Accused double murderer allowed to cover swastika and skeleton face tattoos — but they’re still showing
An accused double murderer facing the death penalty in Florida has won the right to hide from jurors disturbing tattoos covering his neck and face, including swastikas and ones making him look like a skeleton.
Wade Wilson, 30, is accused of killing Kristine Melton, 35, and Diane Ruiz, 43, in 2019 — allegedly confessing to his dad that he left Ruiz “looking like spaghetti” when he repeatedly ran over the mother of two, according to NBC 2.
The tattooed suspect has already been in custody almost five years — and the start of his trial was further delayed this week as he fought to hide his startling appearance.
He wanted to cover “numerous and varied tattoos” on his face “that might be objectionable to members of the potential jury pool,” his lawyers wrote in a pretrial motion obtained by the News-Press.
He was granted permission to use makeup to cover the inkings — but most, including a swastika under his right eye and the skeleton-like mouth, were still visible during the start of jury selection, photos showed.
Others around his left cheek appeared to be fainter.
It was unclear if he would, in fact, cover them as permitted during the ongoing trial, the outlets noted.
Still, Wilson swapped his orange jumpsuit for a smart suit, shirt and tie, and also showed off a fresh haircut — having won permission for those, too.
“He would like to appear presentable to the jury deciding his guilt or innocence or whether he lives or dies,” his attorneys’ motion said.
“Just as a defendant’s appearance before a jury in jail clothing or restraints is inherently prejudicial, so too appearing with unkempt hair would be a denial of equal protection,” the motion states, according to NBC 2.
Wilson has denied killing the women, both from Cape Coral.
His case has already faced numerous roadblocks, including the death of his first attorney and his attempt to escape jail, the outlets noted.
His father previously told investigators that his son called him asking for help soon after he’d strangled Melton, according to NBC 2.
His father said Wilson allegedly told him he strangled her in her sleep and rolled her up in a carpet.
Wilson then picked up Ruiz, asked her for directions, choked her and ran over her body so many times that “he made her look like spaghetti,” his dad told investigators.
An ex-girlfriend of Wilson also told NBC 2 he confessed to her about committing the crimes.
Family members of the victims were not seen in the courtroom as jury selection began.
Wilson faces the death penalty if convicted. Juries in Florida only require eight jurors to recommend the death penalty.
