Deep dive: The life of double murderer Wade Wilson. Could it have been prevented?

About this episode

This episode explores the life and crimes of double murderer Wade Wilson, examining the events leading up to the murders and the investigation that followed.

On the 7th of October, 2019, police in Cape Coral came face to face with a man named Wade Wilson during a domestic violence investigation involving his ex-girlfriend. Bodycam footage captured the tense interaction as officers tried to stop him from leaving… but Wade drove away. At that moment, police had no idea they were speaking to a man who had already murdered one woman ...and who, just hours later, would abduct and kill another. In this episode of REDRUM, we unravel the terrifying timeline behind the murders of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz, the warning signs leading up to the killings, the disturbing history of violence and abuse that came before, and the investigation that followed as detectives raced to piece together a rapidly escalating nightmare. From the brutal assault outside Mila spa, to Wade’s chilling confessions, his attempted escape, controversial police handling of earlier allegations, and the media frenzy that later surrounded the case, this is one of the most shocking true crime stories in recent years. But beneath the headlines, viral clips, and the “Deadpool Killer” nickname, are 2 women whose lives were stolen in acts of horrific violence… and a timeline…

Topics covered

• domestic violence
• murder investigation
• warning signs
• violence history
• police handling
• true crime

Keywords

• Wade Wilson
• Kristine Melton
• Diane Ruiz
• domestic violence
• murder
• police investigation
• true crime

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Cape Coral police

Places: Mila spa

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