Florida Man Executed for Gruesome Murder
A man from Florida was executed Tuesday evening for the horrific murder of a married mother. He raped her and shot her in the face after she failed to respond to multiple 911 calls.
Michael Lee King, 54, had been sentenced to death in 2008 for the murder, rape, and kidnapping of 21-year-old Denise Amber Lee, who had two children.
King was pronounced dead at 6:13 p.m. on Tuesday at a state prison, following a lethal injection.
Just before his execution, King stated, “Ever since I found Jesus in prison, I have tried to live as a disciple of Jesus by following the two great commandments: to love God with all my heart, all my soul, and to love my neighbors, including my family, Denise’s family, and everyone in the audience.” However, he did not offer any apologies or express remorse.
Attending the execution were Lee’s father, her widowed husband, and her oldest son, all dressed in pink, which was Lee’s favorite color.
On January 17, 2008, Lee was kidnapped from her home in Northport while her young children were inside. During the trial, it was revealed that King restrained and assaulted her in his home.
Afterward, King drove to his cousin’s house to borrow some tools. While he was distracted, Lee managed to use his cell phone to call 911, but her calls went unanswered, as did similar calls from her husband and witnesses. In a heartbreaking audio message, she pleaded for help.
Tragically, not long after, she was shot in the face and buried in a remote location.
King was arrested the same day after police identified his 1994 green Chevrolet Camaro, responding to a 911 report of screams from a nearby car. Evidence including Lee’s hair and personal items was found in both his car and home.
This case led to the Florida Legislature passing the Dennis Amber Lee Act, aimed at improving training for 911 operators. Additionally, Lee’s husband, Nathan, established a foundation in her honor, which works to enhance operator training and raise awareness about such issues.
“I’m so blessed to have known Denise, especially to be married to her and to have two wonderful children,” Nathan reflected.
King became the fourth person executed in Florida for the year, with two more executions scheduled for March 31 and April 21.
Lee’s father, Richard Goff, hailed his daughter as a hero and criticized King for his lack of remorse, stating, “If you can’t say it with all your heart, don’t say it.”
Noah Lee, who was just two years old at the time of his mother’s death, expressed that he feels the void left by her absence every single day, even though he never got the chance to really know her.
