CAPE CORAL, Fla. — A judge has agreed with a jury’s recommendation to sentence Wade Wilson to death for the “heinous, atrocious and cruel” murders of two women.
Judge Thompson, after reviewing the case, determined that the aggravating factors in Wilson’s case “greatly outweighed” the mitigating circumstances.
On June 12, the jury convicted Wilson for the 2019 murders of 35-year-old Kristine Melton and 43-year-old Diane Ruiz. The jury’s recommendation was for the death penalty for each of the two murders.
Wilson’s sentencing, initially scheduled for July, was postponed to allow the defense time to conduct brain scans. During the subsequent Spencer hearing, the defense presented additional evidence arguing against the death penalty. Dr. Mark Rubino, a neurologist for the defense, suggested that Wilson’s brain scans and performance on cognitive tests indicated possible brain damage that might lead to impulsive behavior.
However, Medical Examiner Dr. Thomas Coyne testified that he disagreed with Rubino’s assessment, noting that his examination of the brain scans revealed no structural abnormalities such as asymmetry or frontal lobe impairment. Dr. Coyne also pointed out that people can commit “evil things” without necessarily having brain damage.
Melton was discovered dead in her Cape Coral home on October 7. On the same day, Ruiz went missing while walking to work, and her body was found three days later in a field behind a Sam’s Club.
Wilson was indicted in November 2019 on multiple charges, including two counts of first-degree premeditated murder. Prosecutors alleged that Wilson strangled the women to death.
At the time of the indictment, Wilson was already in custody on unrelated battery charges. Additional charges were filed in October 2020 after Wilson and another inmate allegedly attempted to escape from jail.
During his trial, Wilson contacted Scripps News Fort Myers, claiming in 2020 that he had been involved with a high-level human trafficking ring and that the group was framing him for the murders as retribution for trying to leave.