Wade Wilson, the 30-year-old convicted murderer dubbed the “Deadpool Killer,” is receiving an unexpected wave of support from women and other backers despite his conviction for the brutal slaying of two women in 2019. Wilson, who is currently on death row, has been inundated with nearly 4,000 messages from prison, many of which include inappropriate X-rated photos. Authorities have had to reject 163 such images.
As the August 27, 2024 sentencing date approaches, Wilson’s supporters have flooded the chambers of Lee County Circuit Judge Nicholas R. Thompson, imploring him to spare Wilson’s life. This flood of letters and pleas comes despite a jury’s recommendation for the death penalty.
Among Wilson’s supporters is a woman from Visalia, California, who has pledged her undying devotion to the killer. “As someone who cares unconditionally for Wade, I have deeply reflected on the gravity of the situation and impact of your decision,” she wrote in a letter to the judge. Another supporter, a mother of two, argued that Wilson has changed since his incarceration. “If you look past his tattoos to his face structure since being in prison and medicated, he is healthier,” she wrote, suggesting that his current appearance is an improvement over his gaunt booking photo.
However, legal experts caution that these emotional appeals are unlikely to influence the court. According to The Code of Judicial Conduct, judges are prohibited from considering communications made outside of the courtroom, ensuring that only evidence presented during the trial will impact the final decision.
Wilson’s case is marked by its extreme violence and depravity. On October 7, 2019, Wilson met Kristine Melton, 35, and her friend Stephanie Sailors at Buddah LIVE, a bar in Fort Myers. After closing time, Wilson accompanied Melton and Sailors to the home of Jayson Shepard, where they spent several hours. The next morning, Wilson, Melton, and Sailors went to Melton’s Cape Coral home. After Sailors left, Wilson strangled Melton to death while she slept and then stole her car.
Later that day, Wilson encountered Diane Ruiz, 43, walking along a Cape Coral street. He asked her for directions and lured her into his car. When Ruiz attempted to exit the vehicle, Wilson attacked her, beating and strangling her before pushing her out of the car and running over her multiple times.
Wilson confessed to his crimes in graphic detail to his father, Steven Testasecca, who subsequently contacted the authorities. Wilson was arrested on October 8, 2019. During his confession, Wilson described his actions as “killing for the sake of killing,” telling police, “I came across my mind to murder, just kill, kill, kill.”
Wilson was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder, grand theft, burglary of a dwelling, battery, and petit theft. Despite efforts to present himself in a more favorable light for the jury, including covering his tattoos and wearing a new suit, the jury recommended the death penalty for both murders on June 25, 2024. This recommendation came after a trial phase where jurors considered both aggravating and mitigating circ*mstances.
In a shift from previous Florida law, which required unanimous jury recommendations for the death penalty, a new statute signed by Governor Ron DeSantis in April 2023 allows for a death sentence recommendation with as few as eight jurors voting in favor. The jury in Wilson’s trial voted 9-3 and 10-2 in favor of death, making their recommendation a significant legal step toward a potential execution.
Wilson’s sentencing, initially scheduled for July 23, 2024, was delayed after his attorneys requested additional time due to scheduling conflicts with two court-appointed mental health experts. The sentencing has been rescheduled to August 27, 2024. Additionally, Wilson’s legal team has filed a motion for a new trial or acquittal on the murder charges and other counts, though Judge Thompson has yet to rule on these motions.
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