Digest

This podcast delves into the case of Wade Wilson, a man who has become a viral sensation on TikTok for his face tattoos and "Joker" persona, despite being a double homicide suspect. The episode chronicles the events leading up to his arrest, including a fight with his girlfriend Mila at the Buddha Bar, his confession to killing someone to a print shop owner, and his subsequent escape and arrest. The podcast also explores the details of the murders, including the strangulation of Christine Romero and the running over of Diane Ruiz. The episode examines the complex relationship between Wade and Mila, revealing a history of abuse and violence. It also delves into Wade's past, including his previous abuse of another girlfriend, Kelly. The podcast explores the motivations behind Wade's actions, including his mental health, his involvement in a white supremacist prison gang, and his attempts to escape from prison. The episode also examines the public's fascination with Wade's case, particularly on TikTok, where he has become a viral sensation. The podcast explores the reasons behind this fascination, including the dark romance obsession, the romanticization of violence, and the desire to "save" Wade from the death penalty. The episode concludes with a discussion of the trial, the jury's verdict, and the potential for Wade to be sentenced to death.

Outlines

00:00:00

The Case of Wade Wilson: A TikTok Sensation

This episode introduces the case of Wade Wilson, a man who has gone viral on TikTok for being "hot" despite being a double homicide suspect. The episode explores the events leading up to his arrest and the aftermath.

00:02:59

The Night at the Buddha Bar

This chapter details the events at the Buddha Bar in Fort Myers, Florida, where Wade Wilson and his girlfriend Mila had a fight. Wade stole Mila's car and left her stranded at the bar.

00:08:55

Meeting Junior and Jason

At the Buddha Bar, Stephanie and Christine, two friends, meet Junior and Jason. Junior is interested in Christine, and the four of them decide to go to Jason's house after the bar closes.

00:15:20

Wade's Confession and Escape

Wade, shirtless, shoeless, and covered in blood, goes to a print shop and confesses to killing someone to the owner, Joshua. He asks for help leaving town and mentions that he might have tried to kill Mila earlier that morning.

00:17:31

Mila's Troubled Past with Wade

This chapter reveals Mila's history of abuse at the hands of Wade. She had called the police on him multiple times for physical assaults, including an incident where he choked her unconscious.

00:19:47

Wade's Phone Calls and the Assault at the Spa

The next morning, Mila receives numerous calls from an unknown number. It turns out to be Wade, who acts as if nothing happened the previous night. He threatens her and tries to convince her to meet up. They agree to meet at the parking lot of Mila's spa, where Wade tries to force her into his car, and a struggle ensues. Amy, Mila's friend, calls 911 as Wade assaults Mila.

00:25:57

The Murders of Christine and Diane

Wade escapes the spa after assaulting Mila. The police track him down to a print shop, where he has left Christine's car. They find a phone inside the car, belonging to a stranger, and discover Christine's body in a wooded lot. Wade calls his father, Stephen, after killing Christine and Diane. He confesses to the murders and asks for help leaving town. Stephen initially doesn't believe him but eventually agrees to help.

00:39:51

Wade's Arrest and Confession

Wade's father contacts the police and provides them with Wade's location. Wade is arrested in a stranger's house, where he had been drinking and wearing the homeowner's clothes. Wade confesses to the murders of Christine and Diane to the police. He details the events leading up to the murders, including stealing Mila's car, strangling Christine, and running over Diane.

00:46:04

Wade's Past and Viral Fame

The episode reveals that Wade had previously abused his girlfriend, Kelly. He had choked her, cut off her clothes, and driven her to the Florida Keys, where he left her in her car. Wade has gone viral on TikTok for his face tattoos and his \"Joker\" persona. Some people on TikTok have excused his double homicide because they find him attractive.

00:57:01

Wade's Trial and the Public's Reaction

Wade attempts to escape from prison while awaiting trial. He leaves a note for his cellmate, detailing his escape plan. The guards catch him and charge him with attempted prison escape. Wade continues to be a disruptive presence in prison. He changes his story about the murders, attempts to traffic crystal meth, and snitches on another inmate who wanted to kill the mother of his child. Wade gets his face tattoos while in prison. He asks the judge to allow him to cover them up for his trial, but he intentionally gets a haircut to showcase the swastika tattooed on his scalp. Wade's moments in court, including his attorney's disgust at his appearance and his interactions with a female attorney, have gone viral on TikTok. Some people have romanticized his actions, comparing him to the Joker. This segment discusses fan edits of Wade Wilson's trial, including one with Eminem's song \"Spacebound\" and another with a sad song playing in the background. The edits often portray Wilson as sad, hopeless, and helpless, with comments expressing sympathy and forgiveness. The segment explores the existence of multiple TikTok pages dedicated to Wade Wilson, with comments expressing empathy and understanding. It also discusses a Change.org petition to stop his execution, highlighting the poem included in the petition and the comments expressing sympathy and a desire to \"save\" Wilson. This segment focuses on comments from the Change.org petition that argue against the death penalty for Wade Wilson. The comments highlight his young age, troubled upbringing, and potential for rehabilitation. They also express a belief that he deserves a second chance and proper psychological treatment. The segment delves into comments that question Wilson's guilt and express forgiveness. Some commenters believe he was framed or set up, while others cite God's forgiveness and argue that only God can judge. This segment discusses Wade Wilson's claims of being framed by a trafficking syndicate. He alleges that he was forced to confess to the murders to protect his children. The segment also explores comments from the Change.org petition that express skepticism about his guilt and the potential consequences of executing an innocent person. The segment explores the possibility of some netizens having a sexual interest in those who commit crimes, particularly those who believe they can \"change\" the perpetrator. It discusses the potential for this obsession to be rooted in a dark romance fantasy and the dangers it poses. This segment examines comments that focus on Wade Wilson's physical appearance and mental health. Some commenters argue that he appears healthier and more \"committed\" to his white supremacist tattoos since being in prison. The segment also highlights the irony of this argument given his involvement in a white supremacist prison gang. The segment focuses on Christine Romero's family and the impact of her murder. It includes a victim impact statement from her cousin, who describes Christine's close relationship with her mother and the devastating impact of her death. This segment features Zayn Romero's testimony in court. He describes his mother, Diane Ruiz, as a loving and supportive parent who was excited for his future. He expresses the pain of losing both his mother and father at a young age and the impact it has had on his life. The segment discusses Wade Wilson's behavior in court, particularly his lack of emotion during the trial. It highlights his smirking and staring at a female detective, which some interpret as an attempt to incite something. The segment also explores the arguments made by his attorneys regarding his mental health and the evidence presented in court. This segment reveals the jury's verdict in Wade Wilson's trial. The jury voted 9 to 3 in favor of the death penalty for Christine's murder and 10 to 2 for Diane's murder. The segment also discusses the recent change in Florida law that allows for a non-unanimous death penalty verdict.

Keywords

Q&A

• What events led to Wade Wilson's arrest for double homicide?

  Wade Wilson was arrested after confessing to killing Christine and Diane. He had stolen his girlfriend Mila's car, strangled Christine, and run over Diane. He also attempted to kidnap and assault Mila.

• Why did Wade Wilson's case go viral on TikTok?

  Wade Wilson went viral on TikTok for his face tattoos and his "Joker" persona. Some people on TikTok have excused his crimes because they find him attractive.

• What are the meanings behind Wade Wilson's face tattoos?

  Wade Wilson's face tattoos include symbols associated with white supremacy, the Joker, and Deadpool. He also has tattoos that suggest a violent and dangerous personality.

• How did Wade Wilson's father react to his confession?

  Wade Wilson's father initially didn't believe him but eventually agreed to help him escape. However, he ultimately contacted the police and provided them with Wade's location.

• What is the significance of Wade Wilson's case?

  Wade Wilson's case highlights the dangers of romanticizing violence and the importance of taking allegations of abuse seriously. It also raises questions about the role of social media in shaping public perception of crime.

• What are some of the arguments made by those who support Wade Wilson and oppose the death penalty?

  Supporters of Wade Wilson argue that he deserves a second chance due to his young age, troubled upbringing, and potential for rehabilitation. They believe he needs proper psychological treatment and that the death penalty is not the appropriate punishment.

• What evidence was presented in court regarding Wade Wilson's mental health?

  Doctors testified that Wade Wilson has significant frontal lobe impairment, which affects his executive functioning, decision making, and impulse control. They also believe he suffers from some sort of mental disorder. However, CT scans showed no abnormalities in his brain, and prison records indicate he has been diagnosed with multiple conditions, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and antisocial personality disorder.

• What is the significance of the recent change in Florida law regarding the death penalty?

  The change in Florida law allows for a non-unanimous death penalty verdict, meaning that a jury does not have to be unanimous in its decision to impose the death penalty. This change has been controversial, with some arguing that it makes it easier to impose the death penalty.

• What is the role of the judge in Wade Wilson's case?

  The judge will make the final decision on whether or not Wade Wilson will be placed on death row and executed by the state. The judge's decision is expected to be made on August 27th, 2024.

Show Notes