The Wade Wilson Case: Inside Florida's Brutal 2019 Crimes and Domestic Violence Horror
In the quiet town of Fort Meers, Florida, a seemingly ordinary evening in October 2019 would become the starting point of a disturbing case that exemplifies how quickly relationships can turn dangerous. Melissa Monz and her boyfriend Wade Wilson's night out at the Buddha Bar devolved into a series of traumatic events when an argument led to Wilson abandoning Melissa, stealing her Dodge Hellcat, and later returning in an unfamiliar vehicle with violent intentions. The incident highlights the unpredictable nature of domestic violence and the rapid escalation that can occur when someone with a history of aggression feels challenged.
What followed was a terrifying confrontation outside Melissa's workplace, where Wade attempted to force her into an unknown car. Despite her resistance and the gathering of bystanders, the assault continued as Wade dragged, choked, and beat Melissa before she eventually escaped to safety. Police records would later reveal Wilson as a habitual offender with over 20 arrests since 2010, painting a picture of a troubled individual whose biological father had given him up for adoption at birth, only reconnecting when Wilson was 18 years old.
Key Takeaways
What began as a night out quickly escalated into a violent assault when Wade Wilson ambushed Melissa Monz outside her workplace after stealing her car.
Melissa's quick thinking and physical resistance likely prevented a worse outcome, demonstrating remarkable courage in a life-threatening situation.
Wade Wilson's extensive criminal history spanning a decade reveals a pattern of escalating behavior that culminated in this violent confrontation.
The Concept of Evil
Evil represents a fundamental force in human behavior, characterized by deliberate harm, enjoyment of others' suffering, and disregard for life itself. This concept has puzzled philosophers throughout history while simultaneously striking fear into society.
The manifestation of evil often appears in individuals who lack empathy or remorse. These traits become evident in criminal cases where perpetrators demonstrate complete disregard for human dignity and wellbeing.
Key aspects of evil behavior include:
Intentional infliction of harm
Absence of empathy toward victims
Pattern of manipulative actions
Disregard for social and moral boundaries
Evil doesn't exist in isolation but emerges through choices and actions. When examining criminal behavior, we often see a progression from minor offenses to increasingly harmful acts as moral constraints weaken over time.
Criminal records frequently reveal warning signs that precede major offenses. Past incidents of violence, fraud, or other violations often indicate a pattern of escalating disregard for others' rights and wellbeing.
The family background of individuals who commit evil acts sometimes reveals complex circumstances. Disrupted upbringings, adoption, and reconnection with biological parents later in life can create complicated psychological dynamics that may contribute to behavioral issues.
The contrast between evil actions and human resilience remains striking. For every perpetrator, there are victims who demonstrate remarkable strength, communities that rally for justice, and systems designed to hold offenders accountable.
Physical violence represents one of the most direct expressions of evil intent. Assaults involving choking, punching, and other physical attacks demonstrate a complete disregard for another person's physical integrity and safety.
Public spaces can quickly become dangerous when violent individuals lose control. What begins as a confrontation can rapidly escalate into a life-threatening situation, particularly when significant physical or power imbalances exist between the parties involved.
The Incident at Fort Meers
On October 6, 2019, what began as a typical evening in Fort Meers, Florida would evolve into a series of disturbing events. The temperature reached a warm 84°F as Melissa Monz and her boyfriend of six months, Wade Wilson, arrived at the Buddha Bar for what should have been a night of enjoyment. Their arrival in Melissa's gray 2015 Dodge Hellcat marked the beginning of a troubling sequence that would eventually involve law enforcement.
The Missing Hellcat
Inside the Buddha Bar, tension quickly developed between Melissa and Wade when he expressed a desire to visit someone's house—a suggestion Melissa firmly opposed. Wade claimed he needed to retrieve something from the vehicle and stepped outside. When Melissa followed moments later, she witnessed her Dodge Hellcat driving away from the parking lot, though strangely, she couldn't see Wade behind the wheel.
Stranded without transportation and unwilling to return home, Melissa contacted her friend Amy, who picked her up and brought her to her residence. By 8:00 a.m. the following morning, Melissa discovered multiple missed calls from Wade using an unknown phone number. During their subsequent conversation, Wade demanded to meet immediately, his tone aggressive and hostile. Despite concerns about his history of violence and substance abuse, Melissa agreed to meet in public at her workplace, Mila's Spa, with Amy accompanying her for safety.
Upon arrival, Melissa immediately noticed Wade driving an unfamiliar black Nissan Versa—not her Hellcat. When questioned about her car and keys, Wade remained calm initially, repeatedly instructing her to enter the vehicle. When Melissa refused, his demeanor shifted dramatically.
Melissa's Call for Help
The situation escalated quickly as Wade became increasingly aggressive. He attempted to physically force Melissa into the car, grabbing her dress and hair. Melissa resisted by positioning herself with arms raised to prevent being pulled inside the vehicle. As her dress began to tear from Wade's forceful pulling, he opened the car door, apparently forgetting to put the vehicle in park.
The car began rolling forward as Wade tackled Melissa to the ground. Both were grazed by the moving vehicle before Melissa found herself pinned down by Wade, who outweighed her significantly—he stood 6'6" compared to her 5'2" frame. What followed was a brutal assault including punches, slapping, and choking.
The confrontation moved from the car to a staircase as Melissa desperately tried to reason with Wade while a crowd began to gather. She recalled seeing "nobody behind those eyes anymore," indicating Wade's complete lack of rationality during the attack. At 8:48 a.m., Fort Meers police responded to multiple 911 calls reporting the assault. Officer Tim McCormick met with Melissa at Mila's Spa, where she identified Wade Wilson as her attacker.
By then, Wade had fled the scene in the black Nissan Versa. Police issued an immediate alert for his capture while Melissa provided detailed information about their relationship during a subsequent interview with detectives. Court records would later reveal Wade as a habitual offender with more than 20 arrests since 2010 for various offenses including fraud, trespassing, and physical abuse.
Melissa's Encounter with Wade Wilson
Confrontation at Mila's Spa
On the morning of October 7, 2019, Melissa Monz arranged to meet Wade Wilson at her workplace, Mila's Spa in downtown Fort Myers, Florida. After Wilson had abandoned her the previous night by taking her 2015 Dodge Hellcat without permission, he had been calling repeatedly from an unknown number, demanding to see her. Feeling uneasy due to his history of violent behavior and drug use, Melissa asked her friend Amy to accompany her for safety.
When Melissa arrived at the spa, she immediately noticed Wilson wasn't driving her Hellcat but instead an unfamiliar black Nissan Versa. She approached the driver's side window and demanded to know the whereabouts of her car and keys. Wilson remained initially calm, repeatedly insisting she get into the vehicle with him.
The situation escalated rapidly when Melissa refused to enter the car. Wilson became aggressive, attempting to physically pull her into the vehicle by her dress. Melissa resisted by positioning herself in a "plank" stance with her arms raised above her head to prevent being forced inside. As Wilson continued pulling at her dress and hair, the garment began to tear from her body.
The Assault and Aftermath
When Wilson realized Melissa was breaking free from his grip, he opened the car door, apparently forgetting to put the vehicle in park. The car began rolling forward as Wilson tackled Melissa to the ground, with the vehicle grazing both their legs in the process. Once on the ground, Wilson—standing 6'6" compared to Melissa's 5'2" frame—began assaulting her with punches, slaps, and choking.
The violent confrontation moved from beside the car to the front of a staircase, where Melissa desperately held on while trying to reason with Wilson. She described seeing "nobody behind those eyes anymore," indicating Wilson was in an uncontrollable state. Despite a crowd beginning to form, the assault continued as Wilson punched, grabbed, and choked her again.
At 8:48 a.m., Fort Myers police responded to multiple 911 calls reporting the assault. Officer Tim McCormick met with Melissa at the spa, where she identified Wilson as her attacker. By this time, Wilson had fled the scene in the black Nissan, prompting police to issue an alert for his capture.
Following the assault, Melissa provided detailed information to detectives about their six-month relationship, which had included a period when Wilson was incarcerated for approximately 3.5 months. Despite warnings from others about Wilson's abusive behavior, Melissa had given him a second chance upon his release from jail. Police records revealed Wilson as a habitual offender with more than 20 arrests since 2010 for various charges including fraud, trespassing, and physical abuse.
Police Response
Emergency Calls and Arrest
On October 7, 2019, at approximately 8:48 a.m., Fort Myers Police responded to multiple 911 calls reporting a violent assault in downtown Fort Myers. Dispatchers received urgent reports describing a man attacking a woman, with one caller specifically mentioning a stabbing threat. The caller indicated concerns for public safety, stating "everybody is around here right now."
Officer Tim McCormick was among the responding officers who arrived at Milo's Spa where the victim had sought refuge after escaping her attacker. Upon arrival, police discovered that the suspect, Wade Wilson, had already fled the scene in a black Nissan Versa - a vehicle unfamiliar to the victim. Authorities immediately issued an alert to locate and apprehend Wilson.
Melissa's Account to Police
During her interview with detectives, Melissa provided comprehensive details about the violent confrontation and her relationship with Wilson. She explained they had been dating for approximately six months after meeting through a mutual friend. Their relationship included living together briefly before Wilson served a 3½-month incarceration period.
Melissa described the morning's events in detail:
Wilson demanded to meet after stealing her 2015 Dodge Hellcat
She agreed to meet at her workplace (Milo's Spa) for safety, bringing a friend
Wilson arrived in an unfamiliar black car (later identified as a Nissan)
When she refused to enter his vehicle, Wilson became violent
He attempted to drag her into the car by her dress
During the struggle, Wilson neglected to put the car in park, causing it to roll forward
The altercation escalated with Wilson tackling her to the ground
She further described the assault's progression, stating Wilson punched, slapped, and choked her while dragging her by her hair. Despite a crowd gathering, nobody immediately intervened. "There was nobody behind those eyes anymore," Melissa told investigators, describing Wilson's demeanor during the attack.
Police records revealed Wilson's extensive criminal history, including more than 20 arrests since 2010 for various offenses including fraud, trespassing, and physical abuse, classifying him as a habitual offender.
Wade Wilson's Profile
Legal Issues
Wade Wilson has a significant history of legal troubles, with over 20 arrests since 2010. His charges span various offenses including fraud, trespassing, and physical abuse, earning him the status of a habitual offender in the justice system. Wilson spent approximately 3.5 months incarcerated during his relationship with Melissa Monz. Despite this imprisonment, Monz maintained contact with him and decided to give their relationship another chance after his release. During one violent incident on October 7, 2019, Wilson assaulted Monz in a public altercation outside her workplace after stealing her vehicle the previous night. Multiple 911 calls reported a man attacking a woman, which brought Fort Myers police to the scene at 8:48 a.m., though Wilson had already fled in a black Nissan Versa.
Family Background
Wilson's biological father, Steven Testa, was only 14 or 15 years old when he learned he would be a father. The mother was a year younger, and neither teen was in a position to raise a child. As a result, Wilson was placed for adoption and raised by Candy and Steve Wilson, who attended the same church as his maternal grandparents. The adoptive parents also had two daughters. Wilson had no contact with his biological father until he turned 18, when he initiated a connection. According to Testa, who was 46 at the time of his testimony, Wilson seemed eager to establish a relationship. Their interactions primarily consisted of frequent phone calls, with Testa visiting his son once in Tallahassee. During their relationship, Wilson regularly asked his biological father for financial assistance.
