Florida Man Known as ‘Deadpool Killer’ Sentenced to Death for Brutal Murders of Two Women

Wade Wilson, a 30-year-old Florida man dubbed the “Deadpool killer,” was sentenced to death on Tuesday for the brutal murders of two women in 2019. The sentencing followed a nearly unanimous jury recommendation and came after emotional testimony from the victims’ families.

Wilson was convicted of killing Kristine Melton, 35, and Diane Ruiz, 43, on the same day in October 2019 in Cape Coral, Florida. Prosecutors described the murders as “heinous, atrocious, and cruel.” Wilson strangled Melton in her home after meeting her at a bar, then killed Ruiz by beating, strangling, and running her over with Melton’s stolen car.

Circuit Judge Nicholas Thompson, who handed down the death sentence, emphasized the particularly violent and premeditated nature of Ruiz’s murder. “The evidence shows the murders were heinous, atrocious, and cruel, and that the second murder was cold, calculated, and premeditated,” Judge Thompson said, agreeing with the jury’s recommendation of two death sentences—one for each murder.

The jury found that Wilson’s crimes involved significant aggravating factors, including the brutality of the killings and his previous felony convictions. The defense argued that Wilson’s actions were driven by severe mental health issues and drug addiction, with his legal team requesting life sentences instead of the death penalty. However, these arguments were rejected by the judge, who noted that no mitigating factors outweighed the severity of the crimes.

Throughout the trial, the prosecution presented graphic evidence of the injuries suffered by both victims. Melton sustained multiple internal injuries and bruising, while Ruiz’s injuries included fractures, bruising, and significant trauma from being run over multiple times.

Wilson showed no emotion as the sentence was read, and the courtroom erupted in applause from the victims’ families. In a press conference following the sentencing, State Attorney Amira Fox stated, “He will pay the ultimate price.”

Despite attempts from Wilson’s defense to present his mental health struggles as mitigating factors, Judge Thompson concluded, “Given the facts of the case, nothing in the defendant’s background or mental state would suggest that a death sentence is inappropriate.”

Felix Ruiz, Diane Ruiz’s father, expressed relief and vowed to attend Wilson’s execution. “This is not the end. The end is when the accused takes his last breath, and I will be there at the execution. That’s a promise,” he said.

The sentencing marks the culmination of a lengthy legal battle that included appeals and emotional pleas from Wilson’s family, who cited his struggles with addiction and mental health. However, the court ultimately decided that the severity of his crimes warranted the death penalty, bringing a sense of closure to the families of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz.