Quick Read
- Kelly Matthews survived a violent assault by Wade Wilson in February 2019.
- An internal review found that local police failed to properly investigate Matthews’ initial assault report.
- Matthews now works in wildlife conservation and continues to advocate for accountability in domestic violence cases.
Kelly Matthews, who survived a brutal assault by convicted murderer Wade Steven Wilson, is sharing her account of their volatile relationship as the case receives renewed public scrutiny. The harrowing details of their time together are featured in the premiere episode of the second season of Netflix’s Worst Ex Ever, which explores how Wilson’s violent patterns escalated in the months leading up to his 2019 killing spree in Florida.
The Escalation of Violence Before the Murders
Matthews first met Wilson on a dating app in late 2018 while living in West Palm Beach. What began as an seemingly normal relationship quickly spiraled into a series of disturbing incidents, including the theft of a laptop and the exploitation of animals. According to Matthews, the situation turned life-threatening on February 18, 2019, when Wilson allegedly strangled, punched, and sexually assaulted her. During the encounter, she claims he threatened to kill her and dispose of her body. Despite reporting the assault to law enforcement, official investigations at the time failed to result in charges, a failure that Matthews later challenged through a formal complaint against the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Department.
Institutional Accountability and Public Impact
The investigation into the handling of Matthews’ assault revealed significant lapses by local authorities. An internal review concluded that Detective Potter had failed to conduct a complete investigation, leading to a brief suspension for the officer. Matthews has consistently maintained that had the legal system acted effectively when she first reported Wilson’s violence, the subsequent murders of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz in October 2019 might have been prevented. Reflecting on the judicial outcome, she noted the profound weight of knowing her early warnings went unheeded.
Moving Forward After the Trauma
Today, Matthews works at the Avian Research Institute & Conservation Center in Florida, focusing on her career and personal recovery. While the Worst Ex Ever series has provided a platform for her to share her experience, she remains firm in her resolve that Wilson’s actions did not define her future. By speaking publicly, she aims to warn others about the warning signs of domestic abuse and the importance of systemic accountability in cases of gender-based violence.
The heightened public focus on Wilson’s history serves as a grim reminder of how failures in initial police reporting can enable repeat offenders, highlighting a critical need for more robust intervention protocols in domestic assault cases.