Cape Coral, Florida — September 2026

The case of Wade Wilson, a Florida man convicted of murdering two women on the same day in 2019, has continued to draw attention because of the disturbing details presented during his trial.

According to prosecutors and court records, Wilson first killed 35-year-old Kristine Melton on October 7, 2019, after meeting her at a bar. Prosecutors said he strangled Melton while she was in her home before taking her vehicle. Wilson was later convicted of first-degree murder in her death.

Hours later, prosecutors said Wilson encountered 43-year-old Diane Ruiz, who was walking along a street in Cape Coral. According to the State Attorney’s Office, Wilson stopped and asked Ruiz for directions, then persuaded her to get into his vehicle.

Prosecutors told the court that Ruiz was subsequently attacked inside the vehicle. They said Wilson beat and strangled her before pushing her from the vehicle and repeatedly running over her.

The details were central to the prosecution’s case. In June 2024, a Lee County jury found Wilson guilty of two counts of first-degree murder, along with several other charges connected to the case. The jury later recommended the death penalty.

In August 2024, a judge sentenced Wilson to two death sentences for the murders of Melton and Ruiz.

The State Attorney’s Office said the investigation involved the Cape Coral Police Department and Fort Myers Police Department. Wilson’s own statements to his biological father after the killings also became part of the evidence presented in the case.

Wilson remains on Florida’s death row while his case proceeds through the appeals process. The murders occurred on October 7, 2019, and the convictions and sentences followed years of investigation and court proceedings.

The case has since been featured in several true-crime productions, including the 2026 documentary series Handsome Devil: Charming Killer, which examines the murders, the investigation and the public attention surrounding Wilson.

Sources

• Florida State Attorney’s Office, 20th Judicial Circuit — official information on Wilson’s convictions, the prosecution’s account of the murders and his death sentences.
• PEOPLE — background on the 2019 murders, trial and Wilson’s current status on death row.
• Cape Coral Breeze — reporting on the 2026 documentary and the history of the case.