If you’ve spent any time on the dark side of true crime TikTok or followed the Florida court feeds lately, you’ve definitely seen the face of Wade Wilson. Not the Marvel superhero, but the man with the skeletal face tattoos who earned the grim "Deadpool Killer" moniker.
While the internet was busy debating his "looks" or the chilling lack of remorse he showed during his 2024 death penalty sentencing, a much more important story was unfolding in the shadows of the courtroom. It’s the story of Mila Montanez, the ex-girlfriend who didn’t just know Wade Wilson—she barely survived him.
Honestly, the fascination with Wilson is kinda sickening when you look at the raw facts. Mila wasn't just some bystander. She was a woman who thought she had a future with a man she loved, only to find herself staring into the eyes of someone who, by his own admission, killed "for the sake of killing."
Who is Mila Montanez?
Most people searching for the wade wilson mila girlfriend connection are looking for gossip, but the reality is a grim legal chronicle. Mila Montanez was in a relationship with Wilson leading up to his October 2019 killing spree in Cape Coral, Florida.
She’s often been the one to provide the most haunting context for who Wilson was before the tattoos completely took over his face. In various interviews and court-related discussions, including the recent 2026 docuseries Handsome Devil: Charming Killer, Mila has been vocal about the terrifying shift in his personality.
"I fell in love with those beautiful dark eyes," she once said. "But later, it was those eyes I realized were gonna try to kill me."
That’s not just poetic flair. It’s a literal description of her survival.
The Attack That Preceded the Murders
Before Wilson murdered Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz, he attacked Mila. This is a detail that often gets glossed over in the viral clips of him smirking at a judge.
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Months before the 2019 murders, Mila reported a horrific assault. She described an incident where Wilson allegedly bit her face and choked her. It’s a classic, terrifying pattern of escalating domestic violence.
Kinda makes you wonder how things might have gone differently if those early red flags had resulted in permanent detention. But at the time, Wilson was a man drifting through a life of petty crime and brewing rage.
That Fateful October Day
On October 7, 2019, Wade Wilson's path of destruction reached its peak. After meeting Kristine Melton at a bar and strangling her in her sleep, Wilson didn't just stop. He took her car.
And where did he go? He went to find Mila.
He didn't go to her for comfort or to hide. He went to her and attacked her again. This was the moment the "girlfriend" title turned into "survivor." Mila managed to get away and immediately contacted law enforcement.
Think about that for a second. While Mila was calling the police, reeling from an attack by her own boyfriend, Wilson was already back on the road. Shortly after leaving her, he spotted Diane Ruiz walking to work. He lured her into the car by asking for directions, strangled her, and then—in a detail that still haunts the Cape Coral community—ran her over repeatedly with the car because he wanted to "make her look like spaghetti."
The brutality is hard to stomach.
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The "Wade’s Wives" Phenomenon
One of the weirdest and most frustrating parts of the wade wilson mila girlfriend saga is the "fanbase" that cropped up around him during his trial. While Mila was dealing with the trauma of her near-death experience, other women were sending Wilson love letters and money in jail.
They called them "Wade’s Wives."
It’s a bizarre case of Hybristophilia—being attracted to people who commit gruesome crimes. Mila has spoken about this, and you can tell it’s exhausting for the people who actually suffered at his hands.
Alexis Williams, one of the women who initially fell for his "charm" over the phone while he was behind bars, eventually snapped out of it. She told investigators that hearing the testimony from Diane Ruiz’s son was what finally broke the spell.
But for Mila, there was no "spell" to break. There was only the reality of the man she knew.
Why Mila’s Testimony Mattered
Mila Montanez didn't just hide away. She came forward. She participated in the legal process that eventually saw a jury vote 9-3 and 10-2 for the death penalty for the murders of Melton and Ruiz.
In August 2024, Judge Nicholas Thompson officially sentenced Wilson to death. He noted that the "heinous, atrocious, and cruel" nature of the crimes outweighed any "mitigating factors" like Wilson’s drug addiction or claims of a "diseased mind."
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Mila’s story provided the bridge. She showed the court that Wilson wasn't just a man who "snapped" one day. He was a predator who had been practicing his violence on her for months.
Moving Forward: What We Can Learn
If you’re following this case, it’s easy to get lost in the sensationalism. The tattoos, the "Deadpool" nickname, the smug courtroom looks—it’s all designed to distract from the victims.
Pay attention to the patterns.
Domestic violence is almost always the precursor to larger-scale tragedies. Mila’s experience is a textbook example of why we have to take "minor" assaults seriously. A bite on the face or a hand around the neck isn't just a fight; it’s a lethality indicator.
Support the survivors.
While the "Wade’s Wives" of the world are busy writing letters to death row, women like Mila Montanez are doing the hard work of rebuilding lives shattered by violence.
Understand the legal reality.
Wade Wilson is currently on death row in Florida. The appeals process is long, and his execution isn't happening tomorrow. But the legal weight of his actions has been firmly established.
For those looking for actionable ways to engage with stories like this beyond just clicking on headlines:
- Educate yourself on the "Lethality Assessment": If you or someone you know is in a relationship with escalating physical violence, look up the signs that indicate a partner is likely to kill. Strangulation is the #1 red flag.
- Support Victim Services: Organizations like the National Domestic Violence Hotline or local Cape Coral shelters provide the resources that women like Mila need when they finally make the break.
- Shift the Narrative: Stop calling him "Deadpool." Use the names of the women whose lives were stolen or the ones who had the courage to stand up in court.
Mila Montanez is more than just a footnote in a killer's biography. She’s the one who lived to tell the truth about who Wade Wilson really is.