Wade Wilson, convicted in 2019 for the murders of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz, gained unexpected viral fame on TikTok, where he was dubbed the “Dead Pool Killer” due to his perceived attractiveness. His case timeline has since garnered attention from thousands of followers online.
On August 27, 2024, Wilson appeared in a Lee County courtroom, where Judge Nicholas Thompson sentenced him to death for the 2019 murders. With this ruling, Wade Wilson’s case timeline reached its conclusion as he was sent to Florida’s death row to face a capital sentence.
With just one final step left to complete the timeline of convicted killer Wade Wilson’s journey to death row, let’s examine his criminal history, tracing his actions back to his youth to understand the reason behind his sentence. Here’s a comprehensive timeline, mapped out using TrialLine, a legal case timeline tool.
A list of Crimes
Wade Wilson, who shares his name with the Marvel Comics character Deadpool, earned the nickname “Deadpool Killer.” His connection to the character, combined with his facial tattoos and courtroom demeanor, has drawn national attention to his case, not only for the brutal murders of Melton and Ruiz but for the shocking nature of his crimes overall.
May 20, 1994: Wade Steven Wilson was born
Wade Steven Wilson, who shares his name with the Marvel Comics character Deadpool, was born on May 20, 1994. His birth parents, who were teens at that time, placed him up for adoption. His adoptive parents, Steve and Candace Wilson, raised him in Tallahassee. He attended Deerlake Middle School and Lawton Chiles High School.
According to Newsweek, Wilson’s adoptive parents were described as “super friendly, church-going people” who “meant well” and “wanted better for him.” A male high school classmate also characterized Wilson as “troubled.”
One of the classmates stated, “For some reason, along the way, something fell off.” It felt like their efforts —Candace and Steve’s— weren’t appreciated or taken for granted when it came to Wade.
2015: Sexual battery and kidnapping
Wilson was arrested on charges of sexual battery and kidnapping after a woman alleged that he raped her in his SUV following their meeting at a party in Tallahassee. Wilson denied the accusations, and a six-party jury ultimately acquitted him at trial.
December 2018: Involvement in Denise Williams’ trial
Wilson became a key figure in the trial of Denise Williams in Tallahassee, who was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy in the death of her husband Mike Williams. She had conspired with her lover, Brian Winchester, to stage his death as a boating accident. Mike Williams’ disappearance in 2000 was one of Tallahassee’s most perplexing mysteries until investigators eventually brought charges against Winchester, and later, Denise Williams.
Winchester, who testified against Denise Williams, revealed to jurors that he had tried to recruit Wilson, one of his fellow inmates, to fabricate evidence in the case. He claimed that Wilson even offered to kill Denise Williams, who was ultimately sentenced to life in prison.
February 19, 2019: Stealing laptop and cellphone
In January, Wilson’s former girlfriend accused him of stealing her laptop and cellphone. The following month, she told investigators that he had kidnapped and raper her. However, Wilson and his ex-girlfriend were under a no-contact court order, and authorities decided not to investigate the rape and kidnapping allegations.
According to a 21-page report from Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Wilson was investigated for an incident in February of that year. The victim told Palm Beach sheriff’s deputies that on the afternoon of February 19, 2019, she argued with her ex-boyfriend, Wilson, over his decision to go to rehab.
September 2019: Pawning a stolen property
According to media reports, Wilson pleaded guilty to pawning stolen property in connection with the case of his ex-girlfriend and was given credit for time served, along with probation. Additionally, another woman in Lee County accused him of rape and kidnapping but later chose not to pursue charges.
July 1, 2019: More crimes
Wilson was arrested by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and charged with battery.
Killing for the Sake of Killing
October 7, 2019: Day of the murders
Wilson and his then-girlfriend, Melissa Montanez, went to Buddha LIVE, a bar in Fort Myers, where he met Jayson Shepard, who later testified in court. Shepard invited Wilson and Montanez to his home, though Montnez was not on board with the idea.
Later that night, Wilson met Kristine Melton and her friend Stephanie Sailors, introducing himself as “JR”. Wilson then stole Montanez’s car and drove to Shepard’s home with Sailors and Melton before eventually heading to Melton’s duplex. According to Sailor’s court testimony, Wilson and Melton engaged in a “consensual” sexual encounter. Sailors left briefly because she must take her son to school and work on Monday.
After Sailors departed, Wilson strangled Melton in her sleep and stole her car.
The same day, Montanez demanded her car back. Wilson arrived in a Nissan Versa that he had stolen from Melton and strangled and beat Montanez before leaving.
Shortly after leaving Montanez, Wilson encountered Diane Ruiz walking down the street. He asked for directions, and Ruiz entered the car. Wilson then strangled her and later ran her over, reportedly leaving her body in a gruesome state.
Following Ruiz’s murder, Wilson was caught shirtless and covered in blood on security footage at an establishment. Police, alerted by Montanez and Josh Lukitsch, owner of the establishment, found Wilson in the parking lot.
Wilson, however, was able to flee.
Shortly after, Wilson contacted his biological father, Steven Testasecca, with whom he had reconnected in 2012, and confessed details of his crimes.
October 8, 2019: Wilson gets arrested
Initially, during Wilson’s phone conversations with his biological father, Steven Testasecca, he asked for help arranging an Uber to leave town. However, upon realizing that Wilson showed no remorse for his actions, Testasecca alerted the police to Wilson’s location—a house he had broken into while the owner was out of town.
Later that day, authorities located Melton’s car and attempted to contact her but received no response. When they went to her home to check on her, they discovered her body wrapped in a blanket.
Wilson was subsequently arrested.
October 10, 2019: Ruiz’s body is found
Authorities noticed a vulture circling near the park by Sam’s Club and decided to investigate. Upon arriving, they discovered Ruiz’s body.
October 11, 2019: Wade Wilson is a person of interest in the deaths
Cape Coral police have identified Wade Steven Wilson, a 25-year-old from Fort Myers, as a person of interest in the death of Diane Ruiz and Kristine Melton.
September 30, 2020: Wilson involved himself in an escape attempt
Deputies at the Lee County Jail received reports of a potential escape plan involving Wilson, and his cellmate, Joseph Katz. As a result, Wilson was charged with attempted escape and criminal mischief.
Jail Charges
April 20, 2023: Planting narcotics in Lee County Jail
Even while incarcerated, Wilson continued to find himself in trouble.
Around 6 a.m. on April 20, a K9 searched the main Lee County Jail due to reports of narcotics being placed there. The K9 detected drugs near an area with landscaping rocks, where authorities discovered a gray grocery bag containing a Ziploc bag filled with narcotics/
An anonymous inmate trustee reported that the narcotics were brought by inmate trustee Bobby Hitchman, 35, who passed them to another trustee. Daniel Mulcalhey then distributed the drugs to Wilson and Edmilson Martins.
Further investigation revealed Wilson’s involvement in coordinating with other inmates to smuggle and plant the narcotics at the jail. This conclusion was supported by a letter in the jail’s laundry room.
June 12, 2024: Wilson was found guilty
Wilson was found guilty in the 2019 murders of Kristine Melton, 35, and Diane Ruiz, 43.
Handing Down the Death Penalty
June 25, 2024: Jury recommends death penalty
In a split decision, jurors deliberating on the future of convicted killer Wade Wilson recommended the death penalty.
The jury voted 9-3 and 10-2 for each of the victims, recommending Wilson receive the death penalty. The same jury had convicted him on June 12 of the murders of Melton and Ruiz. as well as additional charges related to the crimes.
August 15, 2024: Wilson is denied a motion for a new trial
On Thursday, Lee Circuit Judge Thompson rejected Wilson’s motion for a new trial.
August 27, 2024: Wade Wilson received two counts of the death penalty
Wilson appeared stoic as Lee Circuit Judge Nicholas Thompson sentenced him to death.
“The evidence shows the murders were heinous, atrocious, and cruel and the second murder was cold, calculated, and premeditated,” Judge Thompson stated in the courtroom, according to the New York Post.
Wilson’s adoptive parents urged the court not to give him the death penalty. In a letter, the parents stated that “humans are still in there.” “Please see it in your heart not to take our son”, they wrote.
Samantha Kelly, Melton’s cousin, said that the time between the deaths and the sentencing felt like “five years of agony.” Ruiz’s father, Felix Ruiz said he would want to be present at Wilson’s execution. “I didn’t get to say I love her, “ Felix said, according to The News-Press. “ I miss her.”
Visualizing the Case Timeline with TrialLine
Only one date remains to complete the timeline of Wade Wilson’s journey to death row: the date of his execution.
Wilson gained overnight fame on TikTok after videos of him spread across the platform. Sharing a name with Marvel Comics’ Deadpool further fueled his notoriety.
Reports revealed that Wilson received over 4,000 letters from admirers worldwide, many containing explicit photos, as some perceived him as “attractive.”
Trouble seemed to follow Wilson from a young age, with a history of frequent incarcerations and escalating criminal behavior. His murders of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz appeared to have no motive beyond the act itself, as he killed them without any discernible purpose.
As his execution date approaches, we look back at the full timeline of his crimes, presented using TrialLine, a legal timeline software.
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