This afternoon, the jury in the Wade Wilson double homicide case, recommended a sentence of death for the murders of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz, following the penalty phase of the trial. Wilson was convicted of two counts of First-Degree Murder by the same jury on June 12, 2024. He was also convicted of Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Battery, Burglary of a Dwelling, and First-Degree Petit Theft.
Assistant State Attorneys Sara Miller and Andreas Gardiner, both of the State Attorney’s Office Homicide Unit, prosecuted the case.
The murders took place in Cape Coral on October 7, 2019. Kristine Melton was strangled to death by Wilson who attacked her as she slept in her bed. He then stole her car from her Cape Coral home and went to see his girlfriend and attacked her. She immediately contacted law enforcement.
A short time later, the defendant saw Diane Ruiz walking along a street in Cape Coral. He pulled over and lured her into the car as he asked for directions. He then beat and strangled her, eventually pushing her out of the car, and repeatedly ran her over.
The Cape Coral Police Department and the Fort Myers Police Department investigated the crimes which led to the identification and arrest of the defendant.
The Honorable Judge Nick Thompson set the case for an evidentiary hearing, known as a Spencer hearing, on July 23, 2024. At this hearing the parties can present further evidence and make legal argument as to the sentence.
The State will be requesting that the Judge impose a sentence of death.
Samantha Syoen – Communications Director, State Attorney’s Office