Wade Steven Wilson is a Florida man who was convicted and sentenced to death for the brutal killings of two women in a single day in October 2019 — crimes that shocked southwest Florida and later drew national attention.
Wilson, who was 25 at the time of the murders, killed Kristine Melton, 35, and Diane Ruiz, 43, in separate but closely connected attacks. Prosecutors described the killings as calculated, violent, and escalating in brutality over the course of several hours.
In 2024, a jury found Wilson guilty of two counts of first-degree murder. He was later sentenced to death for both killings and is now awaiting execution on Florida’s death row while his appeals move forward.
Background and Early Life
Wilson was born in Florida in 1994 to teenage parents and was adopted shortly after birth by a couple who raised him in Cape Coral. Records and testimony introduced at trial showed that Wilson struggled behaviorally from a young age, experiencing repeated disciplinary issues in school.
As he entered adulthood, those problems intensified. Court records detailed a long history of criminal behavior, including arrests for domestic violence, sexual battery, drug-related offenses, and other violent incidents. Witnesses described him as volatile and unpredictable, capable of appearing friendly before quickly turning aggressive.
During sentencing, Wilson’s adoptive parents described a gradual decline in his mental health, marked by addiction, paranoia, and emotional instability.
Events Leading to the Murders
On the night of Oct. 6, 2019, Wilson met Kristine Melton at a bar in Fort Myers. After the bar closed, Wilson, Melton, and others went to a friend’s home before Wilson eventually accompanied Melton to her residence.
In the early hours of Oct. 7, prosecutors said Wilson strangled Melton in her bedroom after being left alone with her. He then stole her car and fled the scene.
Later that same morning, Wilson assaulted his then-girlfriend at her workplace. Shortly afterward, he encountered Diane Ruiz, who was walking to work. Authorities said Wilson approached her under the guise of asking for directions and convinced her to get into the vehicle.
How the Killings Occurred
Medical testimony established that Melton died from manual strangulation.
Ruiz was also strangled, but the attack escalated further. Investigators said Wilson attempted to dispose of her body and realized she was still alive. He then ran her over multiple times with the stolen vehicle, causing fatal injuries. The medical examiner testified that Ruiz suffered both strangulation injuries and severe blunt-force trauma consistent with being struck by a car.
During police interviews, Wilson made admissions that aligned closely with forensic evidence from both crime scenes.
Arrest and Confession
Wilson was arrested less than 24 hours after the murders. After the killings, he made a series of phone calls to his biological father in which he confessed to killing two women and described the attacks in disturbing detail.
Alarmed by the calls, his father contacted law enforcement and provided information that helped police locate Wilson. Officers found him later that day driving the stolen vehicle, and he was taken into custody without incident.
During questioning, Wilson did not deny responsibility for the killings and made statements prosecutors later described as chilling and unremorseful.
Trial, Conviction, and Sentencing
In June 2024, a jury convicted Wilson on two counts of first-degree murder. The sentencing phase concluded with a judge imposing two death sentences, citing the brutality of the crimes and aggravating factors including the cruelty of the second killing.
Wilson’s defense team indicated plans to pursue an insanity-related defense, but the jury rejected those arguments.
Where Wade Wilson Is Now
Wilson is currently incarcerated at Union Correctional Institution in Raiford, Florida, which houses the state’s male death row inmates. He is held under strict confinement conditions, spending most of his time alone in his cell with limited movement and communication.
Although Wilson has been sentenced to death, no execution date has been set. His legal team has filed multiple appeals, which must be reviewed before any sentence can be carried out. Those proceedings are ongoing.
Until the appeals process is exhausted, Wilson will remain on Florida’s death row.