Wade Wilson, known as the “Deadpool Killer” due to his extensive tattoos, has been sentenced to death for the murders of two women in Florida in 2019. The 30-year-old man displayed no emotion as the judge announced his sentence, highlighting the chilling nature of his crimes. The murders were characterized by extreme violence and premeditation, with the second killing being particularly calculated and ruthless, according to Circuit Judge Nicholas Thompson.
Despite the brutality of his actions, Wilson received an overwhelming number of messages and explicit photos from admirers during his five years in prison. Nearly 4,000 messages poured in, with many women pleading for the judge to spare his life. Some even sent explicit photos, prompting authorities to block many of these images due to their inappropriate nature. A number of supporters argued that Wilson’s behavior differed when he was on medication, urging the judge to disregard his tattoos and a swastika he displayed. Wilson’s lawyers claimed he suffered brain damage due to drug addiction and faced emotional turmoil after being abandoned by his birth parents. His adoptive parents also pleaded for leniency, expressing that Wilson still possessed humanity.
In June, Wilson was convicted of murdering Kristine Melton, 35, and Diane Ruiz, 43, in October 2019. The severity of the crimes led Judge Thompson to uphold the jury’s recommendation for the death penalty. According to prosecutors, Wilson strangled Melton in her house following a drug-fueled sexual encounter. He then took Melton’s car and used her phone to contact his girlfriend, Melissa Montanez, 41. He attacked Montanez, but she refused to enter the vehicle. Wilson later met Ruiz in Cape Coral while she was seeking directions. He lured her into his car, where he confessed to strangling her. After throwing her body out of the vehicle, he ran over her repeatedly, describing her body as looking like spaghetti during the trial.
The prosecution emphasized that the case was about “killing for the sake of killing”, highlighting the deliberate and calculated nature of the murders. They described strangulation as a literal act of life slipping away, emphasizing the cruelty of Wilson’s actions. While the case has drawn attention due to the numerous supporters Wilson garnered, the judge ultimately ruled based on the weight of the evidence and the severity of the crimes, leading to the death sentence.
