Florida man with swastika face tattoo strangled two women hours apart
Killer bragged about running over victim and leaving her “like spaghetti” on the road.
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A demented Florida man with swastikas and a skeleton smile tattooed on his face has been convicted of murdering two women hours apart, including a mom he repeatedly ran over and bragged about leaving “like spaghetti” on the road.
Wade Wilson, 30, stayed motionless on Wednesday as he was convicted of two counts of first-degree premeditated murder in the October 2019 killings of Kristine Melton, 35, and Diane Ruiz, 43.
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A Cape Coral jury reached the verdict in just two hours. Wilson is eligible for the death penalty.
“An animal like this needs to be put away,” Police Chief Anthony Sizemore told Fox 4, per the New York Post, adding he was “relieved that the jury did the right thing.”
Wilson bragged during police interviews that he “would do it again.”
The defence has argued only that the crimes were not premeditated.
Wilson took Melton home from a bar on Oct. 7, 2019, then strangled her and left her tied up in her home.
Ruiz was reported missing that same day.
Wilson told his dad that she got into his car when he asked for directions. He admitted strangling her, as well, before throwing her out of the car and running her over “until she looked like spaghetti,” jurors were told.
“I choked her out until she couldn’t breathe anymore,” Wilson told cops of one of the murders. “I came across my mind to murder, just kill, kill, kill.”
“This case was about killing for the sake of the killing,” Assistant State Attorney Andreas Gardiner told the court. “Strangulation is the epitome of life slipping through someone’s hands.”
Wilson was also found guilty of grand theft, burglary of a dwelling, battery and petit theft.
He was granted permission to cover his face tattoos and get a new haircut and suit to look presentable to jurors, but the tattoos remained visible on his face.
The state is seeking the death penalty but will first have Wilson examined by doctors. Eight out of 12 jurors will have to vote in favour of the death penalty.
“This is a man with no respect for women and no respect for human life,” Assistant State Attorney Sara Miller had told jurors during closing arguments.
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