Jury selection begins for Wade Wilson, man accused murdering two Cape Coral women

A man accused of killing two women in Cape Coral has been in jail for nearly five years, and his trial began on Monday. Wade Wilson, 30, is charged with the murder of Kristine Melton, 35, and Diane Ruiz, 43, in October 2019. Jury selection is ongoing. 60 potential jurors were brought in Monday, only to do it all again Tuesday with 60 more potential jurors tomorrow. Arguments and evidence are expected to be unveiled next week. As the three-week trial begins, attorneys have to secure a 16-person jury to listen to the evidence. In a law enacted last summer, only eight of 12 are required to recommend the death penalty if he is found guilty. Neither Melton nor Ruiz's family were seen in the courtroom Monday. Wilson has numerous tattoos on his face, including "stitches," swastikas, and others that the defense attorney fears may be questionable to the jury.In his pretrial motion filed on May 11, the defense asked for permission to apply makeup over Wilson's tattoos so he would look good for the jury."Wade Wilson is requesting to apply makeup on top of the various tattoos on his face in the Lee County Jail subject to the jail's security requirements," his defense attorney wrote in the motion.He also asked for a haircut before the trial."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, adding, "He would like to appear presentable to the jury deciding his guilt or innocence or whether he lives or dies."Wilson got his haircut and was granted make-up, but witnesses in the courtroom and unsure if he used it because his facial tattoos were still visible. If convicted, Wilson will face the death penalty.Defense attorney Lee Hollander previously noted there have been challenges in this case. For example, one of Wilson's prior attorneys died while awaiting trial. Another example includes Wilson's attempt to escape jail.In an interview with NBC2, Wilson denied killing Melton and Ruiz. However, an ex-girlfriend of his told us he called her and confessed to the crimes.His father also states that Wilson called him after spending the night with Melton. He told investigators Wilson called him after spending the night with Melton asking for help. She was a server at a Cape Coral bar.Wilson’s father said his son admitted to strangling Melton while she was sleeping, then rolled her up in a carpet.He does admit, he met her at a bar the night before she was found dead and slept at her house. But claims she was alive when he left in her car.He told his dad he then picked up a lady, asked for directions, then choked her and ran her over so many times, “he made her look like spaghetti.”Investigators say that the other woman was Ruiz, a mother of two.