Wade Wilson, dubbed the ‘Deadpool killer’ due to his namesake with the Marvel character, has been sentenced to death for the brutal murders of two women in Cape Coral, Florida. Wilson, 30, was sentenced on Tuesday after being found guilty of the murders of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz, committed on October 6, 2019.
The court described the murders as “heinous, atrocious, and cruel,” with Judge Nicholas Thompson noting that the second murder of Ruiz was particularly “cold, calculated, and premeditated.” The jury’s recommendation for the death penalty was upheld, reflecting the severity of Wilson’s crimes.
Wilson, who has a Nazi swastika tattoo on his face, committed the murders on the same night. He first strangled Melton, 35, in her home after meeting her at a live music venue. He then stole her car and used her phone to contact his girlfriend, Melissa Montanez, whom he assaulted but who refused to enter the vehicle.
Later, Wilson encountered Ruiz, 43, who asked him for directions. After inviting her into his car, he strangled her and subsequently ran her over multiple times, causing horrific injuries. The court heard that Melton suffered extensive injuries including bruising, hemorrhages, and contusions, while Ruiz endured severe trauma, including a nasal bone fracture and multiple rib fractures.
Despite arguments from Wilson’s defense regarding his history of brain damage from drug addiction and abandonment issues, the court found no grounds for clemency. Wilson was also convicted of additional charges including grand theft and burglary. His adoptive parents had pleaded for leniency, asserting that a part of his humanity remained.