Cape Coral murder victim Kristine Melton was best friend, cat mom
A Cape Coral woman, murdered by a Fort Myers man, was remembered at trial as a cat lover and amazing friend, who moved across the country with her best friend and worked the same job.
"The fact that she was taken from us in such a tragic, senseless murder will never be lifted from our minds and hearts," said friend Christie Long about Kristine Melton, murdered by Wade Wilson in 2019, in a GoFundMe campaign organized soon after the death.
A Lee County jury on Wednesday afternoon convicted Wilson of first-degree murder in the slaying of Melton, 35, and Diane Ruiz, 43. The jury reconvenes June 20 to determine whether he will face the death penalty.
Wilson, 30, also was convicted of the grand theft of Melton's car; battery on Melissa Montanez, 41; burglary of a dwelling belonging to Kent Amlin or Fannie Amlin; and petty theft from Kent Amlin or Fanny Amlin.
Who was Kristine Melton?
Stephanie Sailors, 41, of Cape Coral, told the court during Wilson's trial that she and Melton, who grew up in Illinois, were friends since high school. They lived together in Colorado before moving to Cape Coral and were waitresses at the same restaurant.
As Sailors described her friend, she sobbed, gasped and dried tears. She defined Melton's loss as "devastating."
Melton lived alone in a duplex and had a cat, Sailors recalled.
According to the GoFundMe fundraiser, Melton and her mother, who she cared for, were "two peas in a pod."
"... they were confidants and best friends," Long said.
Sailors and Melton, rarely going without contact, decided to go to Buddha LIVE, 12701 McGregor Blvd., in Fort Myers, to listen to live music Oct. 6, 2019.
How did Kristine Melton meet Wade Wilson?
Toward the end of the night, as they walked to the upstairs bar, Sailors said, Wilson jumped into their path and introduced himself.
Sailors said that after the live-music bar closed down for the night, she, Melton, Wilson and another man they had met that night, Jayson Shepard, 42, drove to Shepard's home, where they spent several hours.
Melton, Sailors and Wilson left the home together the next morning.
Before Sailors left to take her son to school and drive to work, she said, she hugged Melton and said, "See you tomorrow."
Their tomorrow never came.
Melton was found dead in her home on Oct. 7, 2019.
Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran and Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Wade Wilson was convicted of killing her. Who was Kristine Melton?
