If you’ve spent any time on TikTok or news sites lately, you’ve probably seen the name Wade Wilson. No, not the wisecracking Marvel mercenary. This is about the Florida man who shares the name, the one with the face tattoos and the chillingly calm courtroom vibe that went viral for all the wrong reasons. Because of the high-profile nature of his crimes and that "Deadpool" nickname, search engines are currently flooded with one big question: has wade wilson been executed?
The short answer is no. As of January 2026, Wade Wilson is still alive. He is currently an inmate on Florida’s death row.
Honestly, the legal system moves at a snail’s pace, especially when capital punishment is involved. Even though a judge handed down a death sentence in late 2024, that was just the beginning of a very long, very complicated legal road. People often see the "sentenced to death" headlines and assume the execution happens shortly after. In reality, the gap between a sentence and the actual execution in Florida can often span decades.
The Status of Wade Wilson in 2026
Right now, Wade Wilson is sitting in the Union Correctional Institution in Raiford, Florida. If you’re looking for a specific execution date, you won’t find one. That's because one hasn't been set yet. In Florida, an execution date only gets scheduled once the Governor—currently Ron DeSantis—signs a death warrant.
But there’s a massive hurdle before that can happen: the mandatory appeal process.
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Under Florida law, every single death sentence is automatically reviewed by the Florida Supreme Court. This isn't optional. It’s a safeguard meant to ensure the trial was fair and the evidence actually supports the ultimate penalty. For Wilson, this process is very much active. In fact, oral arguments for his case are scheduled for February 5, 2026.
Think about that. We are more than a year out from his initial sentencing, and the state supreme court is only just getting around to hearing the oral arguments. This is why when people ask "has wade wilson been executed," the answer remains a firm "not even close."
Why the Case is So Controversial
Wilson’s case isn’t just your "standard" murder trial. It’s a lightning rod for debate for a few reasons:
- The Non-Unanimous Jury: This is the big one. The jury didn’t actually agree 12-0 that he should die. For the murder of Kristine Melton, the vote was 9-3. For Diane Ruiz, it was 10-2.
- Changing Laws: Florida recently lowered the threshold for the death penalty. It used to require a unanimous jury, but now only 8 out of 12 jurors need to recommend death. Wilson is one of the first high-profile tests of this new law.
- The "Deadpool" Persona: The name, the tattoos, and the total lack of remorse in court created a weird sort of "fandom" and a lot of morbid curiosity online, which has kept the case in the spotlight much longer than usual.
Understanding Florida's Death Row Timeline
To understand why the question of whether wade wilson has been executed keeps popping up, you have to look at the backlog. Florida has hundreds of people on death row. Some have been there since the 1980s.
Governor DeSantis has definitely picked up the pace lately. In 2025 alone, Florida carried out 19 executions—a massive number compared to previous years. Just recently, in early January 2026, the Governor signed the first death warrant of the year for a man named Ronald Palmer Heath. That execution is set for February 2026.
Wilson is essentially way back in the line.
What happens during a "Direct Appeal"?
When Wilson’s lawyers stand before the Florida Supreme Court in February 2026, they aren't necessarily trying to prove he didn't do it. Instead, they are looking for legal errors. They’ve already filed briefs arguing that applying the new "non-unanimous" jury law to a crime that happened in 2019 (before the law changed) is unconstitutional.
Basically, they're saying the rules were changed in the middle of the game. If the court agrees, his death sentence could be overturned and turned into life in prison. If they disagree, the sentence stands, but then he moves on to federal appeals. This can go on for years.
The Crimes That Led to the Sentence
It’s easy to get lost in the "true crime" hype, but the reason Wilson is on death row is due to the extreme brutality of what happened in October 2019.
He murdered two women, Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz, within hours of each other. The details provided in court were horrific. He met Melton at a bar, went home with her, and strangled her while she slept. Then, later that same day, he encountered Ruiz on the street, lured her into a car, strangled her, and—according to his own father’s testimony—ran her over multiple times because he realized she was still breathing.
The judge, Nicholas Thompson, described the killings as "heinous, atrocious, and cruel." That specific legal phrasing is important in Florida because it's one of the "aggravating factors" that allows a judge to impose the death penalty.
What’s Next for Wade Wilson?
If you are following this case, the next date to circle on your calendar is February 5, 2026. That is the oral argument phase at the Florida Supreme Court.
Don't expect a decision that day. The court usually takes months to issue a written opinion after hearing the arguments. If they uphold the sentence, Wilson will remain on death row and continue his appeals through the federal system, potentially all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
If the sentence is upheld through all those levels, only then will it land on the Governor's desk for a signature on a death warrant.
Actionable Takeaways for Following the Case:
- Check the Florida Supreme Court Docket: You can search for case SC2024-1345 to see every document filed by Wilson's lawyers and the state.
- Monitor the Florida Department of Corrections: They maintain a public database of all death row inmates. As long as his status says "Death Row," he has not been executed.
- Watch for "Death Warrants": These are public announcements. If a warrant is signed, the execution usually happens within 30 to 45 days.
The "Deadpool Killer" isn't going anywhere anytime soon. While the internet might be looking for a quick ending to the story, the reality of the American justice system is that "death row" is a long-term residence, not a quick stop.
Key Resources for Verification:
- Florida Supreme Court Case: Wade Steven Wilson v. State of Florida (SC2024-1345).
- Florida Department of Corrections Inmate Population Information Search.
- Official Statements from the Office of the Governor, State of Florida.