IDENTITY AND ARRESTED WITHOUT INCIDENT BEFORE BEING TAKEN TO JAIL. >> WELL, NEW AT 11, THE MAN CONVICTED OF KIDNAPPING AND MURDERING A MOTHER OF 2 FROM NORTH PORT HAS BEEN EXECUTED. GULF COAST NEWS WAS THERE AS HER FAMILY SPOKE FOLLOWING THE LETHAL INJECTION TONIGHT. >> IT’S OVER THIS CHAPTER IS CLOSED. >> AND EMOTIONAL NIGHT FOR DENISE AND BURLEY’S LOVED ONES. WE KNOW THOSE GULF COAST NEWS ANCHOR PETER BUSCH. HE WAS THERE AS A WITNESS. HE JOINS US FROM THE STATE PRISON WHERE HER KILLER WAS PUT TO DEATH. PETER? >> MICHAEL KING WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD JUST AFTER 6 O’CLOCK THIS EVENING AT THE STATE PRISON IN STARKE. HE DIED PEACEFULLY ACCORDING TO WITNESSES. A STARK CONTRAST FROM HOW DENISE AMBER LEE DIED IN 2008. THE 21 YEAR-OLD MOTHER WAS WATCHING HER INFANT SON AND HER TODDLER WHEN KING KIDNAPPED OR RAPED HER AND BRUTALLY MURDERED HER. TONIGHT, DENISE, HIS FAMILY WAS IN THE FRONT ROW TO WATCH KING DIE AND THEY SPOKE WITH US AFTERWARD. >> WATCHING SPEECH, MAYOR DIDN’T IMPRESS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT WAS WRITTEN SPEEDS. HE DIDN’T EVEN WRITE IT. AND IF YOU CAN’T SAY SOMETHING OUT HER CASE, IT IS A CATHOLIC. NOW. IF YOU CAN SEE SOMETHING FROM YOUR HEART, DON’T SAY IT. IF YOU LOOK OUT ANYTHING. >> THE FATHER OF DENISE, AMBER LEE SCOFFED AT MICHAEL KING’S LAST WORDS WHEN HE PROCLAIMED THAT HE HAD BECOME A BELIEVER IN JESUS DURING HIS TIME IN PRISON, DENISE, HIS FAMILY SPENT THE LAST 18 YEARS WITH 2 GOALS TO MAKE SURE KING GOT THE DEATH PENALTY AND TO IMPROVE 9-1-1. DISPATCH TRAINING. DENISE ACTUALLY CALLED FOR HELP. WITH KINGS PHONE BEFORE HE DROVE HER TO CHARLOTTE COUNTY TO >> BUT THE DISPATCHER COULDN’T PINPOINT HER LOCATION. >> ANOTHER WOMAN ALSO CALLED 9-1-1 AFTER SEEING DID THE SCREAMING IN THE BACK OF KING’S CAR. BUT MISCOMMUNICATION BETWEEN DISPATCHERS IN CHARLOTTE AND SARASOTA COUNTIES PREVENTED DEPUTIES FROM FINDING DENISE IN TIME TO SAVE HER SHORTLY AFTER HER DEATH, STATE LAWMAKERS PASSED THE DENISE AMBER LEE ACT TO PROVIDE BETTER TRAINING FOR DISPATCHERS. I’M STILL IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. 42 YEARS. >> I CAN TELL YOU DIFFERENTLY. BACK THEN TO NOW IT’S JUST. TOTALLY DIFFERENT. JUST 9. I KNOW THERE’S LIVES BE SAVED EVERY DAY BECAUSE DENISE IS WOOD OR NATHAN LEE SAID HER LEGACY WILL LIVE ON. I’M JUST SUPER BLESSED THAT I GOT TO KNOW TO NICE MARRY HER AND HAVE 2 AMAZING KIDS THAT ARE SO. GLAD THE STA’S DONE AND NOW WE CAN FOCUS ON WHAT WE’VE BEEN FOCUSING ON FOR LAST 18 YEARS. AND THAT’S MOVING FORWARD AND TRYING TO BRING, YOU KNOW, POSITIVE CHANGE TO I WANT TO DO THE THINGS. THIS WAS FLORIDA’S 4TH EXECUTION SO FAR THIS YEAR AFTER A STATE HAD 19 LAST YEAR, MORE THAN DOUBLE THE PREVIOUS RECORD
Denise Amber Lee’s final 911 calls changed Florida law as her killer was executed Tuesday
Updated: 10:22 AM EDT Mar 18, 2026
The man convicted of kidnapping, raping and murdering Denise Amber Lee, a 21-year-old mother of two from North Port, was executed on Tuesday.At the scheduled execution time of 6 p.m., the curtain went up, and King gave a nearly inaudible statement. What was said was relayed by Gov. Ron DeSantis office.“Since finding Jesus in prison, I have tried to live as His disciple obeying the Two Great Commandments; To love God with all my heart, my mind and all my being, and to love my neighbor to include everyone, my family, Denise Lee’s family, everyone in the gallery,” as well as Catholic volunteers who visit the prison and “those on the team to end my life,” King said.He did not apologize for the murder or seek forgiveness.Execution closes one chapter in Denise Amber Lee caseThe incident happened in 2008 when Lee saved her kids after Michael King, 54, broke into her home and took her. King then took Lee to his home and raped her before driving her out to a remote area, shooting her and burying her. At one point, Lee was able to get hold of King’s cell phone to call 911.However, despite multiple 911 calls that provided descriptions of King’s location, no officers were reportedly sent to help. Her 911 calls sparked Florida dispatch reformAt least four other 911 calls were made by others that day, including by her husband and others who saw parts of the crime unfold, but communication failures and other issues prevented help from being sent.Lee’s death prompted the approval of the “Denise Amber Lee Act” in 2010 by Florida legislators to provide more training for 911 dispatchers. Her family said that is her legacy. The Florida Legislature unanimously passed the Denise Amber Lee Act, which mandates better training for 911 operators. Her husband, Nathan Lee, created the Denise Amber Lee Foundation to continue promoting training and raising public awareness nationwide.Final appeals denied before lethal injectionLast week, the Florida Supreme Court denied King’s motion for a stay of execution and affirmed his conviction.”He’s going to burn in hell as he should do. That’s my feelings,” Rick Goff, Denise Amber Lee’s father, said in a previous interview with Gulf Coast News. “He’s never reached out, you know, to the family. And he still says he never did anything.”King was pronounced dead at 6:13 p.,m. Tuesday after lethal injection at the Florida State Prison. Gulf Coast News anchor Peter Busch was at the execution, bringing live updates throughout the afternoon. Before he was executed, King spoke about finding Jesus during his time in prison.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
RAIFORD, Fla. —
The man convicted of kidnapping, raping and murdering Denise Amber Lee, a 21-year-old mother of two from North Port, was executed on Tuesday.
At the scheduled execution time of 6 p.m., the curtain went up, and King gave a nearly inaudible statement. What was said was relayed by Gov. Ron DeSantis office.
“Since finding Jesus in prison, I have tried to live as His disciple obeying the Two Great Commandments; To love God with all my heart, my mind and all my being, and to love my neighbor to include everyone, my family, Denise Lee’s family, everyone in the gallery,” as well as Catholic volunteers who visit the prison and “those on the team to end my life,” King said.
He did not apologize for the murder or seek forgiveness.
Execution closes one chapter in Denise Amber Lee case
The incident happened in 2008 when Lee saved her kids after Michael King, 54, broke into her home and took her.
King then took Lee to his home and raped her before driving her out to a remote area, shooting her and burying her. At one point, Lee was able to get hold of King’s cell phone to call 911.
However, despite multiple 911 calls that provided descriptions of King’s location, no officers were reportedly sent to help.
Her 911 calls sparked Florida dispatch reform
At least four other 911 calls were made by others that day, including by her husband and others who saw parts of the crime unfold, but communication failures and other issues prevented help from being sent.
Lee’s death prompted the approval of the “Denise Amber Lee Act” in 2010 by Florida legislators to provide more training for 911 dispatchers. Her family said that is her legacy.
Special to Gulf Coast News
Photo of Denise Amber Lee with her two sons
The Florida Legislature unanimously passed the Denise Amber Lee Act, which mandates better training for 911 operators. Her husband, Nathan Lee, created the Denise Amber Lee Foundation to continue promoting training and raising public awareness nationwide.
Final appeals denied before lethal injection
Last week, the Florida Supreme Court denied King’s motion for a stay of execution and affirmed his conviction.
“He’s going to burn in hell as he should do. That’s my feelings,” Rick Goff, Denise Amber Lee’s father, said in a previous interview with Gulf Coast News. “He’s never reached out, you know, to the family. And he still says he never did anything.”
King was pronounced dead at 6:13 p.,m. Tuesday after lethal injection at the Florida State Prison.
Gulf Coast News anchor Peter Busch was at the execution, bringing live updates throughout the afternoon. Before he was executed, King spoke about finding Jesus during his time in prison.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.