Wade Wilson (criminal)

Wade Steven Wilson was born on May 20, 1994 to teenage parents. He was adopted by Steve and Candace Wilson and raised in Tallahassee, Florida, where he attended Chiles High School. During his youth, Wilson was often described as "troubled" and was reportedly involved in minor criminal activities and substance abuse. He also sustained several head injuries during his childhood (4 concussions) and adolescence, which he later cited as contributing to his feelings of instability. His encounters with the law began in 2012 in Leon County where he was involved in various incidents, including burglary, assault, and firearm-related offenses. In November 2013, Wilson was sentenced to prison for burglary and grand theft, serving until September 2014. In 2015, he faced charges of sexual battery and kidnapping after a woman accused him of assaulting her in his vehicle following a party. However, he was acquitted of these charges by a jury. By 2017, Wilson was incarcerated again for stealing firearms, serving until July 2018. Later in 2018, he was mentioned in connection with the case of Jerry Michael “Mike” Willams, the target of an alleged murder for hire plotted by his wife Denise Willams, while serving time with Wilson. He has said he received $20,000 in a white Manila envelope at a meet-up post-release while on probation to carry out the attack. In February 2019, his former girlfriend reported an incident in which he allegedly assaulted and choked her. Although she initially accused him of kidnapping and rape, investigators did not pursue these charges due to a lack of evidence and an existing no-contact order. On July 1, 2019, Wilson was arrested again for battery. == Murders ==

On October 7, 2019, Wilson committed two murders within hours. After Wilson met the first victim, Kristine Melton, he strangled her in her home. Later that day, Wilson lured Diane Ruiz, a mother of two and a bartender, into his car under false pretenses and strangled and subsequently drove over her multiple times. He called his biological father, Steven Testasecca, soon afterwards and confessed to murdering the women. Testasecca and his wife called the police and Wilson was arrested the following day. == Legal proceedings and public reaction ==

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

In jail, while awaiting trial for the murders, Wilson applied multiple tattoos on his face, including a swastika In 2023, he pleaded nolo contendere to smuggling drugs into prison, in exchange for having charges relating to an alleged escape attempt dropped. He was sentenced to a fine and 12 years in prison, to be served concurrently with his death penalties. Wilson survived a drug overdose at Lee County Jail in 2023. The incident prompted an investigation by the Lee County Sheriff's Office. Investigators uncovered a conspiracy to traffic illegal drugs into the jail. Four others were also charged in the incident. In July 2025, Wilson was transferred to Suwannee Correctional Institution, which does not have a designated death row unit. As of August 31, 2025, Wilson is residing at Union Correctional Institution in Raiford, FL on death row. ==See also ==