A new true crime docuseries is examining a disturbing and viral case from Florida. Handsome Devil: Charming Killer details the murders committed by Wade Wilson and the strange internet fame that followed his arrest. The three-part series is available to watch now on Paramount+ .
Wilson was convicted and sentenced to death in 2024 for the brutal 2019 murders of two women in Cape Coral, Florida: Kristine Melton, 35, and Diane Ruiz, 43 . The documentary explores how, despite the horrific nature of his crimes, Wilson’s mugshot and demeanor attracted a following online, with some admirers even calling themselves “Wade’s Wives” .
The series is directed by Brian Ross and Rhonda Schwartz, former ABC News journalists, and features interviews with key figures in the case, including Wilson’s former girlfriend and his biological father .
What Happened on the Night of October 6, 2019
The documentary details the events that began on October 6, 2019. Wade Wilson, then 25, was at a Fort Myers club with his girlfriend at the time, Mila Montanez . After leaving the club, Wilson’s actions escalated over the next several hours into a string of violence.
He first met Kristine Melton and her friend at a bar. After spending time at a friend’s house, Wilson and Melton went to her Cape Coral home. While she slept, Wilson strangled Kristine Melton to death in her bed . He then stole her car.
Wilson drove to a business owned by Montanez and attacked her when she resisted getting into the stolen vehicle. She escaped and called the police . Later that same morning, Wilson saw Diane Ruiz walking to her bartending job. He asked her for directions, lured her into the car, and then attacked her. After beating and strangling her, Wilson pushed Ruiz out of the car and ran over her body 10 to 20 times .
How Wade Wilson Was Caught and the Trial That Followed
Wilson’s arrest came quickly, due in large part to a difficult decision made by his biological father. After the murders, Wilson repeatedly called Steven Testasecca, confessing to the crimes in graphic detail .
“I am going to be honest with you son,” Testasecca says to Wilson in a recorded call featured in the series trailer. “Everyone in the state thinks you are a monster” .
Testasecca initially thought his son was just telling stories. However, he eventually put his phone on speaker so his wife could listen and relay information to the police. Testasecca asked Wilson for his location, pretending to send an Uber, and then gave that information to law enforcement. Wilson was arrested on October 8, 2019, at an empty home he had broken into .
The case went to trial in June 2024. A Lee County jury found Wilson guilty and recommended the death penalty for both murders. Judge Nicholas Thompson formally imposed the two death sentences on August 27, 2024 .
โThe evidence showed both murders were heinous, atrocious and cruel, and that the second murder was cold, calculated and premeditated,โ Judge Thompson said during sentencing .
The Victims: Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz
The docuseries includes details about the lives of the two women Wilson killed, moving beyond their status as victims.
Kristine Melton was 35 and worked as a waitress. She had moved to Cape Coral from Illinois. Her cousin, Samantha Catomer, testified that Melton was a godmother, loved Halloween, and had a quick wit that made people feel safe .
“She was precious, not just to me, but to everyone who knew her,” Catomer said during the trial .
Diane Ruiz was 43, a mother, and was engaged to be married. She worked as a bartender at a local lodge and was known for her strong work ethic, never missing a shift in five years. She was walking to her 10 a.m. shift when Wilson encountered her .
The Disturbing Online Reaction and “Wade’s Wives”
A central focus of Handsome Devil: Charming Killer is the unexpected public reaction to Wilson after his arrest. Following the release of his mugshot, Wilson gained significant attention online. Some people were drawn to his “bad boy” appearance and tattoos, dubbing him the “Deadpool Killer” because he shares a name with the Marvel character .
A group of female admirers, referred to online as “Wade’s Wives,” formed. These women wrote letters to Wilson in jail, attended his court hearings, and publicly expressed support for him despite his crimes . The documentary features an interview with one of these women, Alexis Williams, who discusses how she started communicating with Wilson and how her views have since changed .
The series questions why a convicted killer became an object of fascination and explores the uncomfortable dynamic between true crime media and the public’s consumption of it . Viewer reactions on social media echo this unease. One commenter on a post about the documentary stated they were “disgusted by all this delusional women who had a thing for him” .
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Where to Watch Handsome Devil: Charming Killer and What Critics Say
Handsome Devil: Charming Killer is a three-part docuseries available exclusively on the Paramount+ streaming service. All episodes were released on Tuesday, January 20, 2026 .
To watch, you need a Paramount+ subscription. The service offers two main plans in the United States: an ad-supported Paramount+ Essential plan for $7.99 per month, and an ad-free Paramount+ Premium plan for $12.99 per month. New subscribers may qualify for a free one-week trial . Viewers in other countries, including the United Kingdom, have also been discussing access to the series on the platform .
Early critical reviews of the series have been mixed. Some praise its detailed examination of the case. One review on IMDb noted the series is “an intense and unsettling limited series” that effectively shows Wilson’s “complete detachment from reality and responsibility” .
However, other reviews criticize the documentary’s approach. A review from Decider suggests the series gives too much attention to Wilson’s story and online fame, while treating the victims as “secondary characters.” They argue this focus can leave viewers with a “queasy feeling” .
Wilson is currently on Florida’s death row at the Union Correctional Institution in Raiford. He was transferred there in August 2024 after resolving unrelated drug and attempted escape charges from his time in the Lee County jail .
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