'Heinous, atrocious and cruel': Man gets death penalty in random killings of Florida women

Natalie Neysa Alund
USA TODAY

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A Florida judge on Tuesday sentenced a 30-year-old man to death for the random 2019 killings of two Southwest Florida women. … Wade Steven Wilson, reportedly tied to a white supremist gang, was found guilty this summer of charges including first-degree murder in the slayings of Kristine Melton, 35, and Diane Ruiz, 43, of Cape Coral. A 12-member Lee County jury previously recommended he receive the death penalty for his crimes.

In Florida, juries recommend whether a convict should receive the death sentence, but the decision is ultimately up to a judge. … Wade Wilson was sentenced to death by Judge Nick Thompson for the murders of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024.


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On Tuesday, 20th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Nicholas Thompson imposed the capitol sentence - one for each murders.. … “The evidence showed both murders were heinous, atrocious and cruel, and that the second murder was cold, calculated and premeditated,” Thompson said during Wilson's sentencing hearing. … The defendant inflicted "serious physical and emotion pain to the victims" while on probation for felony convictions, the judge said.

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