Wade Wilson sentenced to death for murder of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz

A Florida judge sentenced a 30-year-old man to death on Tuesday for the random killing of two women in southwest Florida in 2019.

Wade Steven Wilson, who is allegedly linked to a white supremacist gang, was found guilty this summer of, among other things, the premeditated murder of Kristine Melton (35) and Diane Ruiz (43) from Cape Coral. A 12-member jury in Lee County had previously recommended the death penalty for his crimes.

In Florida, juries recommend whether a convicted person should receive the death penalty, but the final decision rests with the judge.

On Tuesday, Judge Nicholas Thompson of the 20th District Court imposed the death penalty – one for each murder.

“The evidence showed that both murders were heinous, cruel and savage and that the second murder was cold-blooded, calculated and premeditated,” Thompson said during Wilson's sentencing hearing.

The defendant inflicted “severe physical and mental pain” on the victims while he was on probation for serious crimes, the judge said.

Here’s what you should know about the Wilson case:

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Who is convicted felon Wade Wilson?

Wilson, of Fort Myers, was born to minor parents and given up for adoption. He grew up in the Tallahassee area before moving to Lee County.