Wade Wilson (criminal)
Wade Wilson's name became synonymous with terror and controversy after he committed a double murder in 2019, earning him the grim moniker "Deadpool Killer." His case drew national attention, not just for the brutality of his crimes, but for the complex interplay of mental health issues, drug abuse, and a troubled past presented during his trial. Delve into the chilling story of a man whose life descended into violence and a justice system grappling with its aftermath. Wade Wilson's early life was marked by head injuries and escalating criminal behavior, culminating in the brutal 2019 murders of two women. His legal defense raised questions about the impact of brain trauma and drug abuse on his actions, but ultimately, he received two death sentences. Even while incarcerated, Wilson continued to engage in illicit activities, including escape attempts and drug trafficking, leading to further charges.
AI Summary
Wade Wilson's name became synonymous with terror and controversy after he committed a double murder in 2019, earning him the grim moniker "Deadpool Killer." His case drew national attention, not just for the brutality of his crimes, but for the complex interplay of mental health issues, drug abuse, and a troubled past presented during his trial. Delve into the chilling story of a man whose life descended into violence and a justice system grappling with its aftermath.
- Wade Wilson's early life was marked by head injuries and escalating criminal behavior, culminating in the brutal 2019 murders of two women.
- His legal defense raised questions about the impact of brain trauma and drug abuse on his actions, but ultimately, he received two death sentences.
- Even while incarcerated, Wilson continued to engage in illicit activities, including escape attempts and drug trafficking, leading to further charges.
The Man Behind the Moniker
Born Wade Steven Wilson in 1994, his name would later become chillingly familiar due to an unfortunate coincidence. He shares a name with Marvel's anti-hero Deadpool, a fact that earned him the sensationalized media title: the 'Deadpool Killer' after his horrific crimes.
A Troubled Youth
Wilson's childhood in Tallahassee, Florida, was far from stable. Adopted by Steve and Candace Wilson, he was often described as 'troubled,' engaging in minor criminal activities and substance abuse from a young age. He also sustained multiple head injuries, including four concussions, which he would later claim contributed to his instability.
A Growing Criminal Record
His encounters with the law began in 2012, marking the start of a pattern of escalating offenses. He faced charges for burglary, assault, and firearms violations, serving prison time for burglary and grand theft in 2013-2014, and again for stealing firearms in 2017-2018.
In 2015, Wilson was acquitted of sexual battery and kidnapping charges, a case where a woman accused him of assault after a party. Despite the acquittal, the incident painted a concerning picture of his behavior.
The Informant
Curiously, before becoming a convicted murderer, Wilson served as a witness and informant for the Leon County Sheriff's Office. In 2018, while in prison, he implicated his cellmate, Brian Winchester, in a murder-for-hire plot, claiming he was offered $20,000 to 'take care of' Winchester's wife.
Wilson appeared briefly in a true-crime documentary, 'Mr. & Mrs. Murder,' giving a statement against his former cellmate. This unusual role as an informant contrasts sharply with the path his life would soon take.
The Cape Coral Murders
On October 7, 2019, Wilson's life took a horrifying turn into irreversible violence. Within hours, he committed two brutal murders in Cape Coral, Florida, sending shockwaves through the community.
His first victim, Kristine Melton, was strangled in her home after they met. Later that same day, he lured Diane Ruiz, a mother of two and a local bartender, into his car under false pretenses. He strangled her, then chillingly, drove over her body multiple times to ensure her death.
Immediately after the second murder, Wilson called his biological father, Steven Testasecca, and confessed. Testasecca and his wife promptly alerted the police, leading to Wilson's arrest the following day. To detectives, he chillingly declared he would be willing to 'do it again'.
The Legal Battle
Brain Trauma or Drug Abuse?
During the legal proceedings, Wilson's mental health became a central point of contention. A neurologist testified that brain scans showed trauma and impairment, suggesting it might explain some of his impulsive behaviors, a factor the defense presented as mitigating.
However, prosecutors countered that drug abuse, which was extensive in Wilson's history, was a more significant and direct cause of his actions. The debate over whether his behavior stemmed from brain damage or self-inflicted impairment raged in court.
Father's Testimony and Verdict
In a poignant moment, Wilson's biological father, Steven Testasecca, testified against his son, recounting the grim details of the confession he received over the phone. He revealed Wilson admitted running over Ruiz after realizing she was still alive, offering no motive beyond 'I just wanted to do it'.
The jury recommended the death penalty, with nine jurors for Melton's murder and ten for Ruiz's. Judge Nicholas Thompson, with the power to overrule, instead imposed two death sentences, a decision Wilson is currently appealing to the Supreme Court of Florida.
Public Reaction
The case garnered extensive media attention, fueled in part by Wilson's 'Deadpool Killer' nickname. Public reaction was divided, with some expressing sympathy due to his reported mental health issues, while others condemned the sheer brutality of his crimes.
Life on Death Row
Disturbing Tattoos
While awaiting trial in jail, Wilson began to modify his appearance with several tattoos, including a swastika under his right eye and another larger swastika on the side of his head. These symbols further alienated public sympathy and underscored a darker aspect of his persona.
Escape Attempts and Contraband
Even after his sentencing, Wilson's criminal behavior persisted within the prison walls. In 2020, he was accused of being the primary planner in an attempted escape, allegedly tampering with a cell window and trying to arrange a getaway car.
In 2023, he faced charges for smuggling drugs into prison and, perhaps surprisingly, survived a drug overdose at Lee County Jail. This incident triggered an investigation that uncovered a broader conspiracy to traffic illegal drugs, leading to charges against four others.
Wilson pleaded nolo contendere to the drug smuggling charge, accepting a 12-year sentence to be served concurrently with his death penalties, in exchange for having the escape attempt charges dropped. This deal allowed him to avoid further legal entanglements on the escape charges.
Current Incarceration
After a brief transfer to Suwannee Correctional Institution, which lacks a death row unit, Wade Wilson was eventually moved. As of August 2025, he is held at Union Correctional Institution in Raiford, Florida, on death row, awaiting the outcome of his appeals.
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Wade Wilson (criminal)
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, Wilson has been referred to in the media as the "Deadpool Killer".
Wilson was sentenced to death in 2024 after being found guilty of two counts first-degree murder, among other charges. Prior to the murders, Wilson had a criminal history dating back to 2010, including convictions for burglary, grand theft, and firearms offenses.
Life and early crimes
Wade Wilson (criminal)
Wade Steven Wilson was born on May 20, 1994 to teenage parents. He was adopted by Steve and Candace Wilson and raised in Tallahassee, Florida, where he attended Chiles High School. During his youth, Wilson was often described as "troubled" and was reportedly involved in minor criminal activities and substance abuse. He also 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 where he was involved in various incidents, including burglary, assault, and firearm-related offenses. 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 after a woman accused him of assaulting her in his vehicle following a party. However, he was acquitted of these charges by a jury.
Wilson was a witness and informant for the Leon County Sheriff's Office in the 2016-2018 case against Brian Winchester who was also Wilson's cellmate. Wilson said he was offered $20,000 to kill Winchester's wife. Wilson then informed the police, claiming he didn't feel right about it.
By 2017, Wilson was incarcerated again for stealing firearms, serving until July 2018. Later in 2018, he was mentioned in connection with the case of Jerry Michael “Mike” Willams, the target of an alleged murder for hire plotted by his wife Denise Willams, while serving time with Wilson. He has said he received $20,000 in a white Manila envelope at a meet-up post-release while on probation to carry out the attack. In February 2019, his former girlfriend reported an incident in which he allegedly assaulted and choked her. Although she accused him of kidnapping and rape, investigators did not pursue these charges stating there was a of lack of evidence. DNA was collected at that time but the case was closed before it was processed. On July 1, 2019, Wilson was arrested again for battery.
Murders
Wade Wilson (criminal)
On October 7, 2019, Wilson committed two murders within hours. After Wilson met the first victim, Kristine Melton, he strangled her in her home. Then he left the body wrapped in carpets and bedding in the house. Later that day, after luring Diane Ruiz into his car under false pretenses, Wilson murdered the waitress and mother of two. After strangling Ruiz, he realized that she was still breathing, so he drove his car over her multiple times until, as Wilson himself admitted, "she looked like spaghetti". He sexually assaulted her after he killed her. 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".
Legal proceedings and public reaction
Wade Wilson (criminal)
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. The defense claimed that Wilson's drug abuse could have impaired his judgment at the time of the crime.
Wilson's biological father, Steven Testasecca, testified against him in court, recounting details of his confession over the phone. Testasecca stated that his son ran over Ruiz after realizing she was not yet dead, and also could not explain his motives beyond "I just wanted to do it." More than the required 8 out of the 12 jurors recommended the death penalty for Wilson (9 for the murder of Melton and 10 for the murder of Ruiz). Having the power to take or disregard the jury's suggestion, judge Nicholas Thompson imposed two death sentences. Wilson is appealing the decision to the Supreme Court of Florida.
Wilson's sentencing was marked by public interest and controversy, including numerous messages from individuals pleading for clemency. His case raised questions about the intersection of mental health, criminal behavior, and the justice system. The case attracted extensive media coverage, partly because of Wilson's common name with the well-known fictional character Deadpool aka Wade Wilson of the Marvel Comic books and subsequent films. Public reactions were mixed, with some expressing sympathy due to his mental health issues, while others focused on the brutality of his crimes.
Incarceration
Wade Wilson (criminal)
In jail, while awaiting trial for the murders, 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, Wilson and his cellmate were accused of tampering with a window in their cell in an attempt to escape. Wilson, who was reportedly the primary planner and instigator of the escape effort, also tried to set up a getaway car. In 2023, he pleaded nolo contendere to smuggling drugs into prison, in exchange for having charges relating to an alleged escape attempt dropped. He was sentenced to a fine and 12 years in prison, to be served concurrently with his death penalties. Wilson survived a drug overdose at Lee County Jail in 2023. The incident prompted an investigation by the Lee County Sheriff's Office. Investigators uncovered a conspiracy to traffic illegal drugs into the jail. Four others were also charged in the incident.
In July 2025, Wilson was transferred to Suwannee Correctional Institution, which does not have a designated death row unit. As of July 10, 2026, Wilson is residing at Union Correctional Institution in Raiford, FL on death row.
In the media
Wade Wilson (criminal)
Wilson appeared briefly in the docuseries Mr. & Mrs. Murder that streamed on Hulu in 2025. He is shown giving the police a statement against his former cellmate.
On May 6, 2026, the second season of Netflix's Worst Ex Ever was released, and included an episode on the murders committed by Wilson, titled "Dating the Deadpool Killer."