{"id":257694,"date":"2024-08-29T18:13:57","date_gmt":"2024-08-29T18:13:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2024\/08\/29\/man-sentenced-to-death-for-random-killings-of-florida-women-hollywood-life\/"},"modified":"2025-06-25T17:11:40","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T17:11:40","slug":"man-sentenced-to-death-for-random-killings-of-florida-women-hollywood-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2024\/08\/29\/man-sentenced-to-death-for-random-killings-of-florida-women-hollywood-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Man Sentenced to Death for Random Killings of Florida Women \u2013 Hollywood Life"},"content":{"rendered":"

[ad_1]
\n<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Wade\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>
Image Credit: Law & Crime Network: YouTube<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

Wade Wilson<\/strong>, convicted of brutally killing two Florida women in 2019, was sentenced to death on Tuesday, according to reports.<\/p>\n

A grand jury indicted the 30-year-old in 2019 on charges of first-degree murder for the deaths of Kristine Melton<\/strong>, 35, and Diane Ruiz<\/strong>, 43. Wilson confessed to police shortly after his arrest that he had killed both women on Oct. 7, 2019.<\/p>\n

After being found guilty in June, a jury voted by two majority decisions that Wilson should receive the death penalty, and Lee County Circuit Judge Nicholas Thompson<\/strong> agreed at a hearing on Aug. 27.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe evidence showed that both murders were heinous, atrocious, and cruel,\u201d Judge Thompson wrote in the sentencing order, \u201cand that the second murder was cold, calculated, and premeditated.\u201d<\/p>\n

The jury voted in favor of the death penalty 9-3 in Melton\u2019s case and 10-2 in Ruiz\u2019s murder. In Florida, only eight out of 12 jurors need to recommend the death penalty for it to be considered by a judge.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Wilson, riddled with Nazi face tattoos, appeared motionless in the courtroom as cheers and claps erupted from the gallery when the sentence was read. He had declined to address the court earlier in the afternoon.<\/p>\n

\n

#BREAKING<\/a>: #WadeWilson<\/a> was sentenced to death for the murders of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz. Wilson strangled both women in #CapeCoral<\/a> \u2014 running over Ruiz to \u201cmake her look like spaghetti.\u201d pic.twitter.com\/SlquIvFMjl<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Law&Crime Network (@LawCrimeNetwork) August 27, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cHe will pay the ultimate price,\u201d State Attorney Amira Fox<\/strong> said in a news conference immediately following the sentencing, alongside the victims\u2019 families.<\/p>\n

During a motion hearing on Tuesday morning, Wilson\u2019s attorney, Lee Hollander<\/strong>, requested that the court impose two life sentences instead of the death penalty, arguing, \u201cthe court to take into consideration that death is permanent.\u201d<\/p>\n

Assistant State Attorney Andreas Gardiner<\/strong> countered, stating, \u201cMr. Wilson\u2019s decisions were not only pitiless and conscienceless, but they amounted to tragically reducing Ms. Melton, as well as Ms. Ruiz, to nothing more than memories and photographs,\u201d asserting that Wilson was not fit for a lesser sentence.<\/p>\n

Prosecutors said Wilson met Melton at a live music bar before strangling her to death at her home in Cape Coral, where her body was discovered. He then stole Melton\u2019s car and drove to meet his girlfriend, Melissa Montanez<\/strong>. After Montanez refused to get into the car, Wilson assaulted her, but she managed to escape.<\/p>\n

Driving back to Cape Coral, he found Ruiz walking along a street and lured her into his vehicle by asking for directions. When Ruiz tried to get out, Wilson strangled her and ran her over 10 to 20 times \u201cuntil she looked like spaghetti,\u201d the court heard. Her body was found in the woods three days later.<\/p>\n

According to the sentencing order, Wilson turned himself in to the police days after the killings, at his father\u2019s recommendation. His father testified that Wilson sounded \u201cexcited\u201d while recounting his crimes and showed no remorse.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n