As a seasoned legal analyst with decades of experience under my belt, I have seen many cases that have left me bewildered and disheartened. However, the case of Wade Wilson is one that has truly taken the cake. This young man, who was accused and ultimately convicted of heinous crimes, has somehow managed to garner a following, a group of supporters who seem to idolize him in spite of his actions.
On October 10, 2019, when the authorities discovered the body of Diane Ruiz in a Cape Coral, Florida field, the individual who would later receive a death sentence for her murder had already been taken into custody.
In a recent turn of events, I found myself in handcuffs on October 8th, following an unusual conversation with my dad. You see, I’m Wade Steven Wilson, often referred to as the “Deadpool Killer” due to a rather intriguing coincidence with a popular Marvel character. However, let me assure you, our lifestyles couldn’t be more different! In this instance, it was my father who played an unexpected role in bringing law enforcement into the picture, as I unwittingly shared gruesome details about my actions during our chat.
Initially, when the officers apprehended me at an empty dwelling I seemed to have trespassed, they didn’t detain me for suspected homicide as a 25-year-old fanatic like myself.
Instead, it was Wilson who was accused of burglary, theft, property damage, and assault for attacking a woman (later identified during his murder trial in June 2024 as his girlfriend, Melissa Montanez), on the morning of October 7 in Fort Myers, Florida.
A few days after, it was verified by the Cape Coral Police Department that Wilson was being investigated as a potential suspect in the murders of Ruiz, aged 43, and Kristine Melton, who was 35. Both victims had been killed on the same morning.
According to a statement issued at the time, investigators in collaboration with the State Attorney’s Office were waiting for lab test outcomes and medical examiner’s findings before they could file further criminal accusations against Wilson.
And on Nov. 19, 2019, Wilson was indicted on two counts of first-degree murder.
As a lifestyle expert speaking at a press conference, I’m pleased to announce that I stand alongside State Attorney Amira Fox and Cape Coral Police Chief Dave Newlan. Today, we are addressing the inquiries about why the suspect, Wilson, wasn’t immediately charged with the tragic deaths of Melton and Ruiz.
Newland emphasized, “It’s crucial to achieve a valid conviction in this case, not just any prosecution. Rushing an investigation without taking necessary precautions could lead to oversights, which ultimately harms everyone involved.
The following outlines the key points leading to Wilson’s murder conviction, which eventually resulted in his receiving a death sentence about five years after the initial case:
Who were Wade Wilson’s victims, Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz?
Born in Illinois, Melton had a dual role: serving as a waitress and caring for her mother, Katie Melton, who was exhibiting signs of Alzheimer’s disease, as stated by her brother Richard Melton.
According to Richard, Kristine was his dearest friend. He shared this sentiment with Newsweek following Wilson’s sentencing on August 27th. They would enjoy a cup of coffee together every morning.
He portrayed his sister as someone who is full of joy, cheerful, and incredibly kind, also noting that she is impartial and non-critical.
The brother said that their mom hadn’t processed that Melton is dead and persists in believing she’s “alive, well, and married.”
On October 6, 2019, Melton encountered Wilson at Buddha LIVE, a venue in Fort Myers, as stated by the defense’s narrative of that evening, during Wilson’s court proceedings.
In my recent outing, I found myself in the company of my friend and colleague, Stephanie Sailors. As per the accounts of the prosecution, we lingered until the establishment closed its doors, and subsequently, we accompanied Wilson to the residence of Jayson Shepard. We spent a pleasant few hours there before Stephanie and Wilson decided to head back to my humble abode in Cape Coral.
As a devoted follower of events, I can share that during Wilson’s trial, both sailors and shepherds attested to an incident where they claimed that the defendant and the victim engaged in intimate relations within Shepard’s residence.
When she left Melton’s house later that night, Sailors testified, “everything was fine.”
Melton “hugged me, kissed me, said she’d see me tomorrow,” Sailors said.
As I recount the chilling tale, it’s been reported by TopMob News that in a shocking confession to my father, I admitted to having met a girl at a bar and, in an unthinkable act, I strangled her while she was asleep. However, during the trial, the prosecution presented compelling evidence suggesting that the victim may have woken up and attempted to defend herself, given the injuries found on her person.
On October 7th evening, authorities discovered Melton’s body at her residence, following their investigation initiated upon locating her car in Fort Myers, prompting them to conduct a wellness check.
In June during Wilson’s trial, Montanez, who was once his girlfriend, stated that they were together at Buddha LIVE but she did not wish to return to Shepard’s house. Instead, Wilson took off with her car without asking. Later on, before 8 a.m., he began calling her and later appeared at her business situated in downtown Fort Myers.
Wilson arrived in Melton’s unrecognizable black Nissan Versa. This was a car Montanez wasn’t familiar with. Wilson attempted to drag her towards the car, Montanez added, but when she refused, he assaulted her by punching, slapping, and choking her instead.
In a court testimony, she stated that Wilson subsequently pulled her up the stairs towards his workplace, whereupon he pinned her against the wall using her neck. However, when he struck her once more, as she recounted, it seemed to alarm him greatly due to the excessive bleeding. Seizing this chance, she fled. Afterward, she declared, he departed in a Versa vehicle.
That morning, authorities in Fort Myers were alerted via multiple 911 calls at approximately 8:50 am, regarding a dispute between a man and a woman. Witnesses claimed that the man was forcibly removing the woman from a business establishment. This information was detailed in a 2019 probable cause affidavit, which was later obtained by USA Today Network’s News-Press.
In the meantime, Ruiz was spotted strolling towards her 10 a.m. bartending job at the Moose Lodge in Cape Coral.
As reported by prosecutors, Wilson allegedly requested directions to a nearby school as a deceitful means to entice her into his car. Upon attempting to exit, he claimed that he began physically assaulting her, then strangled her. He further stated that afterwards, he drove the car over Ruiz at least 10 times while she was still alive.
Colleagues contacted the authorities because Ruiz, who had been consistently present at work for five years without fail and was set to marry as well as being a mother of two boys aged 29 and 19, didn’t appear for duty.
Ruiz’s body was found three days later in a field behind a Sam’s Club.
Sergeant Justin DeRosso, one of the officers involved in the discovery, testified that they noticed a solitary vulture hovering over an eastern location, which ultimately guided them to the correct site.
In an interview with NBC 2 in June, Linda Giancola, a colleague at the Moose Lodge, described Diane as the lifeblood of the bar. ‘She always had everyone’s support,’ she said. ‘Her personality was just magnetic. Her laugh was so boisterous, you could hear it from a mile away.’
How did police find Wade Wilson?
During the trial for Wilson’s murder, Police Officer Timothy McCormick stated that he was involved in the search for Wilson after the assault on Montanez. At approximately 3 p.m. on October 7, 2019, he observed Wilson’s vehicle parked outside Joe’s Crab Shack.
According to McCormick, Wilson stated he was awaiting his girlfriend and proved unhelpful, which made it difficult for pursuit when the suspect fled since the charge against him was merely a misdemeanor battery offense. At that point, police weren’t yet aware of the murders, as the officer clarified.
On October 7th, Steven Testasecca, who is Wilson’s biological father, gave testimony during the trial. He stated that the defendant contacted him several times that day, confessing his actions and referring to himself as a murderer.
Initially, he doubted the truthfulness of Wilson’s words, as he later testified. However, he ultimately decided to place the young man on speakerphone so that his wife could listen in too. She then repeated to the authorities what she heard him saying.
Testasecca (who claimed he and Wilson’s biological mother had placed him for adoption as teenagers) told the court that he asked Wilson to disclose his location so he could arrange an Uber to pick him up. In court, Testasecca confirmed the prosecution’s description that Wilson did not appear remorseful during their conversation.
Later on, authorities apprehended Wilson at a vacant residence; it was there that he had shattered a window to gain entry.
Wilson was charged with murdering Melton and Ruiz a month later.
At a press conference held on November 19, 2019, Chief Newlan informed reporters that during the period when Wilson was in custody, Cape Coral’s police officers, detectives, and supporting personnel had been diligently working day and night on two interconnected cases.
He emphasized how important it was to conduct a thorough investigation in service of building the best case possible for prosecutors.
Newlan stated, “It was essential for us to deliver an impeccable investigation to State Attorney Fox and her team, with all details meticulously checked and double-checked. This is to guarantee that justice will be properly administered. The community, particularly the families of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz, deserve nothing short of our best work.
Did Wade Wilson say anything about the murders?
Although the authorities possessed a recorded confession, Wilson asserted during a November 15, 2019 phone call with NBC 2 from prison that he had no involvement in the killing of Melton and Ruiz.
When the interviewer inquired if Wilson implied Melton was in good health upon departing from her house with her in his vehicle, Wilson affirmed this by saying yes. He also mentioned that Ruiz requested a lift from him, which he provided, eventually dropping her off at a bus station.
He expressed, “Indeed, I understand the tragedy and sorrow surrounding their deaths, but I find nothing unusual about it, for I am aware of my actions and I assure you, I was not involved.
In 2023, when questioned about the matter, Wilson replied, “Definitely not,” denying any involvement in the women’s deaths.
He stated, “I’m not a beast, but neither am I perfect. I’ve certainly had my share of mistakes. Everyone does, after all.
What happened at Wade Wilson’s murder trial?
On June 10, 2024, the prosecution presented their initial statement, and both sides concluded their arguments on the subsequent day.
Following Wilson’s murder of Melton, Sara Miller, Assistant State Attorney, stated to the jury during her closing remarks, as reported by the News-Press, “He didn’t cease his actions. He was seeking additional victims. In this scenario, he was the hunter and she was his target.
As he took Ruiz’s life, Miller added, “The defendant stated [to the police] that he observed her with fear.
The prosecutor summarized, “He took the lives of two blameless individuals; one was attempting to enjoy themselves, while the other was heading to work.
In his closing argument, defense attorney Lee Hollander said he was not there to say that Wilson didn’t do it.
The attorney stated, “There’s strong proof that he is accountable for the two fatalities and assaulting Melissa Montanez. However, I’m not contesting his sanity; rather, I’m suggesting he was in a state of severe mental distress during these incidents.
He asked for a finding of second-degree murder, rather than first-degree.
On June 12th, following a deliberation period of two hours, the jury returned with a guilty verdict on all charges, which included two counts of first-degree murder, as reported by CourtTV.com.
Why did Wade Wilson get the death penalty?
In the penalty stage of the trial, Zane Romero, Ruiz’s son and a 19-year-old at the time of her death, provided testimony for the prosecution. He shared that his mother had been eagerly anticipating his first performance with the high school marching band.
“I never got to see her in the crowd,” Romero said. “My mom will never get to see me get married.”
In Samantha Catomer’s testimony, she expressed sadness over the fact that Melton, who served as the godmother to Catomer’s child, would never have the chance to fulfill her natural role as a mother, a role that she seemed destined for.
Lawyer Kevin Shirley pleaded in court for Wilson’s life, stating that while his client’s mental condition didn’t justify his actions, it provided a reason or explanation behind them.
I, as a concerned observer, highlighted Wilson’s facial tattoos – a symbolic swastika and the chilling grin reminiscent of the Joker around his lips – which he got post the tragic incidents, as evidence of his troubled psyche.
The attorney argued that there was no conclusive evidence that Melton was awake when she was killed, and that Wilson embellished his account of killing Ruiz because “he’s sick.”
In my professional opinion as a lifestyle expert, I’d like to clarify that if someone isn’t aware or conscious, they can’t feel the pain and terror that some argue they were experiencing. To put it more directly to the jury, it’s challenging to support a decision for death when we ourselves remain uncertain about the reality of the situation.
On June 25th, the jury returned their decision following approximately 90 minutes of deliberation. They voted 9-to-3 for the death penalty in the case of Melton’s murder and 10-to-2 for Ruiz’s murder. In both instances, they concurred that the crimes met Florida law’s criteria for “heinous, atrocious, or cruel” offenses. As per the current Florida law, a jury isn’t required to unanimously agree on the death penalty recommendation; instead, at least eight members must vote in favor. (By 2023, Florida became one of only two states where this non-unanimous verdict applies for recommending capital punishment.)
In Ruiz’s situation, based on the circumstances, they also concluded that her murder was not impulsive but carefully planned and executed.
On August 15, Judge Nicholas R. Thompson of Lee County Circuit Court rejected the defendant’s request, submitted on July 3, for a retrial.
During Wilson’s sentencing hearing on August 27th, a letter from Steve and Cindy Wilson, their client’s adoptive parents, was read out. In this letter, they extended apologies to the families of the victims and asserted that their son’s drug addiction had caused him to become delusional, as reported by the News-Press.
Wade was always cheerful and adored his parents,” they penned. However, they added tragically, “On that tragic day in 2019, the system let him down. Could you find it within yourself to spare our child?
During a Spencer hearing, neuro specialist Dr. Mark Rubino stated that the scans of Wilson’s brain and his results from several cognitive assessments suggested possible brain trauma that might cause him to act impulsively, disregarding potential outcomes.
As a fervent devotee, I can’t help but share the words of Dr. Thomas Coyne himself, who refuted Rubino’s claims. He stated unequivocally that the scans he scrutinized revealed no indications of structural abnormalities. Moreover, this esteemed medical professional emphasized a profound truth often overlooked: individuals are not inherently compelled to perform heinous acts due to brain damage.
Judge Thompson subsequently sentenced Wilson to death for each murder.
After the court session, Shirley mentioned that the sentence was somewhat expected, explaining to Newsweek, “It typically requires additional evidence in a Spencer hearing for a judge to go against a jury’s recommendation. The unfortunate aspect is we didn’t have much other information to present in court. We provided whatever we had.
Why was Wade Wilson going viral?
Since even convicted murderers can have their supporters, Wade Steven Wilson also had people backing him. They launched online petitions and fundraising campaigns such as on FUNDLY with the goal of raising money for a skilled, specialized, and reliable legal team for Wilson. A statement on FUNDLY read, “Our donation campaign is aimed at gathering funds to help Wade Steven Wilson afford a competent legal defense.” As of Sept. 6, this campaign had collected over $86,000. Additionally, these supporters took to TikTok to voice their opinion that the legal process against Wilson was unjust.
As a devoted supporter, I personally received numerous letters from individuals hailing from various corners of the globe, each expressing their reasons as to why Wilson should be given a lifetime imprisonment instead of capital punishment, based on my understanding of reports by NBC affiliate WYFF.
In her conversation with Newsweek, Shirley expressed that she’s unsure about the exact number, but a significant amount of individuals are discussing or interacting with him, and some are even doing so among themselves on the topic. She also mentioned the establishment of funds for him, which she finds excessive. However, there are many people who hold different opinions about this matter.
Prosecutors, meanwhile, slammed the rally of support for Wilson.
At a press conference on August 27th, State Attorney Fox noted that it’s apparent this defendant is being admired by certain individuals who associate themselves with him through public statements, donations, or portraying him as a positive role model. However, he emphasized that they overlook the fact that he is merely a ruthless murderer and one of the worst examples of what it means to be a man.
Where is Wade Wilson now?
On August 29, Wilson admitted guilt for drug trafficking offenses in court and received a 12-year prison sentence, which will be served at the same time as his death row term. (As part of the plea agreement, the charges against him for criminal damage and attempted jail break, related to an incident involving tampering with a cell window in 2020, were dismissed.)
The next day, as per the public record of bookings, he was moved from the Lee County Jail, where he had been since his 2019 arrest, to Union Correctional Institution in Raiford, Florida, in preparation for his execution.
Death penalty cases are automatically appealed to the Florida Supreme Court.
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2024-09-07 15:20