The Cape Coral Serial Strangler: Wade Wilson

Wade Wilson was convicted for the brutal 2019 murder spree in Cape Coral, Florida, that claimed the lives of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz. The trial highlighted horrific details, including Wilson's confession to his father about running over a victim until she "looked like spaghetti," and featured heartbreaking testimony from the victims' families. Ultimately, a Florida jury overwhelmingly recommended the death penalty for Wilson, citing the cold, calculated, and heinous nature of his crimes.

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1. A Night of Terror Begins: The Murder of Kristine Melton

On October 7, 2019, a tragedy began to unfold in Fort Myers, Florida. Witnesses testified that Wade Wilson met Kristine Melton at a bar called Buddha Live. Kristine's best friend, Stephanie Johnson, testified that they met Wilson (who introduced himself as "JJ") and eventually went back to Kristine's home.

Stephanie noted that nothing seemed dangerous at the time, and she left the two alone to take her son to school. However, that was the last time she saw her friend alive. Prosecutors revealed that after Stephanie left, Wilson strangled Kristine to death in her own home.

"If she was scared, she would have said, 'Let's get this guy out of here' together... When we got back to Kristine's house... it felt like, you know, we were home safe."

After the murder, Wilson stole Kristine's car. His crime spree escalated when he visited his former girlfriend, Melissa Montanez, at her spa. He attacked her, punching her and attempting to pull her into the stolen vehicle, but she managed to escape.

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2. The Brutal Killing of Diane Ruiz

After fleeing the assault on his ex-girlfriend, Wilson encountered Diane Ruiz, a mother who was simply walking to work. He asked her for directions, lured her into the car, and strangled her. Shockingly, Wilson later realized she was still breathing after he dumped her body.

In a gruesome act of violence, he got back into the car and ran her over repeatedly. He later confessed the graphic details of this act to his father.

"He said he got back in the car and ran her over until she looked like spaghetti."

Wilson then fled to a local restaurant, Joe's Crab Shack, and later broke into the home of a couple named the Amlins, who were out of town. From there, he called his father, Steve Wilson, confessing to the crimes and asking for help to escape. His father, however, alerted law enforcement, leading to Wilson's arrest.

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3. The Trial: Gruesome Evidence and Confessions

During the trial, the jury heard disturbing testimony regarding the state of the victims' bodies. Dr. Thomas Coyne, the medical examiner, detailed the severe injuries. Kristine Melton suffered from blunt force trauma and strangulation. Diane Ruiz's body showed evidence of massive fractures caused by being crushed by the car, as well as signs of animal scavenging due to decomposition.

"When one drives over a body repeatedly, rib fractures are likely to occur... multiple rib fractures are likely to occur."

One of the most damning pieces of evidence came from Wilson's own father. He testified that his son called him and confessed without a shred of remorse. Wilson described the murders with excitement, bragging about his actions.

"He said, 'I'm a killer.' ... I felt like he was wanting me to feel the way he felt about it. [Did he seem proud of it?] Yes."

Another witness, Joshua Lefforge, testified that Wilson approached him covered in blood, missing teeth, and frantically trying to buy a bus or plane ticket, admitting he had "done something horrific."

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4. The Verdict: Guilty on All Counts

In the closing arguments of the guilt phase, the prosecution argued that Wilson killed simply for the "sake of killing." They emphasized his power over the victims and the calculated nature of the strangulations.

"Strangulation for silence. According to him, it only takes two minutes. He doesn't get scratched, he doesn't get hurt. They don't yell... they can't get away."

The defense did not deny the killings but argued that Wilson was "whacked out" on drugs and not thinking clearly, attempting to avoid a premeditated murder charge. However, the jury was not swayed. After just two hours of deliberation, they found Wade Wilson guilty of two counts of first-degree murder, grand theft, battery, and burglary.

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5. The Penalty Phase: Fighting for Life or Death

Following the conviction, the trial moved to the penalty phase to decide if Wilson should be executed. The state had to prove Aggravating Factors—circumstances that make a crime worse, such as being "Heinous, Atrocious, and Cruel" (HAC) or "Cold, Calculated, and Premeditated" (CCP).

The defense presented Mitigating Circumstances (reasons to spare his life). They called Dr. Heyman Eisenstein, who testified about Wilson's adoption, early mental health struggles, and severe drug use starting at puberty.

"He became reclusive, paranoid, mood swings... he would sometimes think that there are aliens out to get him."

However, a second defense expert, Dr. Mark Mills, admitted that Wilson's psychological tests were invalid because Wilson was malingering—meaning he was faking or exaggerating his symptoms to look "crazier" than he was.

"He invalidated each test by exaggerating symptoms... In effect, he said, 'Wow, I've got every symptom in the book.'"

The state's rebuttal expert, Dr. Michael Herkov, argued that Wilson's behavior was a result of drug abuse, not a psychotic disorder like schizophrenia.

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6. Victim Impact Statements

The most emotional moments came from the victims' families. Kristine Melton's cousin, Samantha, described Kristine as a beautiful, funny, and supportive friend who was treated like trash by Wilson.

"It is my task to describe this beautiful human... sitting no more than 20 feet from the convicted who beat Kristine, murdered Kristine, and threw her away like garbage."

Diane Ruiz's son, Zane, gave a tearful statement about growing up without his mother. He listed the many milestones she missed, such as his graduation, learning to drive, and earning scholarships.

"I lived 5 years without her and not a single day has gone by where I haven't been able to not think about her... nothing that happened to her was ever deserved."

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7. The Jury's Recommendation

In the final arguments for the death penalty, the prosecution urged the jury to weigh the pain and terror the women felt against Wilson's drug excuses. They graphically listed every injury to remind the jury of the suffering involved.

"We're asking you to weigh his hands around her neck, not being able to breathe, taking that last breath knowing it would be her last."

The defense pleaded that the man who committed the crimes was under the influence of synthetic drugs and was not the "real" Wade Wilson.

Under Florida law, a unanimous vote is no longer required for a death sentence recommendation; only a vote of 8-4 is needed. The jury returned quickly with their decision:

• For the murder of Kristine Melton: The jury voted 9 to 3 for the Death Penalty.
• For the murder of Diane Ruiz: The jury voted 10 to 2 for the Death Penalty.

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Conclusion

Wade Wilson remained stoic and emotionless as the death penalty recommendations were read. The jury found that the aggravating factors—specifically the heinous and cruel nature of the crimes—outweighed any mental health or drug-related mitigation. While the jury has made their recommendation, the final decision rests with the judge, with the official sentencing hearing scheduled for July 23, 2024. Wilson now faces the ultimate punishment for his cross-county crime spree.