Wade Wilson, dubbed the ‘Deadpool killer,’ shared his disturbing three-word motive for murdering two women.
The Florida murderer nicknamed the ‘Deadpool Killer’ because he shares a name with the Marvel character, is back in the spotlight after new true-crime documentaries revisited the horrifying 2019 killings that sent him to death row.
Wilson was convicted of murdering two women, Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz, within hours of each other in Cape Coral, Florida.
The case shocked the public not only because of the brutality of the crimes, but also because of the disturbing attention Wilson later received online from women who appeared to romanticize him during and after his trial.
In June 2024, a jury found Wilson guilty of multiple charges, including two counts of first-degree murder. Two months later, he was sentenced to death.
Now, shows including Paramount+’s Handsome Devil: Charming Killer and Netflix’s Worst Ex Ever have renewed public interest in the case, exposing more chilling details about Wilson’s behavior, his confession, and the words he used to describe his victims.
Who is Wade Wilson?
Wade Steven Wilson was born in Florida in May 1994 and was adopted as a baby by Steve and Candace Wilson. He was raised in Tallahassee and attended Chiles High School.
By adulthood, Wilson had developed a criminal history that included burglary and battery.
Before the murders, he had also been accused by a former girlfriend of stealing from her, kidnapping her, and raping her, though authorities reportedly did not pursue some of those allegations due to an existing no-contact order.
Wilson later reconnected with his biological father, Steven Testasecca, when he was around 18. That relationship became central to the murder investigation, as Wilson ultimately confessed to his father over the phone after killing Melton and Ruiz.
The ‘Deadpool Killer’ nickname emerged because Wilson shares the same name as the alter ego of the comic book character Deadpool. But the case soon became infamous for another reason: Wilson’s appearance and courtroom behavior created a bizarre online obsession.
His heavily tattooed face, sharp features, and slick courtroom styling drew attention on social media, where some viewers began treating him like a celebrity rather than a convicted double murderer.
The murders of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz
Wilson’s killing spree took place on October 7, 2019. The first victim was Kristine Melton, a 35-year-old waitress living in Cape Coral. She had reportedly met Wilson at a bar in Fort Myers the night before. After returning to her home, Wilson later strangled her while she slept.
After killing Melton, Wilson stole her car and left the scene.
Later that same day, he encountered Diane Ruiz, a 43-year-old mother of two who was engaged to be married. Ruiz was walking to work when Wilson stopped and asked her for directions.
Prosecutors said he lured her into the stolen vehicle under false pretenses. He then attacked her, strangled her, pushed her out of the car, and ran her over multiple times.
During sentencing, 20th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Nicholas Thompson described both murders as ‘heinous, atrocious and cruel,’ adding that Ruiz’s killing was ‘cold, calculated and premeditated,’ per People.
Prosecutors argued the murders were not committed during a robbery gone wrong or in a moment of panic. Instead, they said Wilson killed simply because he wanted to kill.
Assistant State Attorney Andreas Gardiner summed up the prosecution’s position during trial by saying the case was about ‘killing for the sake of the killing.’
How Wilson was caught
Wilson was arrested the day after the murders, on October 8, 2019.
His biological father, Steven Testasecca, later testified that Wilson called him and admitted something terrible had happened.
According to Testasecca, Wilson said he had done something he could not take back and that ‘two people’ were gone.
Testasecca contacted authorities after hearing his son describe the killings. He also helped convince Wilson to surrender peacefully.
The phone calls became a critical part of the case because Wilson allegedly spoke about the murders in disturbing detail. Reports say he described what he had done to both women and showed little remorse.
In one particularly chilling detail, Wilson allegedly told his father that he ran over Ruiz until she ‘looked like spaghetti.’
Wilson later spoke to investigators, where more disturbing details emerged. According to material featured in Worst Ex Ever, he admitted using his appearance and charm to get close to women.
He reportedly told officers he used his ‘charm’ and ‘good looks’ to win Melton over before killing her. He also described seeing Ruiz walking down the street and deciding she would be his next victim.
The online obsession with the ‘Deadpool killer’
After Wilson’s arrest and trial, his case took another unsettling turn.
Rather than being universally reviled, Wilson attracted a disturbing fanbase online. Hundreds of women reportedly wrote to him, sent him photos, called him in jail, and pledged loyalty to him despite knowing he had murdered two women.
Some referred to themselves as ‘Wade’s Wives.’
According to reports, Wilson received thousands of messages after his conviction. Some women sent him money, while others bought him clothes to wear in court.
One supporter reportedly purchased suits, shirts, ties, and makeup in an attempt to help him cover his face tattoos during trial.
Documentary producers said Wilson appeared to enjoy the attention, per Fox News. He reportedly fielded calls from admirers, accepted money, and continued to receive letters and photos while behind bars.
Criminologists have linked this kind of fixation to hybristophilia, a phenomenon where people become romantically or sexually attracted to criminals, especially those who commit violent crimes.
But prosecutors and the victims’ families reacted with horror. Florida State Attorney Amira Fox condemned those who supported Wilson, saying she had rarely seen anyone as evil in more than three decades of legal work.
For the loved ones of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz, the online obsession added another layer of pain to an already devastating case.
Wilson’s chilling explanation
Wilson is currently on death row in Florida. He has appealed his conviction and sentence, meaning his execution date has not yet been scheduled.
His legal team has argued that Florida’s newer death penalty sentencing rules were applied unconstitutionally in his case. But for now, Wilson remains housed at Union Correctional Institution, where male death row inmates are held.
The renewed documentaries have brought renewed attention to the central question of the case: why did Wilson kill two women who appeared to have been random targets?
In interviews with police, Wilson blamed drugs, rage, and violent thoughts. He said he became ‘crazy’ while under the influence and was overcome by thoughts of ‘murder, murder’ and ‘kill, kill, kill.’
But one of his most disturbing explanations came when he described the moment he targeted Diane Ruiz.
Wilson told investigators he could sense her fear after luring her into the car. Comparing himself to a predator, he described the way he viewed her in three chilling words: “You’re the prey.”
Final Moments Of Inmate Executed By Method ‘Too Inhumane’ For Use On Animals Revealed
Woman On Death Row Performed Defiant Final Act Before She Was Executed
The post Deadpool Killer’s Disturbing Three-Word Motive For Murdering Two Women appeared first on It’s Gone Viral.
Tags: #Deadpool #Killers #Disturbing #ThreeWord #Motive #Murdering #Women
