person she had ever encountered.
The public greeted the sentence with applause, and Kristine's cousin Samantha pledged to witness Wilson's execution. "This will not be the last time Wade Wilson sees us in a courtroom," she declared at a press conference. Diane Ruiz's father also expressed his intention to attend the execution, lamenting, "I didn't get to tell her I love her before she was taken from us so cruelly."
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
Wilson, 30, remained emotionless as Circuit Judge Nicholas Thompson delivered the capital sentence, highlighting the particularly heinous nature of the crimes. “The evidence shows the murders were heinous, atrocious, and cruel, and that the second murder was cold, calculated, and premeditated,” Judge Thompson stated.
Wilson was found guilty in June for the October 2019 murders of Kristine Melton, 35, and Diane Ruiz, 43. The jury unanimously recommended the death penalty, a decision the judge upheld without hesitation, noting there was “no basis” to overrule it.
Prosecutors revealed that Wilson strangled Melton in her home after a drug-fueled sexual encounter. He then stole her car and, in a chilling sequence of events, used her phone to call his girlfriend, whom he assaulted. Rebuffed by her refusal to join him, Wilson then encountered Ruiz, luring her into the car under the guise of helping her. He later admitted to strangling her before running her over multiple times, leaving her body unrecognizable.
“This case was about killing for the sake of the killing,” Assistant State Attorney Andreas Gardiner emphasized during the trial. “Strangulation is the epitome of life slipping through someone’s hands.”
Despite the horror of his crimes, Wilson became a macabre figure of fascination, receiving thousands of letters, including explicit photos, from admirers during his five years in prison. Many supporters, including misguided women, wrote to Judge Thompson, imploring him to spare Wilson’s life, citing his troubled past and mental health struggles.
Wilson’s defense argued that he suffered from brain damage due to drug addiction and abandonment issues, having been given up for adoption by his biological parents. His adoptive parents also pleaded with the court to spare his life, asserting that “the human is still in there.”
In addition to the murder charges, Wilson was also convicted of grand theft, burglary, battery, and petit theft. During Tuesday's sentencing, Circuit Judge Thompson inquired if there were any additional matters to address before concluding the case. Wilson's defense team then rose to make a final request. His attorney stated, “I recognize that Mr. Wilson has pending cases both here and elsewhere, but he has asked me to request that the court expedite his transfer to death row within your available authority.”
In response to the request, Circuit Judge Thompson noted that Wilson's other cases would not be addressed until at least September 16. Consequently, a date for his execution remains undetermined due to these unresolved charges.
State Attorney Amira Fox, who has been in the legal field for 34 years, described Wilson as "the most evil" person she had ever encountered.
The public greeted the sentence with applause, and Kristine's cousin Samantha pledged to witness Wilson's execution. "This will not be the last time Wade Wilson sees us in a courtroom," she declared at a press conference. Diane Ruiz's father also expressed his intention to attend the execution, lamenting, "I didn't get to tell her I love her before she was taken from us so cruelly."
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com