CAPE CORAL, Fla. — In a tragic unfolding of events, a Lee County jury has found Wade Wilson guilty of the brutal murder of two Cape Coral women, recommending the death penalty after brief deliberations. The decision came after a harrowing recount of events that ended the lives of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz in October 2019. The case, involving multiple charges including two counts of first-degree murder, rattled the community and highlighted a chilling narrative of a cross-county crime spree.
Kristine Melton, 35, and Diane Ruiz, 43, were fatally strangled by Wilson, which prosecutors argued was part of a larger, horrific crime sequence. In addition to the murder charges, Wilson was convicted of grand theft, battery, burglary, and petit theft, painting a portrait of a multi-faceted criminal rampage that began just the night before the murders at a local bar, Buddha LIVE.
According to witness testimony, Wilson, revealed as having no face tattoos at the time and appearing charming, engaged Melton, leading to a night that ended at a nearby residence. Despite the friendly beginnings, the scenario turned deadly the following morning. As Johnson, a key witness and friend of Melton, recounted, she left a seemingly safe scene only to later discover the tragedy that unfolded after her departure.
The grip of fear escalated as Wilson, in stolen vehicles including Melton’s black Nissan Versa, continued his spree. Encountering his girlfriend, Melissa Montanezo, the morning after the murders, Wilson engaged in a violent confrontation. Montanez testified to Wilson’s aggressive intent and ominous demeanor as he attempted to kidnap her, leading to a scuffle that alerted nearby businesses and ultimately allowed her escape.
Wilson’s next horrific act involved Diane Ruiz, who was simply walking to work at the Moose Lodge before being intercepted by Wilson. Fabricating a need for directions, Wilson brutally attacked Ruiz in his vehicle, later to assault her with the vehicle itself in a vacant lot—a bystander would later note details aligning with this grim scene.
As law enforcement pieced together the trail of violence, they arrested Wilson, already on the move and attempting to evade capture. The community reeled from the revelations, compounded by the discovery of Ruiz’s body days later in a remote area.
The court proceedings drew further insights into Wilson’s character and the brutal nature of the killings, heard through witnesses ranging from law enforcement to Wilson’s own father. The elder Wilson recounted chilling admissions by his son over the phone, detailing the cold-blooded killings in a manner that left the courtroom in stunned silence.
Prosecutors painted a gruesome picture of the intentional and calculated nature of Wilson’s actions, encapsulating the terror he inflicted over a brief but catastrophic period. As the defense scrambled to argue Wilson’s mental state and drug influence, the state rebutted with overwhelming evidence of premeditated malice and disdain for human life, urging jurors to uphold the severest penalty under law.
The subsequent jury decision to charge Wilson on all counts brought a somber closure to the proceedings, rendering a glimpse of justice for the victims and their families. As the verdict was announced, community members and relatives hugged, united in their grief but bolstered by a shared resolve for justice.
The haunting impact of the murders of Kristine Melton, described by neighbors as a vibrant and kind spirit, and Diane Ruiz, remembered as a loving mother and significant community figure, reverberates through Cape Coral. The case leaves a lasting imprint on the community, serving as a somber reminder of the profound consequences of unchecked violence.