Wade Steven Wilson (born May 20, 1994) is an American criminal convicted of the 2019 murders of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz in Cape Coral, Florida. Due to sharing the name of the Marvel character Wade “Deadpool” Wilson, he has been referred to in the media as the “Deadpool Killer.”
📜 Background
Wilson was born to teenage parents and adopted by Steve and Candace Wilson, raised in Tallahassee, Florida, where he attended Chiles High School. During his youth, he was often described as “troubled” and was reportedly involved in minor criminal activities and substance abuse.
He sustained several head injuries during his childhood (4 concussions) and adolescence, which he later cited as contributing to his feelings of instability. His encounters with the law began in 2012 in Leon County, involving burglary, assault, and firearm-related offenses.
⚖️ Criminal History
In November 2013, Wilson was sentenced to prison for burglary and grand theft, serving until September 2014. In 2015, he faced charges of sexual battery and kidnapping but was acquitted by a jury. By 2017, he was incarcerated again for stealing firearms, serving until July 2018.
Prior to becoming a convicted murderer, Wilson was a witness/informant for the Leon County Sheriff’s Office in the 2016/2018 case against Brian Winchester. Wilson said he was offered $20,000 to “take care of” Winchester’s wife, then informed the police, claiming he didn’t feel right about it.
🔪 The Murders
On October 7, 2019, Wilson committed two murders within hours. After meeting the first victim, Kristine Melton, he strangled her in her home. Later that day, he lured Diane Ruiz, a mother of two and a bartender, into his car under false pretenses and strangled and subsequently drove over her multiple times.
He called his biological father, Steven Testasecca, soon afterwards and confessed to murdering the women. Testasecca and his wife called the police, and Wilson was arrested the following day. He told detectives that he would be willing to “do it again.”
🧠 Mental Health & Trial
During legal proceedings, evidence of Wilson’s mental health was presented, including testimony about his brain injuries. A neurologist testified that brain scans showed trauma and impairment which might explain some of Wilson’s impulsive behaviors. However, experts for the prosecution argued that drug abuse was a more significant factor in his actions.
Wilson’s biological father testified against him in court, recounting details of his confession. Testasecca stated that his son ran over Ruiz after realizing she was not yet dead, and could not explain his motives beyond “I just wanted to do it.”
⚰️ Sentencing & Aftermath
More than the required 8 out of 12 jurors recommended the death penalty for Wilson (9 for Melton and 10 for Ruiz). Judge Nicholas Thompson imposed two death sentences. Wilson is appealing the decision to the Supreme Court of Florida.
In jail, while awaiting trial, Wilson applied multiple tattoos on his face, including a swastika under his right eye and a larger swastika on the side of his head. In 2020, he and his cellmate were accused of tampering with a window in an attempt to escape.
In 2023, he pleaded nolo contendere to smuggling drugs into prison, in exchange for having charges relating to an alleged escape attempt dropped. He survived a drug overdose at Lee County Jail in 2023, prompting an investigation that uncovered a conspiracy to traffic illegal drugs into the jail.
| Category | Detail | Date/Year | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth | Born to teenage parents | May 20, 1994 | Adopted by Steve and Candace Wilson |
| First Conviction | Burglary and grand theft | November 2013 | Sentenced to prison until September 2014 |
| Murders | Strangled Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz | October 7, 2019 | Arrested the following day |
| Death Sentence | Two death sentences imposed | 2024 | Appealing to Supreme Court of Florida |