Wade Wilson, a Florida man widely known in media coverage as the “Deadpool Killer” due to sharing a name with the fictional Marvel character, was convicted of the brutal 2019 murders of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz. The case, later featured in Netflix’s Worst Ex Ever, shocked investigators not only for its violence but also for Wilson’s disturbing lack of remorse. According to court testimony from his biological father, Steven Testasecca, Wilson confessed in graphic detail after the killings, describing how he strangled Melton after meeting her on a night out and later stole her car, where he encountered Ruiz. Wilson then lured Ruiz into the vehicle under the pretense of asking for directions before killing her as well. Testasecca immediately alerted police after receiving a call in which his son allegedly bragged about the murders, later stating in court that Wilson appeared “excited” rather than remorseful when recounting the crimes.
Investigators revealed further chilling behavior, including Wilson’s attempts to negotiate with law enforcement. At one point, he reportedly offered to reveal the location of a victim’s body in exchange for fast food, underscoring what prosecutors described as his detached and manipulative mindset. Detective testimony indicated Wilson showed no empathy, instead speaking casually about the killings and even claiming he used his appearance to lure victims. In June 2024, he was found guilty of first-degree murder, and by August, a judge imposed two death sentences, ruling the crimes “heinous, atrocious, and cruel.” He now sits on death row at Union Correctional Institution, where officials say he remains heavily restricted in communication. Despite his convictions, Wilson has received unexpected attention, including messages of admiration from some supporters, a phenomenon prosecutors and officials have strongly condemned as a dangerous distortion of the victims’ suffering and the gravity of his crimes.