A Florida judge has sentenced a 30-year-old man to death for the random murders of two women in Southwest Florida in 2019. Wade Steven Wilson, who has ties to a white supremacist gang, was convicted earlier this summer on multiple charges, including two counts of first-degree murder for the killings of Kristine Melton, 35, and Diane Ruiz, 43.
A jury in Lee County recommended the death penalty, which ultimately was decided by Judge Nicholas Thompson during a sentencing hearing. The judge described the murders as heinous and atrocious, noting that the second murder was especially calculated and premeditated. Wilson was on probation for prior felony convictions at the time of the crimes.
Wilson’s background reveals he was born to underage parents and adopted, growing up in Tallahassee before moving to Lee County. He is heavily tattooed, with symbols including a swastika and phrases that reflect his extremist beliefs.
His trial commenced on June 1, 2023, leading to a jury conviction on June 12. The jury voted for the death penalty, requiring only a majority after changes in state law last year allowed jurors to recommend death sentences with as few as eight votes.
The case details describe how Wilson met Melton at a bar and later murdered her in her own home before stealing her car. He subsequently attacked Ruiz after luring her into his vehicle, ultimately killing her in a brutal manner and attempting to conceal the crime.
Wilson has also been connected to other crimes, including attempted escape from jail and drug charges, and now faces death row along with 279 other inmates in Florida.
Wilson’s ties to a white supremacist gang, one of the largest in Florida, underscore the troubling background that accompanies his conviction. The state of Florida is scheduled to carry out its next execution soon, as it continues to carry out death penalty sentences.