Wade Wilson: The ‘Deadpool Killer,’ Chilling Murders, and TikTok’s Troubling Fascination

We’re talking about Wade Wilson, a man who has been dubbed the “Deadpool Killer” because of his name’s eerie similarity to the Marvel anti-hero. However, unlike the fictional character known for his chaotic sense of humor and exaggerated comic-book violence, the real Wade Wilson’s actions were dark, calculated, and devastating. Two women, Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz, tragically lost their lives at his hands in October 2019. These murders sent shockwaves through the tight-knit communities of Cape Coral and Fort Myers, Florida.

Throughout today’s episode, I’m going to walk you through Wade Wilson’s life, from his troubled childhood to his shocking crimes, and eventually his conviction and death sentence. This case is about more than just one man’s violent acts—it’s a deep dive into mental health struggles, substance abuse, and a justice system that, at times, seemed unable to catch up with him until it was far too late.

So, without further delay, let’s jump into the story of Wade Wilson.

Wade Steven Wilson was born on May 20, 1994, under less than ideal circumstances. His biological parents, Steven Testasecca and a mother whose name is largely unknown due to her troubled history, were barely teenagers when they found out they were pregnant. His mother was only 13, and his father was 14, so from the very start, Wade’s life was shaped by instability. Both parents struggled with their own issues—his mother is believed to have suffered from mental health problems, potentially worsened by substance abuse. 

Recognizing their inability to raise a child, Wade’s biological parents decided to put him up for adoption. This is where Cindy and Steve Wilson enter the story. They were a loving couple from Tallahassee, Florida, who had always wanted children. The Wilsons, known for their generosity and strong faith, attended the same church as Wade’s biological grandparents, which is likely how they became connected to his case. Soon after Wade was born, Cindy and Steve adopted him, and he officially became part of their family. 

By all accounts, Wade’s early years with the Wilsons seemed relatively normal. They provided him with a stable, middle-class home. Cindy and Steve also had two daughters, so Wade grew up with siblings, Greyhounds as pets, and all the privileges of a suburban upbringing. He attended Deer Lake Middle School and later went to Lawton Chiles High School in Tallahassee. From the outside, Wade appeared like any other kid. He was active in sports, went to church with his family, and did fairly well in school.

 However, as he grew older, cracks began to show. By the time Wade turned 13, his behavior took a drastic turn. His once-innocent childhood was overshadowed by the onset of mental health issues. Wade became increasingly reclusive and paranoid. He was Moody, erratic, and started acting out at school, frequently causing disruptions and clashing with authority figures. Friends and family noticed the change, and while they were concerned, it wasn’t immediately clear how severe the situation would become. 

His parents were deeply worried about the sudden shift in his behavior. In Florida, there’s a law called the Baker Act, which allows for emergency mental health services for individuals who are in crisis and unable to make sound decisions about their well-being. At just 15 years old, Wade’s parents invoked this act to get him help, placing him in a 72-hour psychiatric hold for evaluation. While under this temporary detainment, doctors tried to assess his mental state and determine the next steps, including whether further treatment or medication was necessary.

Though his parents hoped the intervention would lead to improvement, Wade’s problems only escalated. He refused to participate in most forms of therapy and resisted any mental health care. Alongside his increasingly erratic behavior, Wade began experimenting with drugs, which only compounded his issues. He was known to smoke marijuana before school, often disappearing into the woods with friends to get high. Classmates described him as a “troubled” kid who seemed to have no respect for authority and preferred to hang out with the so-called rebels of the school.

This pattern of behavior continued into his teenage years, and his involvement in drugs deepened. His time in high school was cut short when he was expelled for smoking weed in a school bathroom—and setting a toilet paper roll on fire by accident in the process. Wade’s adoptive parents, Cindy and Steve, tried to keep him on track, providing him with a comfortable home and encouraging him to focus on school and sports, but nothing seemed to help.

Wade’s mental health struggles were also worsened by several head injuries he sustained from sports. These concussions likely played a role in his erratic and impulsive behavior, though it would take years for anyone to make that connection. Despite the efforts of his parents and the brief psychiatric intervention, Wade’s downward spiral seemed inevitable. By the time he reached adulthood, his life was already on a dangerous trajectory.

At 18, Wade made an important decision that would shape his future: he reconnected with his biological father, Steven Testasecca. While Wade hadn’t had much contact with him growing up, as an adult, he was curious about where he came from and wanted to explore a relationship with his birth father. The two started talking regularly, though their relationship remained somewhat distant. Steven lived in Lakeland, Florida, a few hours away from Wade, so most of their contact was through phone calls and texts.

Wade’s newfound connection with his father didn’t lead to any noticeable improvements in his life, though. If anything, it coincided with his growing entanglement in criminal activity. Wade had already begun building a criminal record, with his first major run-in with the law happening in 2012. He was arrested for burglary and gun charges, serving just over a year in prison from September 2013 to November 2014.

This marked the beginning of a pattern of behavior that would soon escalate beyond petty theft and drugs. Wade’s teenage years had been turbulent, but his early 20s would prove to be far more dangerous.

By the time Wade Wilson entered his 20s, his life had spiraled into a cycle of drug abuse and crime. His early arrests, which started when he was just 18, were only the beginning. Wade’s behavior grew increasingly erratic and violent as he struggled to keep any semblance of a stable life. After serving a year in prison for burglary and gun charges, Wade’s encounters with the law became more frequent and severe. 

One of Wade’s most shocking arrests came just a month after his release from prison in late 2014. At a party in Tallahassee, Florida, Wade met a woman through mutual friends. After they decided to smoke together in her car, the situation took a terrifying turn. Wade forced the woman into the back seat, covered her with jackets, and began driving aimlessly before parking the car. Over the course of the next three hours, Wade choked, raped, and physically assaulted her while filming parts of the attack on her phone. 

At one point, Wade threatened the woman with death, telling her she had two options: do what he said, or get shot. When he finally stopped the attack, Wade forced the woman to return to the party with him and made her sit on his lap while sexually assaulting her in front of other partygoers as they drove around. Eventually, she was dropped off at her brother’s house, where she immediately reported the attack to the police. 

Despite the evidence, including a rape kit, video recordings, and testimony, Wade was shockingly acquitted by a jury. This marked yet another instance where Wade evaded justice, despite clear indications of his violent tendencies.

In 2015, after his acquittal, Wade continued his life of crime. He found himself back in trouble with the law after being implicated in a murder-for-hire plot connected to Denise Williams, a woman who was convicted of orchestrating the murder of her husband, Mike Williams. Though Wade wasn’t formally charged, his name came up during trial testimony when Brian Winchester, the man involved with Denise, claimed that Wade had offered to murder Denise as well to eliminate any loose ends.

Over the next few years, Wade continued to spiral. His relationships with women were marked by violent outbursts and erratic behavior. In January 2019, one of his ex-girlfriends accused him of stealing her laptop and gun, leading to another arrest. Then, in February of the same year, Wade was accused of kidnapping and raping the same woman. She reported that Wade beat and strangled her during the attack, but police did not pursue charges, citing a lack of evidence. These missed opportunities to hold Wade accountable would prove fatal for two women later that year.

As the year progressed, Wade’s behavior grew even more dangerous. His drug use worsened, and he became involved with more women who would later report abuse. Yet, despite these accusations, he seemed untouchable, slipping through the cracks of the legal system again and again. By October 2019, Wade’s downward spiral would reach its deadly climax.

Kristine Melton

Kristine Melton, born on May 31, 1984, was a beloved daughter, sister, and friend. She was known for her infectious sense of humor and unwavering loyalty to those she loved. Kristine had moved to Cape Coral, Florida, to be closer to her mother, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, and she lived just four houses down from her. Kristine worked as a bartender at a local spot called Duffy’s and had a reputation for being fun, adventurous, and spontaneous.

On the night of October 6, 2019, Kristine and her friend Stephanie decided to head out to Buddha Live, a bar in Fort Myers known for its live music. It was supposed to be a fun night out, a chance to unwind and listen to some local bands. The two friends had known each other since high school and had always been close, so nights like these were common for them.

That evening, the night took a fateful turn when they met Wade Wilson. Wade introduced himself as “JR” to both women, a tactic he often used to conceal his true identity. Stephanie and Kristine were immediately charmed by Wade’s confidence and charisma. They all hit it off, and when the bar closed at 2 a.m., Wade suggested they continue the party elsewhere. Stephanie, Kristine, Wade, and another man named Jason left the bar together and headed back to Jason’s house.

At Jason’s home, the group continued drinking and using drugs, specifically cocaine and marijuana. It was clear to everyone that Wade and Kristine had an immediate attraction to one another, and the two eventually became intimate while the others hung out in another part of the house. After a few hours, Stephanie decided it was time to leave—she had to work the next morning and needed to take her child to school. Kristine assured her that everything was fine, and she seemed comfortable being left alone with Wade. 

The next morning, October 7, 2019, Kristine was dead.

Kristine Melton

Sometime after Stephanie left, Wade strangled Kristine to death in her own apartment. He used her clothing to tie her up and left her body where it fell. Wade, who had taken a liking to Kristine’s car, decided to steal it, abandoning his girlfriend Melissa Montanas’s car, which he had been using that night. After taking Kristine’s keys, he fled the scene.

Stephanie, having no idea what had transpired after she left, went about her day as usual. She texted Kristine around 10 a.m., checking in, but received no response. At first, she thought Kristine was just sleeping in after their late night out. But as the day progressed and kristine still hadn’t responded, Stephanie’s concern grew. When her calls went straight to voicemail, she decided to call Kristine’s cousin, Samantha, who also hadn’t heard from her.

Later that day, Stephanie received a call that would change everything. A detective from the Cape Coral Police Department contacted her, asking if she knew why Kristine’s car had been found abandoned. Alarm bells immediately went off. Stephanie rushed to Kristine’s apartment with Samantha and other friends, only to find it surrounded by police tape. Authorities soon confirmed what they feared—Kristine had been murdered.

Kristine Melton

Just hours after Kristine’s murder, Wade Wilson was already hunting for his next victim. His next target would be 43-year-old Diane Ruiz.

Diane was well-known and loved in the community, not only for her bubbly personality but also for her devotion to her two children. She worked as a bartender at The Moose Lodge, and her coworkers described her as the “heartbeat” of the establishment. She was engaged to Scott Hannon, and the two lived together with Diane’s children, creating a happy life for themselves.

On the morning of October 7, 2019, Diane was walking to work. Normally, she would have a ride, but her usual ride wasn’t available that day. Since The Moose Lodge was only about a 15-minute walk from her home, Diane decided to go on foot. However, she never made it.

Diane Ruiz

As Diane walked, Wade spotted her and pulled over. Pretending to need directions, he convinced her to get in the car with him. Once she was inside, Wade overpowered Diane, strangling her in the car as he drove aimlessly around town. Eventually, Wade pulled into the parking lot of a Sam’s Club, where he dumped her body behind the store. But when he realized that Diane was still breathing, Wade coldly got back in the car, ran over her body multiple times, and then drove away.

Diane’s coworkers were immediately concerned when she didn’t show up for her shift. She hadn’t missed a day of work in five years, and the fact that she didn’t call in to explain her absence was a red flag. When police arrived at Diane’s home that morning, her son answered the door. He was horrified to see an officer standing there, holding Diane’s purse, which had been found in the street near the elementary school where she would have passed on her way to work.

A missing persons report was filed, and police quickly began canvassing the area. Three days later, on October 10, 2019, Diane’s body was discovered in the Sam’s Club parking lot. She had been badly beaten, her body covered in bruises, and her nose and ears partially removed due to the exposure to the elements and wildlife in the days since her death.

Diane Ruiz

As soon as Kristine Melton’s body was discovered in her apartment, the investigation kicked into high gear. The Cape Coral Police Department immediately began questioning those who had been with Kristine the night before, starting with her friend Stephanie, who had been the last person to see her alive, aside from Wade. Stephanie told the police everything she knew about the events of that night and described the man who had left with Kristine after she went home: Wade Wilson, though at the time, she only knew him as “JR.”

With this information, Wade quickly became the prime suspect. The discovery of Kristine’s body, along with the knowledge that Wade had been the last person with her, gave police a lead to pursue. Meanwhile, Diane Ruiz was reported missing by her family and coworkers after she failed to show up for work at The Moose Lodge. Police were soon faced with two missing women and no clear connection between them—at least not yet.

While the police were working to put together the pieces, Wade was on the move. After murdering Kristine, Wade took her car and headed toward his girlfriend Melissa Montanas’s workplace in downtown Fort Myers. Still furious over their argument the night before, Wade confronted Melissa outside her job. He attacked her in broad daylight, attempting to drag her into the car and beat her violently. Witnesses later described the attack, explaining how Wade choked Melissa, pinned her against the wall by her throat, and punched her in the face so hard that she began to bleed profusely. Melissa, fighting for her life, managed to escape, ducking under his arm and locking herself in a nearby room until Wade gave up and left.

When police arrived on the scene following the assault, Wade was already gone, driving Kristine’s stolen black Nissan Versa. Though they didn’t know it at the time, they were now dealing with a man who had committed not just one, but two murders, along with a violent attack on his girlfriend.

A critical break came later that day when Wade’s violent spree caught the attention of the police for the third time. While driving through Cape Coral, Wade spotted Diane Ruiz walking to work and convinced her to get in his car. He strangled her to death and dumped her body behind the Sam’s Club before fleeing the scene. Unbeknownst to the police, Wade was on his way to confront Melissa again. He drove to her spa and tried to force her into his car. Fortunately, this altercation took place in a busy area, and witnesses quickly called 911.

Diane Ruiz

When police arrived at the scene, they found Wade sitting in Kristine’s stolen car, parked outside a Joe’s Crab Shack just 400 feet away from Melissa’s spa. Officer McCormack, the first officer to approach him, engaged Wade in conversation and asked him to step out of the car. But Wade had no intention of being arrested. Before the officer could make a move, Wade rolled up the window, turned on the ignition, and sped off. The police, bound by district protocols that prevented them from engaging in high-speed pursuits for nonviolent offenses, were forced to let him go.

Wade’s narrow escape that day allowed him a few more hours of freedom, but the police were now fully aware of who they were dealing with. As they began investigating the assault on Melissa, they also learned that Wade was the prime suspect in Kristine’s murder. Soon after, they discovered Diane Ruiz’s body in the parking lot, and the case took on even greater urgency. At this point, Wade was no longer just a person of interest—he was officially wanted for murder. 

While Wade was evading capture, he decided to take refuge in a random home. He broke into a house belonging to a retired couple named Fanny and Kent Amlin, who were fortunately out of town at the time. Wade made himself comfortable inside their home, eating food from the kitchen, drinking white claws, taking a shower, and stealing their clothes. He seemed to believe he could hide out here long enough to escape the growing manhunt for him. But Wade made a crucial mistake—he called his biological father, Steven Testasecca.

In a bizarre twist, Wade confessed everything to his father during the phone call. He told Steven that he had done something “he couldn’t take back” and that two people were now dead because of him. Wade’s tone, according to Steven, was alarmingly calm, almost excited. Steven recalled that Wade seemed full of adrenaline, as if he were reliving the murders with a sense of thrill. Wade described the murder of Kristine, saying, “I choked her out” and admitted that he had stayed in her apartment with her body for a while before trying to move her to the trunk of her car, only to abandon the idea when rigor mortis set in. Wade also confessed to killing Diane Ruiz, explaining how he had run her over with Kristine’s car until her body “looked like spaghetti.”

Wade Wilson’s biological father, Steve Testasecca

At first, Steven didn’t believe his son. Wade had a history of exaggeration, often telling tall tales to get attention, and Steven wasn’t sure if this was another one of his stories. But as Wade continued to describe the details of the murders, Steven realized his son was telling the truth. Still, even with this knowledge, Steven found himself conflicted. He knew he had to turn his son in but struggled with the reality of sending Wade to prison for life—or worse, sentencing him to death. 

In a moment of clarity, Steven concocted a plan. He convinced Wade that he would send an Uber to pick him up from wherever he was hiding and bring him to safety. Wade, still trusting his father, gave Steven his location: the address of the Amlins’ home. While keeping Wade on the phone, Steven immediately relayed the address to the police, giving them the exact coordinates they needed to find him.

By the time police arrived at the house, Wade was still inside, oblivious to the fact that his father had just betrayed him. When police surrounded the home, Steven stayed on the phone with Wade, advising him to walk outside and surrender peacefully. To his credit, Wade listened, walking out of the house without a fight. He was arrested on the spot. 

Despite being caught red-handed, Wade initially denied any involvement in the murders. When questioned about Kristine’s death, he claimed that she had let him borrow her car because his had run out of gas. He tried to shift the blame onto Jason, the man whose house they had partied at the night before, telling detectives that Jason must have killed Kristine after he left. He even offered to take the police to Jason’s house to “prove” his innocence. But detectives weren’t buying it, especially after hearing Wade’s father recount the chilling phone call in which Wade had confessed to both murders.

As for Diane, Wade’s story was equally weak. He claimed he had given her a ride because she had asked for help and that he had dropped her off at a bus stop without incident. He insisted he had nothing to do with her death and couldn’t understand why it was a “big deal” that both women he had met within a day had ended up dead. But the police had heard enough. Wade was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, along with charges of battery, burglary, and theft. 

Wade Wilson in court with his new tattoos

Wade Wilson’s arrest in October 2019 sent shockwaves through the community. With two women brutally murdered within hours of each other, public interest in the case was high, and people were eager to see justice served. Wade’s trial, however, wouldn’t take place until June 2024. In the years leading up to the trial, Wade remained in custody, facing numerous charges, including two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz, as well as additional charges for battery, burglary, and grand theft.

While in custody, Wade’s behavior didn’t improve. In fact, he seemed to relish his notoriety. In 2020, while awaiting trial, Wade and his cellmate planned an elaborate escape attempt from prison. The two had arranged for someone to pick them up outside the prison after they escaped through a window. However, the plan was foiled when prison guards were tipped off about the escape. Upon inspecting Wade’s cell, guards found that he had tampered with the window frame, removing parts of the metal frame and cracking the security glass. Authorities later said that even if Wade had managed to remove the glass entirely, it would have been impossible for him to fit through the window. As a result, Wade was charged with attempted escape and criminal mischief, adding even more time to his potential sentence. 

Wade’s time in prison also saw a disturbing transformation in his appearance. He joined a white supremacist gang known as “The Unforgiven,” which was primarily based in Florida. As part of his initiation into the gang, Wade received numerous tattoos, many of which were overtly racist symbols. His face, neck, and arms became a canvas for hate-filled imagery, including swastikas and the words “Why So Serious?”—a nod to the Joker, the fictional villain. These tattoos, which covered his face and gave him a menacing appearance, became a point of concern for his defense team when it came time for trial. His attorney even considered asking Wade to cover the tattoos with makeup in court, hoping to avoid the jury forming immediate negative impressions of him. But ultimately, they chose to argue that the tattoos were a reflection of Wade’s mental state rather than a cause for his actions.

Wade’s trial began on June 1, 2024, with jury selection. From the outset, the defense’s strategy was clear—they would try to argue that Wade’s actions weren’t premeditated and that his mental state, fueled by years of drug use and multiple concussions, played a significant role in the crimes. Wade’s defense attorney, recognizing that arguing for an insanity plea would be a long shot, focused instead on the idea that Wade’s brain injuries and substance abuse had left him “out of his mind” when the murders occurred.

The defense brought in a neurologist who testified that Wade had suffered several traumatic brain injuries during his high school years, which could have impacted his judgment and impulse control. According to the neurologist, the combination of concussions and long-term drug use may have led to Wade’s erratic and violent behavior. He argued that Wade didn’t plan the murders of Kristine and Diane, and instead acted impulsively, driven by a “diseased mind.” 

However, the prosecution was prepared for this argument. They countered with their own medical expert, who testified that while Wade had indeed suffered concussions, they weren’t severe enough to cause the type of behavior he exhibited. The prosecution argued that Wade’s violent tendencies were more likely the result of his escalating drug use and history of aggression, rather than any brain injury. Moreover, they pointed out that Wade’s pattern of behavior—repeated violent acts, coupled with attempts to manipulate others—showed clear signs of premeditation. The murders of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz, the prosecution argued, were not impulsive but deliberate acts of violence. 

Throughout the trial, witness testimony painted a grim picture of Wade’s life and actions leading up to the murders. Stephanie Johnson, Kristine’s best friend, took the stand and gave a harrowing account of the night they met Wade at Buddha Live. She recounted how Wade had introduced himself as “JR,” how he charmed Kristine, and how the group went back to Jason’s house to continue the party. Stephanie described her last moments with Kristine, explaining that Kristine had seemed completely at ease with Wade and had no fear of being left alone with him. 

The prosecution also introduced testimony from Wade’s father, Steven Testasecca, who recounted the chilling phone calls he received from Wade on the day of the murders. Steven told the jury how Wade had casually confessed to killing two people, describing the murders in graphic detail with a shocking lack of remorse. This testimony, combined with physical evidence and witness accounts, painted a clear picture of Wade’s guilt.

The trial lasted only two full days. On June 12, 2024, after just 90 minutes of deliberation, the jury returned with their verdict: Wade Wilson was found guilty on all counts, including two counts of first-degree murder, battery, burglary, and theft. 

But the trial wasn’t over yet. With Wade convicted, the jury now had to decide his fate. Under Florida law, a death sentence requires a recommendation from at least eight out of twelve jurors. The prosecution, convinced that Wade’s actions were cold, calculated, and deserving of the ultimate punishment, pushed hard for the death penalty.

During the sentencing phase, the defense once again argued that Wade’s mental health issues and drug use should be taken into account. They pleaded for mercy, asking the jury to sentence Wade to life in prison without the possibility of parole instead of death. Wade’s attorney argued that Wade’s actions, while horrific, were the result of a broken mind, one that had been shaped by years of untreated mental health issues, substance abuse, and trauma.

The jury, however, was not swayed. On June 25, 2024, they recommended the death penalty for Wade Wilson. Nine out of the twelve jurors voted in favor of death, more than enough to meet the legal requirement in Florida.

Finally, on August 27, 2024, Wade Wilson was formally sentenced to death. In addition to his death sentence, he was given life sentences for the murders and additional time for the burglary, battery, and theft charges. Wade’s defense team tried to appeal the decision, arguing that the state had not sufficiently proven that Wade had premeditated the murders, but the judge denied their request for a new trial.

Wade Wilson, now 30 years old, was transferred to the Union Correctional Institution in Raiford, Florida, where he will remain on death row until his execution. Despite the appeals, Wade’s fate seems sealed—his violent life finally caught up with him, and the justice system that had failed to hold him accountable for so long delivered its final judgment. 

What’s particularly disturbing about Wade’s case is the romanticization that some members of the public developed around him. Because of his tattoos, appearance, and the media attention, there were people who inexplicably found him “attractive,” despite the heinous nature of his crimes. This is not an uncommon phenomenon in high-profile criminal cases, but it serves as a stark reminder of the strange and often unhealthy fascination society can have with violent criminals. It’s crucial to remember that behind the sensational headlines and court drama are the real, human victims whose lives were cut short.

For Kristine and Diane’s families, the sentencing of Wade Wilson brought a sense of justice, but no amount of legal retribution can truly fill the void left by their loss. Kristine’s family described her as the glue that held them together, a bright, adventurous spirit who brought joy and laughter into every room. Diane’s children were left without their mother, and her coworkers at The Moose Lodge still remember her as the heartbeat of their establishment, always ready with a smile and a helping hand.