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Wade Steven Wilson’s Background

The story of Wade Steven Wilson reads like a descent into darkness, marked by violence and a shocking lack of remorse. Born on May 20th, 1994, in Tallahassee, Florida, Wade’s life could have unfolded differently. Steve and Candace Wilson adopted him, and he grew up in a supportive home.

Yet, behind the stability, there were cracks that widened into gaping chasms of destruction.

Wade struggled to fit into a structured life. He racked up a troubling record of behavioral issues, compounded by several head injuries during his youth.

By the time he reached adolescence, those around him noticed his increasing instability.

Life of Crime

It wasn’t long before Wade found himself on the wrong side of the law. In 2012, in Leon County, Florida, he began a string of criminal activities. Burglary, assault, and firearm-related charges littered his early record.

These were not petty mistakes; they were the foundation of a life spiraling out of control. In November 2013, Wade was convicted of burglary and grand theft. He spent nearly a year behind bars, only to emerge more hardened and determined to push boundaries.

In 2015, he faced charges of sexual battery and kidnapping, accused of assaulting a woman in his car after a party. The trial was a spectacle, and though he was acquitted, the accusations left an indelible mark on his reputation. Wade’s record continued to grow, and by 2017, he was back in prison for stealing firearms.

By February 2019, he had already found himself entangled in another violent incident. His ex-girlfriend accused him of assault and strangulation, alleging even more sinister crimes of kidnapping and rape. Citing insufficient evidence, investigators didn’t prosecute him, but the shadow of suspicion lingered.

July 1st, 2019, brought another arrest—this time for battery. Wade’s encounters with law enforcement were becoming routine, but no one could have predicted how much worse things would get.

Murders of Kristine Melton & Diane Ruiz

On October 7th, 2019, he crossed paths with 35-year-old Kristine Melton and her friend, 36-year-old Stephanie Sailors, at a bar.

The trio eventually ended up at Melton’s Cape Coral, Florida home. When Sailors left, Wade unleashed his rage, strangling the sleeping Melton to death. He escaped the scene in her vehicle.

But the 25-year-old maniac wasn’t done. Hours later, he encountered 43-year-old Diane Ruiz as she walked to work. Offering her a ride, he lured her into his vehicle. What followed was unspeakable—he beat her savagely, strangled her, and, as if that weren’t enough, ran her over multiple times after getting her out of the vehicle. He left her body in a desolate lot, a chilling reminder of his unrelenting cruelty.

After committing these heinous acts, Wade did something that would send shivers down anyone’s spine—he called his biological father, Steven Testasecca. Over the phone, he detailed the murders with cold precision, almost as if recounting a twisted tale. At first, his father dismissed the confession as an attention-seeking fabrication. But as the details unfolded, the horrific truth became undeniable.

Wade was expecting Testasecca to send him and Uber, but Testasecca alerted the authorities of Wade’s location, setting the stage for his capture.

When Wade was arrested, he faced a barrage of charges—two counts of first-degree murder, along with grand theft, battery, burglary, and petty theft.

Legal Proceedings

His trial, held in June 2024, was a spectacle of horror. Jurors listened as the prosecution laid bare the gruesome details of his crimes. Wade sat through it all, often smirking, his complete lack of remorse sending chills through the courtroom.

The jury delivered their verdict swiftly: guilty on all counts. The penalty phase that followed left little room for mercy. For Kristine Melton’s murder, the jury voted 9-3 in favor of the death penalty; for Diane Ruiz, the vote was even more decisive at 10-2.

On August 27th, 2024, Circuit Judge Nicholas Thompson delivered the final judgment. Wade Wilson was sentenced to death, his crimes deemed so heinous that no other punishment would suffice.

Wade Wilson’s Life on Florida’s Death Row

He is currently being housed in a Death Row unit at Union Correctional Institution in Raiford, Florida, about four and a half hours from where his crimes took place.

He spends an average of 23 hours in a 6x9x9.5-foot-high cell that is not air-conditioned. He can have a radio, a fan, and a 13-inch television. The TV does not have cable, can only be used between 8 AM and 11:30 PM, and must be used with headphones or earbuds.

He can also have pens, paper, envelopes, and reading material.

He had a consistent meal routine: breakfast delivered to his cell at around 5 AM, lunch at around 10:30 AM, and dinner at around 4 PM. He is also allowed to have snacks in his cell to eat outside those hours.

He and other death row inmates are counted every hour and cannot be together in a common room.

Wilson is let out to shower, exercise, get medical attention, make phone calls, and meet visitors. Reports indicate Florida death row inmates are allowed to “schedule a minimum of one 30-minute phone call per month.”

Despite being a convicted killer, he has had several women fighting over him and sending him money. He has also seduced gay men into sending him money.

Florida’s Execution Process

When his appeals run out decades from now, the governor will sign his death warrant, and he will be sent to Florida State Prison, which is about a 4-minute drive from Union Correctional Institution.

Once at the new facility, he will be put in a 12x7x8.5 feet high death watch cell. His routine will be the same as at Union Correctional Institution, except his radio and TV will be outside his cell.

When his execution date nears, he will be able to request a last meal. The meal has to be under $40 and cannot include alcohol.

On execution day, he will have visitors, time with a spiritual advisor, and, of course, his last meal.

Additionally, someone from the execution team will explain the procedure and offer him a sedative to reduce anxiety.

Just before 6 PM, he will be taken from his cell to the execution room, where he will get on the gurney and get strapped in. Afterward, catheters will be inserted in each arm, and heart monitor pads will be placed on his chest.

Once everything is in place, the curtain to the execution chamber will open.

The media and the families of his victims will be in attendance. He may have a few supporters there, but his family cannot attend per Florida law.

When the execution begins at 6 PM, he will be given the chance to say his last words.

After that, he will be hit with a dose of Sodium Pentothal to render him unconscious. A dose of Pancuronium bromide will paralyze him, and the final chemical, potassium chloride, will stop his heart.

By 6:20 PM, Wilson will be dead.