A Florida judge on Tuesday sentenced a 30-year-old man to death for the random 2019 killings of two Southwest Florida women.
Wade Steven Wilson, reportedly tied to a white supremist gang, was found guilty this summer of charges including first-degree murder in the slayings ofKristine Melton, 35, andDiane Ruiz, 43, of Cape Coral. A 12-member Lee County jury previously recommended he receive the death penalty for his crimes.
In Florida, juries recommend whether a convict should receive the death sentence, but the decision is ultimately up to a judge.
On Tuesday, 20th JudicialCircuit Court Judge Nicholas Thompsonimposed the capitol sentence - one for each murders.
“The evidence showed both murders were heinous, atrocious and cruel, and that the second murder was cold, calculated and premeditated,” Thompson said during Wilson's sentencing hearing.
The defendant inflicted "serious physical and emotion pain to the victims" while on probation for felony convictions, the judge said.
Here's what to know about the Wilson's case:
Murder suspect capture in Tennessee:Memphis murder suspect crashes through ceiling as US Marshals search for him
Who is convicted felon Wade Wilson?
Wilson, of Fort Myers, was born to underage parents and given up for adoption. He grew up in the Tallahassee area before moving to Lee County.
He has voluminous tattoos on his face, including stitches, a swastika, and one that reads, 'glory' in cursive.
Wilson shares the shares his name with the alter ego of the Marvel character Deadpool.
2 Delta Air employees killed, 1 hurt:Tire explodes at Atlanta airport maintenance facility
When was Wade Wilson convicted of murder?
Wilson's weeks-long trial began June 1 with jury selection, and took place at the theLee County Courthouse in Fort Myers.
The jury convicted him of six charges including two counts of first-degree murder June 12.
On June 25, 10 of the 12 jurors voted Wilson should be executed for killing Ruiz. Jurors votednine to three in favor of thedeath penalty for Melton's slaying.
Until April 2023, Florida juries were required to unanimously vote for a death sentence recommendation. Last year Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law abill allowing the jury to recommend death with as few as eight votes.
Who were Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz?
According to trial testimony, Wilson met Melton, and a friend Oct. 7, 2019, at a Fort Myers bar and later in the evening, the trio visited Melton's Cape Coral home. After Melton's friend left, Wilson strangled Melton to death as she slept, stole her car, and then drove to meet his girlfriend, Melissa Montanez. After his girlfriend refused to get into the car, he assaulted her, but she managed to flee.
Not long after he drove back to Cape Coral, Wilson saw Ruizwalking to work along a street, pretended to ask her for directions, lured her into the car then attempted to strangle her. He then drove to an empty lot and attacked. When she tried to flee, Wilson attacked her, strangled then pushed her out of the car and running her over 10 to 20 times.
Her body was found in a field three days later, as vultures circled overhead, the News-Press, part of the USA TODAY Network reported, and after the murders, Wilsoncalled his fatherSteven Testasecca several times and said he killed the woman. Testasecca contacted police and Wilson was arrested Oct. 8, 2019.
"He was excited," Testasecca testified in court, adding Wilson said he wanted to make Ruiz "look like spaghetti."
What was Wade Wilson convicted of?
Wilson found guilty of the following charges:
- First-degree murder (two counts)
- Grand theft
- Battery
- Burglary
- Petty theft
The condemned man also faces charges in unrelated crimes, includingattempted escape from jailand drug charges.
Death penalty in the US:Which states still execute inmates, who has executed the most?
Wilson's alleged ties to white supremacist gang
According to court documents show, Wilson is connected to a white supremacy prison gang.
The prison gang was founded in the late 80s in the Florida prison system, according to the Anti-Defamation League, and is the largest in the state,
How many people are on death row in Florida?
Wilson now joins 279 people including two women on Florida's death row.
The most recent execution in The Sunshine Statetook place in Octoberwhen the state executedMichael Zachfora woman's 1996 slaying.
When is Florida's next execution?
Florida's is set to execute 57-year-old Loran Cole by lethal injection on Thursday for the 1994 murder of an 18-year-old college student and rape of the victim's sister during a camping trip atOcala National Forestin north central Florida.
A Marion County jury convicted Cole of killing John Edwards, a freshman at Florida State University and sexually assaulting Edward's then 21-year-old sister.
If Cole is put to death, it will mark the seventh time Florida executed a man since Aug. 8, 2019. Cole will also become thefirst inmate executed inFloridathis year andthe13th in the nationif his lethal injection takes place.
Contributing: Stacey Henson, Tomas Rodriguez and Kim Luciani
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
