WADE WILSON REMAINS ON DEATH ROW — BUT HIS EXECUTION DATE HAS NOT BEEN SET
WADE WILSON REMAINS ON DEATH ROW — BUT HIS EXECUTION DATE HAS NOT BEEN SET
The Florida death-row inmate convicted of killing two women in 2019 remains behind bars as his legal case continues through the appeals process.
Wade Steven Wilson remains on Florida’s death row more than two years after a Lee County jury convicted him in the 2019 killings of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz.
Wilson was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder in June 2024. In August 2024, a judge imposed two death sentences. He is currently being held at Union Correctional Institution in Florida.
TWO MURDERS, ONE DAY
The two killings occurred on October 7, 2019.
According to the case record reported by PEOPLE, Wilson killed 35-year-old Kristine Melton after meeting her at a bar in Fort Myers.
Later that same day, he encountered 43-year-old Diane Ruiz, who was walking to work. Prosecutors said Wilson persuaded her to enter his vehicle before killing her and abandoning her body.
The jury ultimately found him guilty of both murders.
THE DEATH SENTENCE
After his conviction, Wilson was sentenced to death for both killings.
His case then moved into the appellate process, meaning the sentence cannot simply be carried out immediately.
The Florida Supreme Court docket shows that his direct appeal has been part of ongoing litigation, with oral arguments held in February 2026.
In February, reports indicated that Wilson’s attorneys ended one challenge concerning his death sentence at the Florida Supreme Court following recent court rulings.
NO EXECUTION DATE YET
Despite continued attention surrounding the case, there is currently no confirmed execution date for Wilson in the sources reviewed.
That distinction is important.
A death sentence does not automatically mean an execution is imminent. Further appeals and other legal procedures can continue before Florida issues a death warrant and sets a date.
WHY THE CASE CONTINUES TO DRAW ATTENTION
Wilson’s case has received renewed public attention through documentaries and streaming coverage.
PEOPLE reported that Paramount+ released a documentary about the case in January 2026, while Netflix later featured Wilson in the second season of Worst Ex Ever.
The case has also generated significant discussion online, including attention surrounding Wilson’s appearance and the nickname “Deadpool Killer,” a label derived from his shared name with the Marvel character.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
For now, Wilson remains on Florida’s death row while the legal process continues.
His convictions for the murders of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz remain in place, and his two death sentences remain the current punishment.
But there is no verified execution date to announce at this time.
The next major developments will depend on the outcome of the remaining appeals and post-conviction proceedings.
Wade Wilson remains on death row — and his legal battle is not over.
