FORT MYERS, FLORIDA — More than two years after Wade Wilson was sentenced to death for the murders of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz, the case remains locked in the appeals process, with his attorneys continuing to challenge the legality of the death sentences.

Wilson, who became widely known online as the “Deadpool Killer,” was convicted in 2024 of murdering two women in Cape Coral. A Lee County judge later imposed two death sentences after jurors recommended capital punishment by split votes.

But the case is far from over.

Wilson’s mandatory death-penalty appeal remains pending before the Florida Supreme Court, where his lawyers have raised several constitutional and procedural arguments.

⚖️ The Appeal Reached Florida’s Highest Court
Wilson’s direct appeal was formally docketed as SC2024-1345 in September 2024.

Because Florida death sentences automatically receive review by the state’s highest court, Wilson did not have to separately request that initial appellate review.

His attorneys raised seven issues seeking reversal of the death sentences and related relief.

One of the most closely watched arguments concerns Florida’s controversial change to its death-penalty law.

🚨 The 2019 Murders Happened Before Florida Changed Its Death-Penalty Rules
Wilson killed Melton and Ruiz in October 2019.

Florida subsequently changed its capital-sentencing law in 2023, reducing the number of jurors required to recommend death from a unanimous vote to at least 8 of 12.

Wilson’s jury ultimately recommended death by:

9-3 for Melton’s murder

10-2 for Ruiz’s murder.

Wilson’s attorneys argue that applying the later law to crimes committed in 2019 raises constitutional questions, particularly because the jury’s votes would not have been unanimous.

That issue has become a central part of his appeal.

🏛️ Justices Heard Oral Arguments in February
The Florida Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Wilson’s case on February 5, 2026.

The official court record identifies the proceeding as a direct appeal involving seven issues surrounding his convictions and death sentences.

Court records show that Wilson’s appellate attorney Michael Ufferman appeared before the justices during the hearing.

The hearing was particularly notable because the defense acknowledged that recent Florida Supreme Court decisions had already addressed similar arguments concerning the state’s newer capital-sentencing rules.

Rather than spending extensive time repeating arguments the court had recently rejected in other cases, Ufferman indicated that the constitutional issues were being preserved for possible federal review.

🔎 The Case Is Still OPEN in the Court Records
This is one of the most important current-status details.

The Florida Appellate Case Information System lists Wade Steven Wilson v. State of Florida, SC2024-1345 as Open.

The most recent docket entry currently displayed is a May 7, 2026 order allowing co-counsel Laurel Cornell Niles to withdraw from the case.

The official docket does not show a final disposition closing the appeal.

That means Wilson’s death sentences remain in effect for now, but the automatic direct appeal itself has not been publicly shown as concluded in the official case record.

🕰️ No Execution Date Has Been Announced
Another misconception surrounding Wilson’s case is that his death sentence means an execution is imminent.

It does not.

As of the latest available reporting and court records, no execution date has been publicly scheduled for Wilson.

He remains on Florida’s death row at Union Correctional Institution in Raiford, while the legal process continues.

Death-penalty cases can involve multiple layers of state and federal review, meaning a final execution date can remain years away even after a sentence has been imposed.

💀 Why Wilson Was Sentenced to Death
Wilson was convicted in June 2024 of two counts of first-degree murder along with additional offenses related to the 2019 attacks.

The victims were Kristine Melton, 35, and Diane Ruiz, 43.

According to trial evidence, Wilson first encountered Melton at a Fort Myers bar before going to her home.

He later killed Ruiz in another violent encounter after taking Melton’s vehicle.

The prosecution presented Wilson’s statements to his biological father as part of its evidence, along with forensic evidence and testimony concerning the killings.

The jury found him guilty on all six counts.

⚖️ Jury Votes for Death Were Not Unanimous
The sentencing phase became nationally significant because the jury did not vote unanimously.

Nine jurors recommended death for Melton’s murder.

Ten recommended death for Ruiz’s.

Under the Florida law in effect when Wilson was sentenced, those votes were sufficient for a judge to impose death.

Judge Nicholas Thompson ultimately sentenced Wilson to death on both murder counts on August 27, 2024.

That decision is now being examined through the appellate process.

🧩 The Constitutional Question Is Bigger Than Wilson
Wilson’s challenge has significance beyond his individual case.

Florida’s change to the death-penalty voting threshold has been challenged in other capital cases as well.

The state’s highest court has already considered similar arguments involving the constitutionality and application of the newer sentencing framework.

Wilson’s attorneys have argued that applying the newer rule to crimes committed before the law changed raises an ex post facto issue.

That argument is one reason the case has attracted continued legal attention.

🚨 His Lawyers Have Signaled a Possible U.S. Supreme Court Fight
Wilson’s appellate attorney has indicated that the legal battle may not end with the Florida Supreme Court.

During the February 2026 hearing, Ufferman said the defense intended to preserve its constitutional arguments for potential review by the U.S. Supreme Court.

That does not mean the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case.

It means Wilson’s attorneys are preparing for the possibility of seeking federal review after the state process is completed.

🔒 The Death Row Status Remains Unchanged
For now, Wilson remains incarcerated under a death sentence.

His convictions for the two murders remain in place.

There has been no public announcement that either conviction has been overturned.

At the same time, the official Florida docket does not currently show the direct appeal as closed.

That leaves Wilson in a legally unusual position: sentenced to death, but still moving through the mandatory appeals process.

👀 Why the Case Continues to Attract Attention
Wilson’s case has generated unusually intense public fascination.

His heavily tattooed appearance and online presence have led to a controversial following on social media, with some people publicly expressing attraction or sympathy toward him despite the brutality of the crimes for which he was convicted.

The attention became significant enough that prosecutors publicly criticized the online glorification of a convicted double murderer.

The case has since been featured in true-crime documentaries, further expanding public interest.

💔 Two Victims Remain at the Center of the Case
While much of the public conversation has focused on Wilson, the appeal ultimately concerns crimes against Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz.

Melton was killed after meeting Wilson shortly before her death.

Ruiz was killed later that same day.

Their families have spent years living with the consequences of those murders while Wilson’s legal case continues.

The appellate process does not revisit the pain those crimes caused, but it will determine whether the death sentences imposed in 2024 survive the remaining legal challenges.

What Happens Next?
The next major development will come from the Florida Supreme Court’s handling of Wilson’s pending appeal.

The official case record currently lists the appeal as open, with no final disposition shown.

Wilson’s lawyers can continue pursuing the constitutional arguments raised in the direct appeal and, depending on the eventual outcome, could seek review in federal court.

For now, there is no publicly announced execution date.

Wilson remains on death row while the courts determine whether his two death sentences should stand.

The original 2024 sentence made headlines, but the legal battle did not end in that courtroom. More than two years later, Wade Wilson remains on death row, his mandatory Florida Supreme Court appeal is still open, and the question of whether his death sentences will ultimately survive every level of review remains unresolved.

Sources:
USA Today — Wade Wilson sentenced to death for murders of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz