Wade Wilson, 30, has been sentenced to death for the brutal murders of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz in 2019, Fox News reported. The sentence was handed down on Tuesday, August 27, in a Florida courtroom.
According to the New York Post, Judge Nicholas Thompson said that “the evidence shows that the murders were heinous, cruel and that the second murder was cold, calculated and premeditated.” This statement came in the context of the jury’s unanimous recommendation to impose the death penalty.
Wilson, nicknamed the “Deadpool Killer,” was named after sharing the same name as Marvel comics character Wade Wilson. During the sentencing in Lee County Court in Fort Myers, the defendant showed no emotion and applause was heard as the sentence was announced, Sky News reported.
The conviction came nearly two months after 10 of 12 jurors voted in favor of the death penalty for Ruiz’s murder. In Melton’s case, nine of 12 jurors voted for the same sentence. Under state law, at least eight jury votes are needed to impose the death penalty.
Sky News also reported that the court heard harrowing testimony about the events leading up to the murders. In Melton’s case, Wilson strangled her while she was sleeping after meeting her in a bar. Later that day, he beat, strangled and ran over Ruiz with his car after finding her in the street.
During the trial, the defense attempted to argue that the man suffered from a “sick mind” due to a drug addiction. According to FOX 4, the man’s legal team filed a motion on July 3 requesting a new trial or acquittal, which was denied on August 15.
The New York Post reported that sentencing was originally scheduled for July 23, but was postponed due to a defense motion related to the scheduling of expert witness testimony.
According to Sky News, the court hearing also included painful descriptions of the injuries suffered by both victims. Melton had bruising on her face and body, bleeding on her neck and contusions to her lungs, liver, bladder and colon, among other injuries. Ruiz suffered a broken nose, a cut to her left breast, bruising on both sides of her body and multiple rib fractures.
Diane Ruiz’s father, Felix Ruiz, told Fox News: “This is not the end. The end is when the defendant takes his last breath and I will be there at the execution. That is a promise.”
Accompanied by the families of the victims, Amira Fox, the state prosecutor, said at a press conference after the sentencing: “He will pay the ultimate price.”
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