Wade Wilson, 31, is sitting on death row in the state of Florida. He was sentenced to death on August 27, 2024 for murdering two women—Kristine Melton, 35, and Diane Ruiz, 43—in the span of five hours on October 6, 2019. He was allegedly high on methamphetamine at the time of the killings, but these crimes followed years of criminal activity, which included severe and intensifying physical and sexual violence against women, car theft, stolen property, illegal possession of firearms and drug charges.
It’s plain to see: if Wade wasn’t in custody, he’d kill again. And if Wade didn’t kill when he did, he would’ve eventually.
If you want to see manipulation at work, Wade is your guy. He is objectively good looking—or he was prior to incarceration: tall (6’4”) and big (215 lbs.) with dark features, a muscular build and a dimpled smile, and covered in tattoos. He’s also known to be very charming and adept at lovebombing, which he uses to disarm and then exploit anyone who shows a sliver of vulnerability or interest in him. He admitted in interrogation videos to using his looks and charm to entice women and that it’s “simple, always.” But Wade isn’t only a womanizer; he’s a violent criminal. He left behind a trail of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and financial abuse that continue to haunt these women (and some men).
It’s also true that drugs ruined Wade’s life. Wade was adopted into a hardworking family with morals, who supplied him with the foundation to succeed, and who truly loves him. However, he began using drugs at 13, and hard drugs like meth and crack were added to the mix early on. Sober Wade was described as kind, even timid and gentle. When under the influence of these drugs, specifically, he became a monster. Even after the murders, Wade was charged with leading a drug trafficking conspiracy in jail. He can’t stay away from the drugs that played a part in taking away his freedom and ending two lives and that, right there, is full-blown addiction at work.
This case is cut and dry. There’s no question about culpability. Wade admitted to the murders time and again, and several ex-girlfriends have come forward to share personal accounts of abuse. At the time of posting, he has been incarcerated for six years. Yet somehow, thousands of people believe he’s innocent and raised money on his behalf. STRANGERS donated thousands. Wade has a son—yes, he’s also a deadbeat dad—whose funding platform, created to help his mother afford his basic needs, generated significantly less than Wade’s. And still others are so captivated by his looks and charm, that they pursue romantic and sexual relationships with Wade even after his incarceration.
WTF. Why?
Wade Wilson’s “popularity,” propelled by internet fame and viral TikTok videos, is interesting, and also not at all. He’s popular because he’s good looking, plain and simple, and somehow this distorts perceived guilt in the eyes of his fangirls and fanguys (dubbed “Wade’s Wives”) making it easy for him to manipulate these people for their time and resources. People like bad boys and lead with the “I can fix him” mindset. If he wasn’t attractive, would the response be the same? No, it wouldn’t.
He’s also “popular” on social media because he shares the same name as Wade Wilson of Deadpool, a fictional mentally unstable anti-hero in the Marvel universe. As such, Wade has been dubbed the “Deadpool killer.” There’s obviously no relation between them.
The psychology of it all is fascinating—and sad. Let’s get in to it.
The Murders of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz
Let’s take it back to 2019. The day is October 5, a Saturday night in Fort Meyers, Florida. Around 10 pm, it’s still in the mid-80s after a hot and dry day topping in the 90s. Wade Steven Wilson, 25, pregames with his girlfriend of six months, Melisa “Mila” Montanez, 36. Around 11 pm, Wade and Mila arrive at The Buddha LIVE bar in Mila’s 2015 gray Dodge Hellcat. Pregaming includes drinking shots of Patron and using cocaine. While at the bar, Mila and Wade run in to Mila’s friend, Amy Slobodzian. It’s the first time Amy meets Wade and she doesn’t have a good feeling about him.
Wade and Mila are working on reestablishing trust in their relationship. A few months prior, Wade was arrested for battery against Mila on July 1, 2019 for punching her, tying her up and sexually assaulting her over a six-hour period. She had black eyes and bruises all over her chest. Not wanting to deal with the court system, Mila dropped the charges, though Wade spent a month in jail. Wade was released to another law enforcement agency in West Palm Beach and then another in Marathon for unrelated charges.
Mila supported Wade financially while he was incarcerated, despite only dating at the time for two months. In fact, despite the couple being together for six months in October 2019, Wade was incarcerated for 3.5 of them. It’s clear that Wade and Mila are in a trauma-bonded relationship. Wade returns to Cape Coral on October 1, 2019. Mila allows Wade to stay overnight at her business, Mila Spa, in Fort Meyers. She wants to help him but is understandably cautious and concerned for her safety.
Now, back to the bar. Mila and Amy watch a band perform, while Wade socializes in the crowd. Mila is intoxicated and loses sight of Wade. Wade befriends Jayson Shepard, then 42, introducing himself as “Junior.” Shortly after, the men meet best friends Kristine Melton, 35, and Stephanie Johnson, 36. Wade introduces himself to them as “JR” and appears “charming,” “friendly” and with “no red flags” (according to what Stephanie later testifies in court). JR catches Kristine’s eye and the two are instantly attracted to each other.
The conversation between Wade (aka JR) and Jayson turns to drugs with Jayson showing him photos on his phone of a powdery white substance. Jayson invites Wade back to his house to partake and continue partying. Wade repeatedly asks Mila to go with him to Jayson’s house but Mila refuses. She doesn’t feel comfortable doing so. As closing time approaches (2 am), Wade takes Mila’s $80,000 car without her consent and leaves with Jayson, Kristine and Stephanie, also giving the impression that he owns the car. Ironically, Jayson drives the car because Wade doesn’t know how to use stick shift.
When Mila realizes what happened, it’s after 2 am. She is tired and intoxicated. Amy sees Mila before closing and invites her to spend the night on her couch, to which she agrees. Mila plans to handle the situation the next day.
Wade believes Jayson gave him cocaine, though it’s suspected methamphetamine. Jayson, Kristine, Stephanie and Wade stay at Jayson’s from 2:30 am to 4:30 am, until he kicks them out. While at Jayson’s, Kristine and Wade have sex twice while Jayson and Stephanie smoke cigarettes on the porch.
When it’s time to leave, the group is delayed in leaving Jayson’s as Wade looks for his cell phone. A few days later, Jayson finds the phone in his house. Wade attempts to drive Kristine and Stephanie to Kristine’s home in Cape Coral, but doesn’t know how to operate the stick shift in Mila’s car. Somehow, the group make it to Kristine’s home. Stephanie has to work and take her child to school the next day, so she leaves 20 minutes after arriving, kissing her friend goodbye.
Once alone, Wade and Kristine retreat to her bedroom, and at some point, the brutality begins. The media widely reported Kristine’s death as due to strangulation, but the strangling occurs as the final evil act, once Kristine is too weak to continue fighting. And fight back, she does. Her torso is covered in bruising. She has a swollen eye, severely busted lip and bruising around her neck characteristic of a strangling. She is tied up in her own clothing: a shirt, leggings and a bikini top. Her scalp has severe bruising, as does her arms. She suffers swelling to her brain and internal organs, including both lungs, her bladder, spleen and liver. A bloody curtain rod is also located next to her body, which Wade used to assist with the murder. Her death is torturous, excruciating and unimaginable, and it’s at the hands of this monstrous man disguised as a charming, gentle guy.
Wade attempts to put Kristine’s body in the trunk of her own car, a black Nissan Versa. He has difficulty carrying her body, so he leaves her wrapped in a sheet on the floor halfway between her bedroom and kitchen. Wade then steals her car and leaves. When asked why he killed Kristine, Wade’s replies range from, “I don’t know” and “Because I wanted to,” blaming it on the drugs.
The Rampage Continues: Oct. 6, 2019
Mila wakes on Sunday, October 6, 2019 to dozens of back-to-back calls and messages from Wade. The calls are made from Wade’s phone up until a certain point, and then they are made from a blocked number. Mila speaks with Wade at 8:45 am and plans to meet with him at Mila Spa to get her car back. Mila takes precaution by bringing Amy, knowing that Wade is being aggressive, under the influence and has a history of violent behavior towards her. He behaves worse than expected.
When Wade arrives, he tries convincing Mila to get into an unknown vehicle with him—the vehicle later identified as Kristine’s—and when she doesn’t, he grabs her dress so forcefully that it rips. He then tries pulling her into the car and exits the vehicle, tackling her to the ground. The car, still in drive, rolls forward and crashes into another vehicle in the parking lot, grazing his and Mila’s legs in the process. Wade drags Mila’s body in the parking lot, hitting her throughout. She breaks free and runs into the building and up the stairs, but Wade catches up with her. He pulls her by her hair and then holds her against the wall by her neck. Wade bites her right ear and punches her so forcefully in the face that blood splatters everywhere. Amy later testifies in court that Mila’s nose “exploded” and blood gushed everywhere. Amy is too afraid to intervene but calls 9-1-1 immediately.
A crowd gathers to watch the assault. A woman working at a design studio in the same shopping mall, and whose car was hit with Kristine’s vehicle, opens the door and orders Wade to stop. He claims, “She hit me first”—“she,” meaning Mila. Mila breaks free, runs into the design studio and locks the door behind her. Noticing the crowd, Wade runs back to the vehicle and drives off.
Sometime around 9:30 am, Wade comes upon Diane Ruiz, a 43-year-old mother of two, who is walking to her bartending job at the Moose Lodge in Cape Coral. Wade pulls over to ask Diane directions to the local high school. He convinces Diane to enter Kristine’s vehicle and direct him there. Terribly, when Diane enters the vehicle, Wade already knows she won’t survive their encounter. He strangles Diane and discards her purse in front of Hector Cafferata Elementary School, which is later caught on camera. As Wade drives around looking for a place to dump her body, Diane regains consciousness three or four times, each time for about 15 seconds. He repeatedly suffocates her. Diane fights back with all her might, suffering a broken nose and defensive wounds to her arms and hands. After the final suffocation attempt, Wade sexually assaults her, pushes her out of the car and runs her over 10 to 20 times, breaking all but one of her ribs and causing life-ending injuries to her neck and spine. He later makes the horrific comment that he “made her look like spaghetti” and describes the condition of the body as a “smear.” Her body is found three days later in a field behind a Sam’s Club.
Around 3 pm, Fort Myers Police Officer Timothy McCormick locates Wade in the parking lot of Joe’s Crab Shack in Cape Coral. The officer wants to question Wade about assaulting Mila. Wade is without a shirt or shoes, nervous, uncooperative and still driving Kristine’s vehicle. When Officer McCormick tries to detain Wade, he drives off. A misdemeanor battery charge does not warrant a police chase in Florida during busy lunchtime hours (possibly endangering the public), so Officer McCormick can’t chase him. Police are unaware of the murders at this time or whose vehicle he is driving.
Now after stealing a car, killing two women and assaulting a third, and committing a series of other crimes, Wade goes to Matteo Graphics in Cape Coral, a store owned by acquaintance Joshua Lukistch, in Kristine’s vehicle. Joshua is a friend of a friend, but Wade shows up in sweatpants without shoes or a shirt, and bloody with missing teeth. Wade frantically asks Joshua to buy him a bus or plane ticket to leave town, because he did something terrible and “killed people.” Joshua agrees, but only to buy himself time to call 9-1-1. Suspecting Joshua called police, Wade leaves on foot.
When police arrive, they observe blood inside Kristine’s vehicle and run the plates, identifying the car as Kristine’s. Police attempt to contact Kristine with no success and dispatch officers to her home. When no one answers the door, they make a forced entry and discover Kristine’s lifeless body. Upon their arrival, police determine Kristine’s car is not in her driveway.
Wade breaks into a nearby home to hide out for a few hours. The owners miss him by hours, having just left for Ohio. While there, he helps himself to food and several White Claw alcoholic seltzers, and a change of clothes. He also calls his biological father, Steven Testasecca, to talk about the murders and ask for a ride. His father promises to send an Uber but contacts police and makes the incredibly difficult decision to turn in his son.
On August 27, 2024, Wade is sentenced to death. His list of crimes include:
- one count of 1st degree murder for the death of Kristine Melton
- one count of 1st degree murder for the death of Diane Ruiz
- one count of burglary of a dwelling
- one count of grand theft of a motor vehicle
- one count of battery
- one count of 1st-degree petty theft
On August 30, 2024, Wade is moved from the Lee County Jail to Florida’s death row at Union Correctional Institution in Raiford, Florida.
Appealing the Death Penalty
On September 15, 2024 Wade’s attorney, Michael Ufferman, files an appeal, which goes directly to the Florida Supreme Court. His legal team argues that a unanimous vote was required for death at the time of ruling, which didn’t occur in Wade’s case. In 2023, following the Parkland shooting case, Florida changed state law to allow the death sentence to be imposed without a unanimous vote, and with a minimum of 8 to 4 in favor of death. Wade didn’t receive a unanimous vote for either murder; the jury voted 9 to 3 for Kristine’s murder and 10-2 for Diane’s murder. His appeal is pending.
Remebering the Victims
Kristine Melton, 35, was quick-witted, funny, loyal and hardworking. She worked as a waitress and bartender at Duffy’s with her best friend from high school, Stephanie Johnson (now Stephanie Sailors). Kristine and Stephanie were very close, having traveled the country and lived together for many years.
Originally from Illinois, Kristine moved to Florida with Stephanie. Kristine lived in a duplex in Cape Coral four doors down from her mother. Kristine and her brother, Robert, split their time caring for their mother, who had early onset dementia. Their mother recently developed a spending habit and the siblings took away her credit cards out of concern. At the time of her death, Robert was on a birthday trip, and he and Kristine planned to discuss their mother’s situation when he returned. Kristine had coffee with her mother every morning before leaving for work or beginning her day. They were incredibly close.
Kristine was an accepting and nonjudgmental soul. She was a daughter, sister, colleague, friend, aunt and godmother. More than anything, she hoped to become a mother one day but for now, she was a cat mom. Her favorite holiday was Halloween.
Diane Ruiz, 43, was a mother of two sons—Brandon Cuellar, then 23, and Zane Romero, then 14—remembered for her kind and loving heart. She poured her heart into her children and family. Diane had a boisterous laugh that could be heard a mile way. In addition to being a mother, Diane was a grandmother, fiancee, daughter and friend. Diane was engaged to be married to Scott Hannon.
For the last five years, she worked as a bartender and server at the Moose Lodge, where colleagues and patrons adored her. Diane never missed a shift in five years, so when she didn’t show to work, her coworkers immediately worried about her wellbeing. One of her coworkers since described her as the “heartbeat” of the bar. Diane loved that her job allowed her to meet and connect with many different people. She also volunteered to participate in work benefits hosted by the Moose Lodge to benefit children and the elderly.
Diane supported her sons’ dreams wholeheartedly. She constantly encouraged her sons to pursue their interests. She surprised them with random presents just to see them smile.
What Caused This? Wade’s Early Life
Wade Steven Wilson was born Anthony Testasecca on May 20, 1994 in Florida, to teen parents: Steven Testasecca, 15, and Kristina Gould Suleiman, 14. Wade’s father was sentenced to eight months in a juvenile detention center when Wade was just a few months old. When he came out, he learned Wade was put up for adoption and adopted by a family that his material grandparents knew through church: Candace (Candy) and Steve Wilson.
The Wilson’s renamed their new son Wade. Wade was the youngest Wilson child, raised alongside two older sisters. The family lived in Talahassee, Florida and Wade attended Chiles High School in Talahassee. Steve was a salesman and the family moved a few times throughout Wade’s childhood for jobs. Nonetheless, by all accounts, Wade had a wonderful upbringing and he was a good kid. He enjoyed camping, fishing, and taking trips to Disney. He was kind to animals, loved reading and always stuck up for those younger and smaller than him. He also enjoyed playing sports and earned good grades. His adoptive parents and sisters loved him deeply and have since expressed such.
Wade underwent a significant personality shift at age 13, when he started using drugs. He became paranoid, reclusive and erratic. On one occasion, he suspected someone was watching his family and wanted the blinds closed. On another, he believed there was an entity in the garage. At 13, he was also taken into custody under the Baker Act—after his father found drugs in his bedroom and became concerned. He was hospitalized and released the next day. (The Baker Act, formally known as Florida’s Mental Health Act, allows people who are believed to pose a threat to themselves or others to undergo involuntary emergency mental health examination and temporary detention lasting up to 72 hours.) Wade was also suspended from school around this time for smoking marijuana in the bathroom and lighting toilet paper on fire.
Around 15 years old, Wade began having an identity crisis, according to his mother Candy. He frequently asked questions about why his biological parents didn’t want him, but wasn’t ready to meet them yet. Wade’s biological parents didn’t try to establish a relationship during his childhood: his mother continues to have substance abuse and mental health issues, including criminal activity, to this day, and his father married and had other children. It was around this time that Wade was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and prescribed medication, which helped initially, though he didn’t take it consistently. When Wade felt better, he stopped taking it. Wade spent his teen years cycling through periods of substance abuse treatment, therapy and sobriety, and relapse, drug abuse and crime. His adoptive parents tried their best to provide him with the supports to help him.
As a teen, Wade suffered several head injuries from playing sports and car accidents, resulting in at least two concussions. At age 18 and again at age 20, he suffered head injuries from car accidents, where the vehicle collided with a tree. These circumstances are suspected to have caused some brain damage. Head injuries can cause chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Several famous cases, including the Chris Benoit murder-suicide and Aaron Hernandez, are (partly) attributed to brain damage caused by CTE.
At age 18, Wade established contact with his biological father, Steven Testasecca. Over time, they formed a close relationship and Wade felt comfortable speaking honestly with his biological father about some of his struggles. Steven was empathetic and understanding, and used his own life experience to offer Wade the best guidance possible. For years, Wade sporadically reached out to his biological father to ask for money or help with situations. However, Wade’s interest in forming a relationship with his father and desire to confide in him suggests, perhaps, he felt he could relate more to him than his adoptive family. Wade was going down a darker path that made him differ from his adoptive family, and after learning he was adopted, the difference was likely glaring for him. His biological father had some similar experiences and could possibly relate.
At age 20, Wade overdosed from drugs, resulting in a grand mal seizure. He didn’t have a drug of choice but was partial to cocaine, crack and meth. At this time, he had also accrued at least 20 criminal charges, ranging from burglary, grand theft, and theft of a firearm to battery and sexual battery.
Criminal Activity
Wade’s criminal activity touched on various areas, namely drugs and crimes related to drugs (such as stealing and car theft) and domestic violence against women. Importantly, he developed an MO: strangling women, tying them up in their own clothing and sexually assaulting them in a vehicle.
Below is a quick glance at Wade’s criminal history:
- 2013: Wade is incarcerated for burglary and grand larceny from November 26, 2013 to September 19, 2014 with the Florida Department of Corrections.
- 2015: Wade is arrested on charges of sexual battery and kidnapping for sexually assaulting a 22-year-old girl in his SUV after a house party in Talahassee. He is acquitted. Similarly to other sexual assault allegations against Wade, he cuts her clothing and uses it to tie her up. He also orders her to get in the backseat where he covers her with jackets and clothing.
- 2017: Wade is incarcerated for firearms theft from October 17, 2017 to July 15, 2017 with the Florida Department of Corrections.
- 2018: Wade is a witness and informant in the well-known case of Jerry Michael “Mike” Williams, the target of a murder-for-hire plot planned by his wife Denise Williams. Brian Winchester, a friend of the Williams’ who became Denise’s second husband, was arrested in 2017 for an unrelated kidnapping involving her. Brian became Wade Wilson’s cell mate. After their release, Wade alleged Brian gave him $20,000 in cash to kill Mike Williams. Wade took the money but did not follow through and instead served as an informant. The case is depicted in Hulu’s “Mr. & Mrs. Murder.”
- February 2019: Wade is accused of beating, sexually assaulting and strangling then-girlfriend Kelly Matthews in Palm Beach, Florida. He is not charged due to lack of evidence.
- July 2019: Wade is arrested for battery on against then-girlfriend Melissa “Mila” Montanez on July 1, 2019. Mila drops the charges.
- September 2019: Wade pleads guilty for pawning stolen property (the laptop of ex-girlfriend Kelly Matthews). He is given credit for time served and probation.
- October 8, 2019: Wade is arrested for the murders of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz.
- September 30, 2020: Deputies at Lee County Jail learn about a planned escape involving Wade and cell mate Joseph Katz. Evidence reveals a getaway car, arranged by Wade, and a note between Wade and another inmate, who are both allegedly members of a white supremicist gang, “Unforgiven.” Wade is charged with criminal mischief and attempted escape; charges are dropped as part of a plea agreement for the 2023 drug trafficking case.
- April 20, 2023: Deputies and a K9 locate two bags in Wade’s cell, each containing loose cigarettes, lighters and meth. Bonnie Wiggins, one of Wade’s “many” jailhouse girlfriends who he speaks with on the phone, is arrested along with five other people in relation to trafficking methamphetamine. Wade is given a 12-year sentence to be served concurrently with his current sentence and a $50,000 fine.
Kelly Matthews’ Account of Abuse
Kelly Matthews, now 34, is among the most vocal ex-partners of Wade Wilson, boldly sharing her experiences on social media to encourage other domestic violence survivors to come forward with theirs. Kelly shares her account of abuse on Season 2 of Netflix’s “Worst Ex Ever.” Her story is important because it shows how Wade worked; how he gained entry into one woman’s life while keeping another on the back burner, and lying about everything for personal gain.
Kelly was 26 and living in her first apartment when she met 24-year-old Wade via the dating app, Plenty of Fish. On the app, she matched with Wade, who was using the name “Steven.” Her parents liked him. He friends liked him. Even her cats and dogs liked him. She felt their immediate connection was “too good to be true,” but figured perhaps it was her turn to experience love. Wade was kind, loving and gentle. Kelly genuinely believed she was in a fairytale and met the man for her.
Wade told Kelly he was a personal trainer living with a roommate. After consistently vocalizing problems with his roommate, Kelly invited Wade to move into her apartment after a month of dating. (In reality, he was living in a halfway house after his biological father sent him to rehab.) The mask started to slip when Wade stole and pawned her laptop and framed her for stealing puppies, which landed Kelly in jail.
After experiencing a breakup, Kelly invited her 18-year-old friend, identified as “Sarah,” to temporarily live with her and Wade. Kelly became privy to private texts between Sarah and Wade, where they called each other “babe,” but they denied any involvement. Kelly was recently in a car crash and after a physical therapy session, she returned home to find all Wade and Sarah’s belongings gone, including her own PlayStation and handgun. Wade began cheating on Kelly with Sarah, and Kelly saw video, firsthand, on her front door camera, of them kissing. Wade and Sarah left for Texas together.
Kelly contacted police to report Wade stealing her firearm, which resulted in a warrant issued for his arrest. Soon after leaving, Sarah ditched Wade in Texas after an argument, and Wade called Kelly asking to come back home. Kelly agreed—and contacted police immediately after. She wanted Wade to pay for what he did to her. When Wade arrived, police soon did too, and he was incarcerated for four days. After many relentless phone calls of Wade crying and begging, Kelly caved and bailed him out.
Fast forward to February 18, 2019; Kelly’s birthday. Wade agreed to go to rehab the day prior. He used methampetamine in Texas and returned to regularly using crack and cocaine. He said there was a rehab in the Florida Keys that would take him, which was 3.5 hours from Kelly. Kelly didn’t have money to pay for a full tank of gas, as Wade used up all her savings during their time together. The couple drove around thinking of a solution and around 8 pm, Kelly exited her vehicle during an argument. She was only a short walk from her parents’ home and planned to walk there. Wade had her cell phone and held it up, stating that her mom was calling, which was true. When Kelly got back into the car, the situation escalated.
Wade reached over and began choking Kelly with both hands, and punched and bit her face. Then, he presented a pocket knife and used it to cut off her shirt and sports bra. He used the clothing to tie her hands together and pushed her to the floorboard on the front passenger side. He exclaimed that they needed to find money or he’d stab her 30 times. After some time passed, he pulled over in a dark, wooded area, moved Kelly to the backseat and sexually assaulted her several times before throwing a pile of her own dirty laundry on top of her. He slammed the door shut on Kelly’s foot, causing it to break, and left her naked and fully bound in her clothes. Then, he sold Kelly’s cell phone for $50, which he used to purchase crack and McDonald’s. Eventually, Wade allowed Kelly to move into the front passenger seat.
Around 4 am, Wade and Kelly reached a gas station in the Keys. He told Kelly not to look at his friend or suggest anything was wrong. Frightened, she did as told. Wade left Kelly’s car and got into a vehicle with Courtney Lozada, 26, of Loxahatchee, Florida; a woman he was secretly messaging and sneaking off to spend time with at a local park—under the guise that he was personal training at the park near Kelly’s apartment—and who also believed she and Wade were in a relationship. Courtney didn’t know about Kelly and vice versa. Wade lived with Courtney for a few weeks before her sister kicked her out, and consequently Wade, and they went their separate ways.
After Wade exited her vehicle, Kelly drove back home as fast as she could. She walked into her mom’s home in the early morning, battered and bruised, and they immediately went to police. She spoke with Detective Louis Potter of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, who later interviewed Wade. Wade denied the claims, stating that Kelly was into BDSM, and the case was closed a week later; a move that could have significantly jeopardized Kelly’s safety and may have prevented the murders of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz. An internal investigation of Detective Louis Potter followed. He was temporarily suspended but continues to work for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
There’s a Lot to Unpack: Let’s Talk About it
I tried providing as much of a thorough deep dive in to Wade’s life and crimes. Certainly, we’ll never know every detail, but we can consider what we DO know.
This case caught my eye because, frankly, it scared me. Wade looked like someone I’d date in my 20s. I was in my “toxic era,” which would have only made the situation worse. He was a man with a rap sheet, poor impulse control and a drug problem, with no job, driver’s license or car, and no clear path. But….he was handsome, and that was enough to disarmor women. Wade love-bombed all his partners, giving them hope of true love, and then using their vulnerability to exploit them for money, sex and a place to stay. His ex-girlfriend Mila Montanez described him as a “drifter,” because he’d go from person to person. He’d either burn out the relationship or the person would leave him, unable to handle Wade’s behavior and lifestyle.
I don’t think Wade is capable of feeling romantic love. I think he feels physical attraction and views love as a tool for exploitation, which is psychopathic behavior. He has been connected to so many women and men while behind bars, we can only imagine the affect he had on people in the free world. People threw themselves at him, made excuses for his behavior and fell hard and fast for him. Being the person he was, he took advantage of his assets. After all, his looks were the only thing going for him, truly.
Wade had a lot of challenges and we can’t disregard that fact. However, his challenges do NOT excuse his actions. Nothing does. To make it easy to follow, I’m going to list and describe some of these contributing factors:
- fetal exposure to drugs and alcohol: Wade’s biological mother was a drug user and allegedly used drugs and alcohol while pregnant with Wade. He may suffer from the effects of fetal alcohol syndrome and have experienced early withdrawal.
- removed from biological parents: Adoption, in general, can carry a level of trauma. Wade wasn’t adopted at birth, but he was given time to bond with his biological mother for several months. Bonding with and then being removed from his biological mother, at that young of an age, could have caused trauma and attachment issues for Wade.
- biological parents both had criminal pasts: Finding out that his biological parents both had criminal pasts could have also created a self-fulfilling prophecy within Wade to act as they did, because that’s who “he was.” It also could have pushed him, mentally, away from his adoptive parents and towards the path of his biological parents to subconsciously feel closer to him. On a few instances, Wade also asked his biological father for money, so he and his biological mother could do drugs together. Again, the trauma and possible mother issues such a scenario may create are noted.
- mental health diagnoses: Wade was diagnosed with bipolar disorder as a child but has since been given a series of diagnoses, including depression, anxiety, schizoid affective, antisocial personality disorder, paranoia, delusions, suicidal adjustment disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, hallucinations and preservation.
- early drug use: Wade began using drugs at 13, which is a pivotal time of brain development and growth. Drug use likely permanently stunted and altered his development in certain areas. Dr. Heiman Einstein, a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in clinical neuropsychology and forensic neuropsychology that testified at the trial, diagnosed Wade with neurocognitive brain impairments, specifically in the right hemisphere and frontal lobe; the area responsible for impulsivity, decision-making and empathy.
- brain damage from CPT: the damage incurred from teen and early adulthood concussions may have further damaged the brain and affected issues like impulse control.
It’s clear there were (are) a lot of factors working against Wade. However, these factors don’t compromise his culpability. He could have chosen more robustly to get help. He could have stayed in therapy. He could have committed to treatment. Wade was capable of forming these intricate and enmeshed relationships; this indicates, in my opinion, that he had the ability for some sort of complex thinking. Even during the murder spree, he was able to operate a motor vehicle and evade the police; he wasn’t totally out of reality like someone in psychosis. Wade could have made different choices, but his situation suggests an interesting discussion of nature vs. nurture. He was removed from a potentially bad situation and given a good and supportive life, from all accounts, yet he still pursued a darker path. His escalating behavior only suggested that something severe was on its way. Some loved ones tried to intervene, but Wade was on the highway to hell.
Before we end this discussion, please take care of yourself. Don’t engage with violent criminals on the phone. “Wade’s Wives” fell into his trap, but he lied to and exploited all of them. This is a man with a pattern of domestic violence that escalated in the death of two innocent women. He’s not misunderstood; he’s dangerous and deranged. And exactly where he needs to be.
Wade is sitting on death row. He’s gained weight. He’s lost his figure. He’s used his excess canteen money to purchase candy and other snacks, and entertain himself by eating in his cell. He’s also covered his face in obscene tattoos like swastikas and a skeleton. I’ve heard before that the worst punishment for a man like him is to lose his looks. I can’t help but agree.
Sources
- True Crime with Sherilyn Dale — EXPOSING the Women Thirsting Over a Monster | Wade Wilson Prison Call Groupies
- Gulf Coast News Now — Wade Wilson found guilty on all counts in the murders of two Cape Coral women, jury recommends death
- Gulf Coast News Now — Witnesses take the stand in Wade Wilson double murder trial
- Netflix — Season 2: Worst Ex Ever, “Dating the Deadpool Killer”
- Lockdown 23and1 — Wade Wilson’s father speaks out
- News-Press — Florida crime case on Netflix. Wade Wilson episode on ‘Worst Ex Ever’
- Wink News — ‘She was a once in a lifetime person:’ Family of Kristine Melton releases statement
- Benji Adsense — Interview: Wade Wilson’s ex says he loves men and has incurable diseases
- DutyRon — Surviving murderer Wade Wilson: EX girlfriend Mila Montanez tells all
- Phone Calls from Prison — Wade Wilson – police interview with Mila after murders
- Court appeal documents
Mama Talks Crime 