Real-LifeDeadpoolNamesake Wade Wilson Sentenced to Death for Murdering 2 Women

Mar. 15, 2025

Wade Wilson.Photo:WPRI/YouTube

WPRI/YouTube

A Florida man who shares the name of the alter ego of Marvel’sDeadpoolcharacter, was sentenced to death five years after he murdered two women.

A jury previously recommended a death sentence on June 25, and the judge, Nicholas Thompson, agreed, theNews-Pressreported.

Wilson killed Melton and Ruiz within hours of each other in October 2019 in Cape Coral, Fla., according to the outlets.

Fox 4 previously reported, citing authorities, that Wilson met Melton at a bar and went home with her before strangling her to death the next day. The outlet reported that Wilson saw Ruiz walking home from work hours later and asked her for directions. Her body was found dead in a parking lot after he fatally strangled her.

Kristine Melton.Kristine Melton/Facebook

Kristine Melton/Facebook

“This case was about killing for the sake of the killing,” Assistant State Attorney Andreas Gardiner said during closing arguments of his trial, Fox 4 reported. “Strangulation is the epitome of life slipping through someone’s hands.”

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Diane Ruiz.Diane Ruiz/Facebook

Diane Ruiz/Facebook

Wilson confessed to the murder, telling detectives, “I would do it again,” Fox 4 reported. According to theNews-Press,Wilson also called his father to confess to the murders.

After Wilson was found guilty, Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore released a statement.

“This afternoon in the Lee County Courthouse, I sat with the families of Diane Ruiz and Kristine Melton as the verdict was read: Wade Wilson was found guilty on all counts,” Sizemore said. “The families expressed to me their gratitude for the hard work of our team.”

source: people.com