Will Wade Wilson get death sentence? How Florida's death penalty works

Wade Wilson , a Fort Myers man convicted of murdering two Cape Coral women in 2019, is facing the death penalty .

After weighing aggravating and mitigating circumstances, the jury in Wilson's trial recommended he receive death sentences for the brutal slayings of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz in Cape Coral.

While the jury voted in favor of the death penalty, it will be up to trial Judge Nicholas Thompson to impose the sentence. Wilson's sentencing is scheduled for July 23.

Here's what to know about the death penalty in Florida and Wade Wilson's sentence:

Capital felonies eligible for death penalty in Florida

Capital felonies, including first-degree murder and rape, are punishable by death or life imprisonment in Florida.

Punishment is decided during the penalty phase of a trial where aggravating and mitigating circumstances are considered.

DeSantis 2023 law makes child rape eligible for Florida death penalty

In May 2023, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law a bill making convictions for sexual battery or attempted sexual battery with injury of a child under 12 eligible for the death penalty .

"In Florida, we stand for the protection of children," DeSantis said. "We think that in the worst of the worst cases the only appropriate punishment is the ultimate punishment."

Jury votes don't have to be unanimous for death penalty in Florida

Florida juries were required to vote unanimously for a death sentence recommendation until April 2023 when Gov. Ron DeSantis lowered the threshold by signing into law a bill allowing juries to recommend death with as few as 8 votes .

Wilson's jury voted 9-3 and 10-2 in favor of the death sentence.

Lethal injection or electric chair? Florida death row inmates have choice

Persons sentenced to death in Florida can choose between two execution methods.

Death sentences are executed by lethal injection by default, but the person sentenced has one opportunity to choose death by electrocution instead.

Once the Florida Supreme Court affirms the sentence, the condemned must deliver a written request for electrocution to the warden within 30 days.

Where is Florida's death row?

Male death row inmates are housed on death row at Union Correctional Institution in Raiford, 45 miles southwest of Jacksonville.

Female death row inmates are imprisoned at Lowell Annex in Ocala.

Where does Florida carry out executions?

Florida executions – by lethal injection and electric chair – take place at the execution chamber at Florida State Prison in Raiford.

The executioner is a private citizen who is paid $150 per execution. Florida law allows for the executioner to remain anonymous.

Wade Wilson murders

Kristine Melton , 35, grew up in Illinois and moved with a friend to Cape Coral where she worked as a waitress.

Melton and her friend Stephanie Sailors met Wilson , then 25, at a Cape Coral bar on Oct. 7, 2019. That morning, the trio ended up at Melton's duplex.

After Sailors left, Wilson strangled Melton to death as she slept in her bed and stole her car.

Diane Ruiz , 43, was a mother, engaged to be married and worked as a bartender.

A short time after killing Melton, Wilson saw Ruiz walking along a Cape Coral street and asked her for directions to a nearby school.

Wilson lured her into the car and when she tried to leave he beat and strangled her before pushing her out of the car and running her over 10 to 20 times.

Her body was found in a field three days later, as vultures circled overhead.

Wade Wilson sentence

On June 12, 2024, Wilson was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder, grand theft, battery, burglary and petty theft.

During the penalty phase of the trial, the jury voted 9-3 and 10-2 in favor of the death penalty for the murder convictions.

Judge Nicholas Thompson will decide whether to impose the death sentence.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 23.

Where is Wade Wilson now?

Wilson is currently being held at the Lee County Jail.

Once he is sentenced and other unrelated charges are resolved, he'll be transferred into the Florida prison system.

If the judge in his case confirms the death penalty, Wilson will join the 276 men on death row at Union Correctional Institution.

Contributing: Tomas Rodriguez, Fort Myers News-Press

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Will Wade Wilson get death sentence? How Florida's death penalty works