Paramount+ Explores the Dark Story Behind the ‘Deadpool Killer’ in Three-Part True-Crime Series

A convicted double murderer whose appearance sparked an unexpected online following is the subject of a three-part documentary series on Paramount+. Titled Handsome Devil: Charming Killer, the production examines how Wade Wilson became a social media sensation despite being convicted of killing two women.

The series revisits the 2019 murders of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz in Cape Coral, Florida. Wilson was convicted of both killings in June 2024 and sentenced to death in August that year.

Rather than focusing solely on the crimes, the documentary also investigates the disturbing public fascination that developed around Wilson. His mugshot, facial tattoos and perceived “bad boy” image attracted attention online, with some users expressing admiration for him even after details of the murders became public.

According to Paramount+, the series uses police body-camera footage and firsthand accounts from people connected to the case. It explores the contrast between the violence for which Wilson was convicted and the devoted online following that formed around his image.

The project was written and directed by Brian Ross and Rhonda Schwartz for Law & Crime Productions. Executive producers include Dan Abrams, Rachel Stockman, Melody Shafir, Susan Zirinsky and Terence Wrong.

The three episodes cover the manhunt following the killings, the public attention surrounding Wilson’s trial, and the death penalty imposed for the murders.

Handsome Devil: Charming Killer premiered on Paramount+ on January 20, 2026. The series raises broader questions about how social media can turn real-life criminal cases into online spectacles—and how victims and their families can become overshadowed by attention directed at the person convicted of killing them.

Sources: TRUE CRIME