Netflix is hogging my screen time more than TikTok at this point. Between Inside the Manosphere and Temptation Island, Unchosen and Should I Marry a Murderer?, I’m leaving a pretty hefty imprint on my sofa. Just when I thought the warmer weather might finally drag me outside, they went and released season two of Worst Ex Ever.
In this true crime episode, we learn about the shocking Florida murderer. Wade Wilson’s story went viral long before it landed on Netflix, largely due to his distinctive appearance and reportedly “smug” courtroom persona. His crimes are described as truly unthinkable.
Here’s everything you need to know about Wade Wilson, better known as the “Deadpool Killer,” and where he is now.
Who is Wade Wilson?
Wade Steven Wilson was born on 20 May 1994 to teenage parents. He was later adopted and raised in Tallahassee, Florida, and was described as “troubled” throughout his high school years.
He is a convicted double murderer from Florida. Wilson gained national notoriety during his 2024 trial not only for the nature of his crimes, but also for his striking appearance; his face is covered in tattoos, including a Joker-like stitched mouth and Nazi imagery (which he claimed were prison-related).
Prior to his conviction, Wilson acted as a witness and informant for the Leon County Sheriff’s Office in the 2016–2018 case involving Brian Winchester (who was reportedly Wilson’s cellmate at the time). Wilson alleged he was offered $20,000 to “take care of” Winchester’s wife. He later reported the matter to police, stating he did not feel comfortable going through with it.
Why is Wade Wilson called the ‘Deadpool Killer’?
The media dubbed him the “Deadpool Killer,” a reference to the Marvel character with whom he shares a name. Unlike the fictional anti-hero, however, Wilson’s actions were described by prosecutors as “heinous, atrocious, and cruel.”
Not every question was answered.
What did Wade Wilson do?
When Kelly Matthews falls for Steven in 2018, the last thing she expects is for her boyfriend to pawn her laptop, seduce her close friend, and violently attack her while she is taking him to rehab. After Steven leaves her for another woman, Kelly discovers that his real name is Wade Wilson and that he has a long rap sheet of criminal offences.
His violent behaviour then escalates further.
On 7 October, Wilson went on a violent rampage in Cape Coral, Florida. He first attacked Kristine Melton, a 35-year-old woman he met at a bar and later accompanied home. While she was asleep, he strangled her to death.
Later that same day, Wilson lured 43-year-old Diane Ruiz, a mother of two and bartender, into a car he had stolen from Melton’s home. He also strangled Ruiz and then, in a detail that shocked the courtroom, admitted to driving over her body multiple times.
Police launched a manhunt to apprehend him.
Wilson eventually called and confessed to his biological father, who immediately contacted the authorities. He was arrested the following day and, upon arrest, allegedly told detectives he would “do it again.”
Where is Wade Wilson now?
During legal proceedings, evidence of Wilson’s mental health was presented, including testimony regarding childhood brain injuries. A neurologist stated that brain scans showed trauma and impairment that could help explain some of Wilson’s impulsive behaviour. However, experts for the prosecution argued that drug abuse was a more significant contributing factor, while the defence maintained that substance use may have impaired his judgement at the time of the crimes.
While in jail awaiting trial for the murders, Wilson acquired multiple facial tattoos, including a swastika under his right eye and another on the side of his head.
Wilson also survived a drug overdose at Lee County Jail in 2023, an incident that prompted an investigation by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
Here's what they missed in the Netflix documentary.
In August 2024, Wilson was sentenced to death for the murders of Melton and Ruiz. His sentencing drew significant attention as he was among the first high-profile defendants sentenced under Florida’s 2023 death penalty legislation, which allows a judge to impose the death penalty even when a jury’s recommendation is not unanimous.
As of May 2026, Wade Wilson is reportedly on death row in Florida.
He is currently engaged in a high-stakes legal battle to overturn his sentence. His legal team has filed a direct appeal to the Florida Supreme Court, arguing that the retroactive application of Florida’s new sentencing laws is unconstitutional.
Buckle up for episode two on Geoffrey Paschel.
Watch season 2 of Worst Ex Ever on Netflix.
