WADE Wilson brutally killed two women in October 2019.
The convicted murderer may be facing the death penalty for his heinous crimes.
Who is Wade Wilson?
Wade Wilson hails from Fort Myers, Florida.
As Fox News reported, the convicted killer went viral on social media for his “smug, soulless” behavior in court.
“Throughout this testimony, Wilson didn’t show any emotion. He sat stone-cold or whispered to his attorneys,” NBC2 stated.
Wilson also gained attention for his facial tattoos, which NBC2 reported his attorneys requested he be allowed to cover with makeup during jury selection and his trial.
Per the outlet, their motion argued, “Wilson has numerous and varied tattoos on his face including ‘stitches’, swastikas and other tattoos that might be objectionable to members of the potential jury pool.
“He would like to appear presentable to the jury deciding his guilt or innocence or whether he lives or dies.”
He also requested a haircut, and the judge allowed it along with the makeup, though it did not appear throughout jury selection and the trial that Wilson ever wore the makeup, NBC2 reported.
What was Wade Wilson convicted of?
On June 12, 2024, a Lee County jury convicted Wilson of murdering two women in the first degree — Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz of Cape Coral, Florida — who were both killed on October 7, 2019.
Per The News-Press, he was also found guilty of grand theft, battery, burglary, and petty theft.
NBC2 reported that following a little over an hour and a half of deliberations, the same jury recommended that Wilson be sentenced to the death penalty.
The News-Press reported that Judge Nicholas Thompson will decide if Wilson will receive the death sentence.
Wilson’s sentencing is scheduled for July 23, 2024.
Per the publication, Wilson met Melton and her friend Stephanie at a Cape Coral bar on October 7, 2019, and the three of them arrived at Melton’s duplex that morning.
After Stephanie left, Wilson killed Melton by strangling her as she slept in her bed. He then stole her car.
Shortly after Melton’s murder, Wilson asked Ruiz for directions to a nearby school after he saw her walking along a Cape Coral street, per the outlet.
“Wilson lured her into the car and when she tried to leave he beat and strangled her before pushing her out of the car and running her over 10 to 20 times,” The News-Press reported.
Who were Wade Wilson’s victims?
According to The News-Press, 35-year-old Melton was raised in Illinois before moving with a friend to Cape Coral and working as a waitress.
According to NBC2, Melton’s neighbors described her as sweet and friendly.
“She was happy-go-lucky, help anybody, very nice person,” Debbie McCabe said, per the outlet.
According to the publication, 43-year-old Ruiz was an engaged mother of two who worked as a server and bartender at the Moose Lodge in Cape Coral.
Her co-workers and customers shared positive words about Ruiz following her tragic death,
“She didn’t have a bad bone in her body. She did not deserve to end up over there like that,” Ernie Carroll said, per NBC2.
“She was such a light,” a friend told the outlet.
“She was the love of my life,” said her fiancé, Scott Hannon.