Florida’s most talked-about death row inmate continues to make headlines. Curious about the Wade Wilson death row date? Here is everything you need to know — from the crimes that shocked Cape Coral to where his legal battle stands right now.
Who Is Wade Wilson?
Wade Steven Wilson, born May 20, 1994, is an American criminal convicted of the 2019 murders of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz in Cape Coral, Florida. His case drew extraordinary public attention for two reasons: the brutal nature of his crimes and the fact that he shares a name with the Marvel comics character Deadpool, earning him the nickname the “Deadpool Killer” in widespread media coverage.
Wilson was sentenced to death in 2024 after being found guilty of first-degree murder, among other charges. Prior to the murders, he had a criminal history dating back to 2012, including convictions for burglary, grand theft, and firearms offenses.
What Did Wade Wilson Do?
On October 7, 2019, Wilson committed two murders within hours of each other. After accompanying 35-year-old Kristine Melton home from a bar, he strangled her to death as she slept. He then stole her car, and following a violent confrontation with his girlfriend, he encountered 43-year-old Diane Ruiz walking along a Cape Coral street. He lured her into the stolen vehicle, attacked and strangled her, pushed her out of the moving car, and then ran her over repeatedly.
Wilson was arrested quickly after the killings, in part because of his own father. Court testimony revealed that Wilson called his biological father, Steven Testasecca, and confessed to the murders. His father immediately contacted police and helped persuade Wilson to turn himself in — one of the most chilling moments of the entire case.
During interviews and court proceedings, Wilson made deeply disturbing statements about the crimes, including allegedly saying he would “do it again.”
Trial, Conviction, and Death Sentence
On June 12, 2024, a Lee County jury found Wilson guilty on two counts of first-degree murder and recommended the death penalty for each. Judge Nicholas Thompson imposed two death sentences in August 2024.
The sentencing was not without controversy. Only 9 of the 12 jurors recommended death for the first murder, and 10 of the 12 for the second. This was made possible because Florida changed its death penalty law in 2023, reducing the jury vote requirement from unanimous to a minimum of 8 out of 12 jurors. Wilson became one of the first people sentenced to death under this new standard — and the first to receive two non-unanimous death sentences.
The defense also raised mental health arguments during the trial, calling a neurologist who testified that brain imaging and cognitive testing suggested Wilson may suffer from brain damage that could contribute to impulsive behavior and poor decision-making.
Has Wade Wilson Been Executed? What Is His Death Row Date?
This is the question most people are searching for. As of today, Wade Wilson has not been executed, and no official execution date has been set.
Wade Wilson remains alive and incarcerated on death row at Union Correctional Institution in Raiford, Florida. No execution has been carried out, and no death warrant has been signed by the governor.
In Florida, the state cannot carry out an execution until the governor formally signs a death warrant. That document is what officially sets the execution time frame. Until then, Wilson remains on death row while his appeals move through the courts.
The process is rarely quick. Florida’s Department of Corrections puts the average time between sentencing and execution at 13 to 14 years, and the national average has historically exceeded 18 years.
Wade Wilson’s Appeals: Where Does the Case Stand?
Wilson’s legal team has been aggressively fighting his death sentences at every level.
His attorneys filed multiple direct appeals to the Florida Supreme Court, arguing that the death sentences were invalid because Florida’s 2023 law — which eliminated the jury unanimity requirement — should not have been applied retroactively to crimes Wilson committed in 2019. They argued this violated the Ex Post Facto clauses of both the U.S. and Florida constitutions.
In May 2025, Wilson’s appellate counsel filed their initial brief with the Florida Supreme Court laying out these claims in full detail.
However, those arguments suffered a significant setback. In late 2025, the Florida Supreme Court upheld Florida’s new death penalty law when ruling on two separate but related cases. Following those decisions, Wilson’s defense attorney Michael Ufferman withdrew the Florida appeal, acknowledging the rulings had undermined their core argument.
At a brief hearing before the Florida Supreme Court in early this year, Ufferman declined to re-argue the points already decided, instead stating clearly for the record that he was preserving all arguments for the United States Supreme Court. The hearing lasted only a few minutes, with one justice even remarking to the gallery that proceedings rarely go that quickly.
Wilson’s full appeal raises seven distinct issues and seeks to reverse both death sentences. The case is now widely expected to be petitioned to the U.S. Supreme Court, which could extend the legal process by several more years.
The Docuseries and Public Fascination
Wilson’s case long ago transcended the courtroom and became a cultural phenomenon. A three-part docuseries titled “Handsome Devil: Charming Killer” premiered on Paramount+ in January of this year, exploring the murders, the trial, and the unusual wave of online attention Wilson attracted after his arrest.
His heavily tattooed appearance and mugshot went viral on social media, drawing commentary from millions and generating a deeply conflicted public response. The docuseries examines how a man who committed acts of horrific violence ended up with a devoted online following — a question that has no easy answer.
What Happens Next?
Until the U.S. Supreme Court either agrees to hear his case or declines, and until every appeal is exhausted, Wilson will remain on Florida’s death row. Only after all legal avenues have been closed can Florida’s governor sign a death warrant and set an official execution date.
For the families of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz, the wait continues. Ruiz’s father has publicly stated he intends to be present when Wilson is ultimately executed.
This article reflects the most current publicly available information as of May 2025.