No second chance for Wade Wilson as judge rejects murder trial appeal

Wade Wilson, the 30-year-old convicted of brutally murdering two women in Cape Coral in 2019, has been denied a new trial by Lee Circuit Judge Nicholas Thompson, pushing the high-profile case closer to a potential death sentence.

According to Yahoo, the decision was detailed in court documents filed Thursday, following nearly four weeks of deliberation. Judge Thompson's ruling is a significant development in a case that has drawn considerable attention in Southwest Florida since 2019.

The Cape Coral Police Department said Wilson was arrested in October 2019 in connection with the deaths of Kristine Melton, 35, and Diane Ruiz, 43. According to the police report, both victims were found dead within days of each other, prompting a city-wide manhunt.

Court records indicate that on June 12, 2023, a jury found Wilson guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and additional related charges. The Lee County Clerk of Courts office reported that on June 25, the same jury recommended the death penalty with votes of 9-3 and 10-2 for the murders of Melton and Ruiz, respectively.

Wilson is currently held at the Lee County Jail, awaiting transfer to the Lee County Justice Center for his sentencing. The hearing is now set for August 27 at 1 p.m., following a rescheduling during a July 19 motions hearing. Before the sentencing, Judge Thompson has scheduled a 9 a.m. session on August 27 to address outstanding motions.

Throughout the trial, court transcripts show that Wilson's defense team presented arguments related to his personal history. Defense attorney Sarah Brown stated, "Hospital records indicate that Mr. Wilson sustained several head injuries during his childhood and adolescence while participating in various sporting activities." These medical reports were presented as potential mitigating factors for the jury and court to consider.

The State Attorney's Office said that if sentenced to death, Wilson would join a small group of inmates on Florida's death row from Lee and Collier counties. Department of Corrections officials reported that currently, eight individuals from these counties are awaiting execution.

As noted in public records from the Lee County Clerk's office, the case has drawn significant attention in Southwest Florida, partly due to its violent nature and the profound effect on the typically quiet community of Cape Coral. The outcome of the August 27 sentencing hearing will be closely monitored by legal observers and the local community alike, according to statements from the State Attorney's Office.