Wade Wilson, who has been dubbed the “ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool Killer” online, was convicted in 2024 of the first-degree m*rd3rs of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz, who were k!lled in Florida in 2019. He was sentenced to d3ath in August 2024 and remains on Florida’s d3ath row while his case goes through the appeals process.

But the case has attracted a disturbing kind of attention beyond the courtroom. After his conviction, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office reported that Wilson received 3,903 online messages, 65 letters and 279 accepted connection requests, along with hundreds of pH๏τographs. Authorities rejected 163 of the pH๏τos because they were considered inappropriate.

Some women also wrote directly to the judge asking that Wilson be spared the d3ath penalty. Reports have described supporters sending money and expressing romantic interest, while some online followers have openly presented themselves as his partners or devoted supporters.

So why does this happen?

Psychologists and criminologists have discussed several possible factors behind this broader phenomenon, including fantasy, parasocial attachment, attraction to notoriety, and the perceived safety of becoming emotionally attached to someone who is already incarcerated. In Wilson’s case, some commentators have also pointed to the way social media transformed his appearance, courtroom footage and personal story into viral content.

But there is an important distinction: not every person who contacts a convicted offender is necessarily romantically attracted to them, and there is no single explanation for this behavior. Online attention can also be driven by curiosity, fascination with notorious cases or attempts to participate in a controversial story.

The bigger concern is what happens when true crime crosses the line from awareness into fan culture. When the person responsible becomes the celebrity, the victims can disappear from the conversation.

Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz should remain at the center of this story — not the internet fame surrounding the man convicted of their m*rd3rs. 💔

SOURCES:
Florida State Attorney’s Office — Wade Wilson case