Worst Ex Ever: Where is Wade Wilson now? Killer fights death penalty after double murder sentence
Netflix’s Worst Ex Ever has returned for a second season, once again proving that reality can be far more terrifying than fiction. While many of the series’ subjects are manipulative or abusive, the case of Wade Wilson (known to the public by the chilling moniker of the ‘Deadpool Killer’ due to his facial tattoos) is on another level of brutality.
Wade Wilson’s story went viral long before it hit Netflix, largely due to his unique appearance and reportedly “smug” courtroom persona.
Here is everything you need to know about where Wade Wilson is now and the status of his death penalty case.
Who is Wade Wilson?
Wade Steven Wilson (born 20 May 1994) is a convicted double murderer from Florida. He gained national notoriety during his 2024 trial not only for his crimes but for his unsettling appearance; his face is covered in tattoos, including a Joker-like stitched mouth and Nazi imagery (which he claimed were prison-related).
The media dubbed him the ‘Deadpool Killer’, a reference to the Marvel character with whom he shares a name. Unlike the fictional hero, however, Wilson’s actions were described by prosecutors as “heinous, atrocious, and cruel.”
What did Wade Wilson do?
On October 7, 2019, Wilson went on a violent rampage in Cape Coral, Florida. He first attacked Kristine Melton, a 35-year-old he met at a bar and accompanied home. While she was sleeping, he strangled her to death.
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Later that same day, Wilson lured 43-year-old Diane Ruiz, a mother of two and a bartender, into a car he had stolen from Melton’s home. He strangled Ruiz and then, in a detail that shocked the courtroom, admitted to driving over her body multiple times.
Wilson eventually confessed to his biological father, who immediately called the police. Upon his arrest, Wilson chillingly told detectives he would “do it again.”
Where is Wade Wilson now?
In August 2024, Wilson was sentenced to death for the murders of Melton and Ruiz. His sentencing was notable because he was one of the first high-profile defendants sentenced under Florida’s new 2023 death penalty legislation, which allows a judge to impose the death penalty even if the jury’s recommendation is not unanimous.
As of May 2026, Wade Wilson is reportedly on death row in Florida.
Wilson is currently in the middle of a high-stakes legal battle to overturn his execution. His legal team filed a direct appeal to the Florida Supreme Court, arguing that the retroactive application of Florida’s new sentencing laws is unconstitutional.
Worst Ex Ever is available to stream on Netflix now
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