Wade Steven Wilson was born on May 20, 1994, in Florida, United States, to teenage parents—his father was only 14 years old, and his mother was 13. Named Anthony at birth, he was later adopted by Steve and Candace Wilson and raised in Tallahassee, Florida. Wilson attended Chiles High School, where he was described by peers as restless and troubled. His early life was marked by instability, substance abuse, and frequent brushes with the law.

Wilson’s upbringing was fraught with neglect and emotional turmoil. Reports suggest that he sustained multiple head injuries, including four documented concussions, which he would later cite as a cause for his violent impulses and poor impulse control. Despite being adopted into a stable household, his behavior spiraled during adolescence. He began experimenting with drugs and committing petty crimes, leading to early arrests and reform school placements.

By 2012, at just 18, Wilson’s criminal record began to accumulate rapidly in Leon County, Florida. His early offenses included burglary, assault, and illegal firearm possession. In November 2013, he was convicted of burglary and grand theft, serving nearly a year in prison. Over the following years, he cycled in and out of custody for various offenses, including theft, battery, and parole violations.

In 2015, he faced severe charges of sexual battery and kidnapping after a woman accused him of assaulting her in his vehicle. He was acquitted after a jury trial, but the incident deepened his reputation as a volatile and dangerous individual. By 2017, he was back in prison for stealing firearms, serving until July 2018.

After release, Wilson’s name surfaced in a high-profile murder-for-hire case involving Denise Williams and her husband Brian Winchester, though Wilson was never formally charged. In February 2019, his former girlfriend accused him of strangulation and assault, alleging kidnapping and rape. While charges were dropped due to insufficient evidence, the pattern of violence foreshadowed what would follow.

By mid-2019, Wilson’s personal life was defined by addiction, failed relationships, and escalating aggression. His behavior, worsened by substance abuse and possible brain trauma, culminated in two brutal murders that shocked the city of Cape Coral, Florida.

On October 7, 2019, Wade Wilson committed two murders within hours, a spree that would later be described as “unprovoked, calculated, and sadistic.”

His first victim, 35-year-old Kristine Melton, met Wilson at a live music bar in Cape Coral. The two spent time together before returning to her home. Later that night, Wilson strangled Melton to death. After killing her, he stole her car, using it to continue his rampage.

Shortly afterward, Wilson encountered Diane Ruiz, a 43-year-old bartender and mother of two. Using Melton’s car, he lured Ruiz under false pretenses. Once inside, Wilson strangled her, then ran her over multiple times to ensure she was dead. His actions were deliberate and remorseless.

In a chilling twist, Wilson called his biological father, Steven Testasecca, soon after the killings and confessed. He described the murders in detail and told his father that he would be willing to do it again. Testasecca and his wife immediately contacted the Cape Coral Police Department, leading to Wilson’s arrest on October 8, 2019.

During police questioning, Wilson remained unrepentant. He told detectives that he had no clear motive other than “I just wanted to do it.” Investigators noted that he appeared emotionally detached, even proud, while recounting the events.

Evidence against Wilson was overwhelming, including DNA, surveillance footage, and phone records. During his 2024 trial, the defense presented neurological and psychological evidence, arguing that his history of head trauma and drug abuse impaired his judgment. A neurologist testified that brain scans revealed trauma consistent with behavioral dysregulation, while prosecutors argued that his long-standing violent tendencies and deliberate actions indicated full awareness of his crimes.

His father’s testimony became one of the most powerful moments of the trial. Testasecca recounted how his son calmly confessed over the phone, admitting that he ran over Ruiz again to ensure her death.

The jury recommended death sentences by 9–3 and 10–2 votes for Melton’s and Ruiz’s murders, respectively. Judge Nicholas Thompson upheld the recommendation, sentencing Wilson to two death penalties in February 2024. The judge described the crimes as “cold, calculated, and premeditated acts of extreme brutality.”