The Courtroom Was Packed With His Fans
©️ Sophie Lewis | Shadowborn
Wade Wilson Murdered Two Women. Women Still Want to Save Him.
In October 2019, Wade Steven Wilson murdered two women in Cape Coral, Florida.
Kristine Melton, 35.
Strangled to death in her own bed after letting him into her home.
Diane Ruiz, 43.
A mother of two. Beaten, strangled, pushed from a car, then run over multiple times.
In August 2024, Wade Wilson was sentenced to death for both murders.
During his trial and sentencing, the courtroom drew intense public attention.
Women attended hearings to support him.
Women wrote letters begging for mercy.
Online fundraisers raised tens of thousands of dollars for his legal defence.
Social media filled with edits, fan accounts, and campaigns calling for his release.
Some supporters referred to themselves online as “Wade’s Wives”, a label discussed by prosecutors, police, and documentary producers covering the case.
This is the story of a double murderer who became a social media fixation.
Not despite his crimes.
But alongside them.
Who Is Wade Wilson?
Wade Steven Wilson was born on 20 May 1994 in Florida.
He was adopted shortly after birth and raised in Cape Coral.
Court records and testimony describe a long pattern of instability:
- School suspensions
- Substance misuse
- Escalating criminal behaviour
His criminal history began in 2012, including burglary, assault, and firearms offences.
In 2013, he was sentenced to prison for burglary and grand theft, serving until 2014.
In 2015, he was charged with sexual battery and kidnapping. He was later acquitted.
In 2017, he was imprisoned again for stealing firearms and released in 2018.
By 2019, Wilson was 25 years old with a documented criminal record spanning most of his adult life.
On 7 October 2019, he killed two women in one day.
The Murders
Kristine Melton (35)
Night of 6 October 2019
Kristine Melton met Wilson while out with a friend at a Fort Myers bar.
Later that night, after visiting another residence, Melton returned to her Cape Coral duplex.
Wilson was allowed inside.
After Melton went to sleep, Wilson strangled her in her bed.
Medical testimony later confirmed death by asphyxia due to compression of the neck.
He stole her car and left the scene.
Attempted Abduction: Melissa Montanez
In the early hours of 7 October 2019, Wilson drove Melton’s stolen car to Fort Myers and confronted his girlfriend, Melissa Montanez, at her workplace.
He attempted to force her into the vehicle.
She fought back.
She escaped.
She contacted police immediately.
Diane Ruiz (43)
Later that same morning
Diane Ruiz was walking to work in Cape Coral.
She was a bartender. A mother of two.
Wilson approached her in Melton’s stolen car and asked for directions.
Ruiz entered the vehicle.
Wilson attacked her.
He strangled her.
He pushed her from the car whilst she was still alive.
He then ran her over multiple times.
Wilson later contacted his biological father and confessed to both killings.
His father and stepmother immediately contacted law enforcement.
Arrest and Confession
On 8 October 2019, police arrested Wilson at an unoccupied residence he had broken into.
He initially faced charges including burglary, battery, and vehicle theft.
During questioning, Wilson confessed to both murders.
Investigators testified that he expressed no remorse and indicated he was capable of killing again.
On 19 November 2019, he was formally charged with two counts of first degree murder.
Between Arrest and Trial
Whilst held at Lee County Jail awaiting trial, Wilson drew further attention.
Tattoos
By the time his trial began in June 2024, Wilson had covered his face and neck with tattoos, including multiple swastikas.
The media dubbed him the “Deadpool Killer”, referencing the Marvel character who shares his name.
Escape Attempt
In 2020, Wilson and another inmate attempted to escape by removing window bars. They were stopped.
Drug Smuggling
In 2023, Wilson was implicated in a drug smuggling scheme whilst incarcerated.
He later received an additional sentence related to those charges.
The Trial
Wilson’s trial began in June 2024 in Lee County, Florida.
The Evidence
Prosecutors presented:
- Eyewitness testimony
- Medical examiner findings
- DNA evidence
- Phone records
- Wilson’s confession
- Testimony from victims’ family members
The defence did not dispute that Wilson committed the killings.
Mental Health Claims
Defence experts testified about alleged brain abnormalities and mental illness.
The prosecution’s expert countered that imaging showed no structural brain damage and that substance abuse better explained Wilson’s behaviour.
On 12 June 2024, the jury found Wade Wilson guilty on all counts.
Sentencing and Florida’s Death Penalty
Florida law was changed in 2023, allowing death sentences without unanimous jury recommendations.
Only 8 of 12 jurors are required.
Wilson became one of the first defendants sentenced under this law.
Kristine Melton: 9 3 vote for death
Diane Ruiz: 10 2 vote for death
On 27 August 2024, Judge Nicholas R. Thompson sentenced Wade Wilson to death for both murders, citing aggravating factors that outweighed mitigation.
Wilson declined to make a statement.
The Public Reaction
According to reporting by The Independent and coverage surrounding the 2026 Paramount+ documentary, thousands of letters were sent to the court advocating for Wilson’s life to be spared.
Online fundraisers raised tens of thousands of dollars for his defence.
Social media platforms, particularly TikTok, hosted fan edits, commentary, and communities defending him.
Documentary producers and prosecutors stated that some supporters referred to themselves online as “Wade’s Wives”.
State Attorney Amira Fox publicly condemned the idolisation of Wilson, calling it disgraceful and stating that he was nothing more than a vicious killer.
The Victims
Kristine Melton
A waitress. A godmother. Loved Halloween. Loved her cat.
Her family described her as warm, quick witted, and deeply loved.
Diane Ruiz
A bartender. A mother of two.
Her son testified about the devastation of losing her.
Whilst Wilson became content, their families buried loved ones.
What This Case Reveals
This case is not just about Wade Wilson.
It is about:
- The romanticisation of male violence
- Hybristophilia amplified by algorithms
- Social media turning murder into aesthetic
- Victims being overshadowed by perpetrators
Wilson confessed.
Wilson showed no remorse.
Wilson said he was capable of killing again.
And still, strangers fought to save him.
Resources
UK Domestic Abuse Support
National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247
Refuge: refuge.org.uk
Therapy Resources
BACP Find a Therapist: bacp.co.uk
Mind: 0300 123 3393
US Resources
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1 800 799 7233
RAINN: 1 800 656 4673
This is not about judgement.
It is about recognising patterns before they cost you more than letters and donations.
