Will Wade Wilson get death sentence? FL killer seeks new trial as death penalty decision nears
The Florida man found guilty of murdering two Cape Coral women, is seeking a new trial as the death penalty sentencing decision in his case draws near.
Wade Wilson, 30, was found guilty in June of killing Kristine Melton, 35, and Diane Ruiz, 43, in the fall of 2019.
During the penalty phase of the trial, Wilson's jury voted in favor of the death penalty for each of the murders.
The trial judge will decide whether to impose the death penalty or life without parole during sentencing scheduled for later this month.
However, on July 3, Wilson's legal team filed a motion for a new trial or acquittal on the murder, burglary and grand theft charges.
Here's what to know about Wilson's crimes, victims, sentencing and recent defense motion:
Wade Wilson crimes
Wilson, then 25 years old, met Kristine Melton, 35, and her friend Stephanie Sailors on Oct. 7, 2019, at Buddah LIVE, a Fort Myers bar.
After the bar closed, Wilson and the two women went to the home of Jayson Shepard where they stayed for several hours before leaving in the morning.
Wilson, Melton and Sailors then went Melton's Cape Coral home. After Sailors left, Wilson strangled Melton to death as she slept in her bed and stole her car.
A short time later, Wilson saw 43-year-old Diane Ruiz walking along a Cape Coral street, asked her for directions to a nearby school and lured her into the car.
When Ruiz tried to exit the car, Wilson attacked her, beating and strangling her before pushing her out of the car and running her over 10 to 20 times.
After the murders, Wilson called his biological father Steven Testasecca several times confessing to and narrating the gruesome details of his crimes.
"He was excited," Testasecca testified in court, adding Wilson said he wanted to make Ruiz "look like spaghetti."
Testasecca contacted police and Wilson was arrested Oct. 8, 2019.
Wade Wilson victims Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz
Kristine Melton grew up in Illinois and moved with a friend to Cape Coral where she worked as a waitress.
She reportedly was godmother to her cousin Samantha Catomer's child, owned a cat and lived in a Cape Coral duplex.
Melton loved to dress up and her favorite holiday was Halloween, Catomer testified during Wilson's trial.
Melton had a quick wit, made everyone around her feel safe and understood and "was precious, not just to me, but to everyone who knew her," Catomer said.
Melton was 35 years old when she met Wilson at Buddah LIVE, a Fort Myers bar. After leaving the bar and spending several hours at the home of Jayson Shepard, Melton, her friend Stephanie Sailors and Wilson went to Melton's duplex.
After Sailors left, Wilson strangled her to death in her sleep.
Diane Ruiz, 43, a mother and engaged to be married, was described as caring and hardworking.
She worked as a bartender at the Moose Lodge in Cape Coral and never missed a shift in five years.
Ruiz was walking to work for her 10 a.m. shift when she encountered Wilson.
A short time after killing Melton, Wilson saw Ruiz walking along a Cape Coral street and lured her into the car after asking her for directions.
When she tried to leave, Wilson beat and strangled Ruiz, pushed her out of the car and ran her over repeatedly.
Her body was found in a field three days later, as vultures circled overhead.
Wade Wilson charges
Wilson, who shares his name with Marvel character Deadpool, was tried and found guilty of six charges:
Two counts of first-degree murder
First-degree murder
Grand theft
Battery
Burglary
Petty theft
Wilson also faces charges in unrelated crimes, including attempted escape from jail and drug charges.
Jury's death penalty recommendation doesn't have to be unanimous in Florida
Florida juries were required to vote unanimously for a death sentence recommendation until April 2023 when Gov. Ron DeSantis lowered the threshold by signing into law a bill allowing juries to recommend death with as few as 8 votes.
Wade Wilson sentence
On June 25, 2024, the jury in Wilson's trial recommended he receive the death penalty for each of the murders.
During the penalty phase of the trial, jurors had the option of recommending life in prison without parole or death.
After considering aggravating and mitigating circumstances, the jury voted 9-3 and 10-2 for death.
Trial judge Nicholas Thompson will decide whether the death sentence or life without parole is imposed.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 23.
Wade Wilson's attorney files motion for new trial
On July 3, Wilson's attorney filed a motion on his behalf requesting a new trial or acquittal for the murder and grand theft charges.
The motion contends the court made an error and violated Wilson's constitutional rights by using the new law that allows a death penalty recommendation with as few as 8 jurors voting in favor. Before the new law went into effect, a unanimous vote was required.
The motion further argues Wilson should have had separate trials for the various charges and that the state failed to prove Wilson had possession of Melton's car without her consent.
Lee County Circuit Judge Nicholas Thompson has not yet ruled on the motion.
Contributing: Tomas Rodriguez, Fort Myers News-Press
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Wade Wilson: FL killer seeks new trial, death sentence decision nears