Jump to content

Wade Wilson (criminal)

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Deadpool Killer" redirects here. For the Marvel comic book character, see Deadpool. For the film character, see Wade Wilson (film character).
A headshot of a heavily tattooed Wilson with a buzzcut, dressed in a jumpsuit and staring directly into the camera
One of Wilson's mugshots, taken in 2024 at the Union Correctional Institution

Wade Steven Wilson[1] 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 better known as Deadpool, Wilson has been referred to in the media as the "Deadpool Killer".[2][3] Wilson was sentenced to death in 2024 after being found guilty of first-degree murder, among other charges.[4][3][5][6]

Early life

[edit]

Wade Wilson was adopted by Steve and Candace Wilson and raised in Tallahassee, Florida. Wilson, who was often described as "troubled" during his youth, reportedly engaged in minor criminal activities and substance abuse from an early age. He sustained multiple head injuries during his childhood and adolescence, which he later claimed contributed to feelings of instability.[7][8]

Crimes

[edit]

On October 7, 2019, Wilson committed two murders within hours.[9] The first victim, Kristine Melton, was strangled in her home after Wilson had met her at a live music bar. Later that day, Diane Ruiz, a mother of two and a bartender, was strangled and subsequently run over multiple times after being lured into Melton's car under false pretenses.[4][10][11] He called his father, Stephen Testasecca, soon afterwards and confessed to murdering the women.[12] Testasecca and his wife called the police[13] and Wilson was arrested the following day.[4] He told detectives that he would be willing to "do it again".[14]

[edit]

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.[8] The defense claimed that Wilson's drug abuse could have impaired his judgment at the time of the crime.[3]

Wilson's father, Stephen 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).[13] Having the power to take or disregard the jury's suggestion, judge Nicholas Thompson imposed two death sentences.[1] Wilson is appealing the decision to the Supreme Court of Florida.[15]

Wilson's sentencing was marked by public interest and controversy, including numerous messages from individuals pleading for clemency.[16] His case raised questions about the intersection of mental health, criminal behavior, and the justice system.[17][18] The case attracted extensive media coverage, partly because of Wilson's common name with the well-known fictional character, Wade Wilson, the "secret identity" of the Marvel character Deadpool. Public reactions were mixed, with some expressing sympathy due to his mental health issues, while others focused on the brutality of his crimes.[17]

Incarceration

[edit]

In prison, Wilson applied tattoos to himself, including that of a swastika.[13] In 2023, he pleaded nolo contendere to smuggling drugs into prison, in exchange for having charges relating to an alleged escape attempt dropped.[19] He was sentenced to a fine and 12 years in prison, to be served concurrently with his death penalties.[20]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Alund, Natalie Neysa (2024-08-28). "'Heinous, atrocious and cruel': Man gets death penalty in random killings of Florida women". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  2. ^ Kennedy, William (2024-07-10). "Who is the real-life Wade Wilson and what did he do? The 'Deadpool Killer' case, explained". We Got This Covered. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  3. ^ a b c Quinn, Liam (July 26, 2024). "'Wade Wilson' Is Ryan Reynolds' 'Deadpool' Alter Ego. But Real-Life Man Killed 2 Women 'for the Sake of Killing'". People Magazine. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  4. ^ a b c Stimson, Brie (2024-06-29). "Florida double murderer goes viral for 'smug, soulless' courtroom demeanor". Fox News. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  5. ^ "Strangled Women Murder Trial: Penalty Phase Continues Tuesday". Court TV. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  6. ^ "Who Is Wade Wilson? Jury Recommends Death Penalty for 'Deadpool Killer' After Being Convicted of Murder". Yahoo News. 2024-07-03. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  7. ^ Reporter, Erin Keller (2024-08-08). "Wade Wilson's 'Troubled' Early Years: The Making of A Convicted Killer". Newsweek. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  8. ^ a b Reporter, Erin Keller (2024-08-26). "Wade Wilson Update: Killer's Neurologist Reveals Chilling New Details". Newsweek. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  9. ^ Quinn, Liam. "Why Did a Florida Man Randomly Strangle 2 Women Within Span of Hours 'for the Sake of Killing?'". People Magazine. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  10. ^ "Swastika-covered murder suspect reportedly left his victim 'looking like spaghetti'". The Independent. 2024-06-05. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  11. ^ "Florida man with swastika face tattoo strangled two women hours apart". Toronto Sun. Jun 14, 2024.
  12. ^ Rodriguez, Kim Luciani and Tomas (2024-07-08). "Florida killer Wade Wilson's father Steven Testasecca was key to his arrest". The News-Press. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  13. ^ a b c Biro, Elizabeth (2024-06-25). "Jury recommends death for Wade Wilson". WINK News. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  14. ^ Quinn, Liam (2024-08-28). "Real-Life 'Deadpool' Namesake Wade Wilson Sentenced to Death for Murdering 2 Women". People. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  15. ^ Senne, Sommer (2024-08-28). "How long will Wade Wilson be on death row?". WINK News. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  16. ^ Witulska, Natalia. "Wade Wilson: The unsettling trend of romanticising serial killers". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  17. ^ a b Helling, Steve; Keane, Isabel (2024-07-17). "Letters to judge beg him to spare the life of Wade Wilson". New York Post. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  18. ^ White, Steven. "MSN". msn.com. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  19. ^ Stones, Summerleigh (2024-08-29). "Wade Wilson pleads no contest in other pending cases days after receiving death penalty". WBBH. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  20. ^ Rodriguez, Tomas (2024-08-29). "Wade Wilson pleads to jail crimes Thursday, clears way for transfer to Florida death row". The News-Press. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
Retrieved from "https://wiki.riteme.site/w/index.php?title=Wade_Wilson_(criminal)&oldid=1245615511"