Michael King, a 54-year-old death row inmate, faces execution by lethal injection on March 17 at Florida State Prison. Court documents detail how King abducted Denise Amber Lee, a mother of two, from her Charlotte County home in 2008.
The Abduction and Crimes
King transported Lee to his residence, where he bound her wrists with duct tape and raped her. He then placed her in the backseat of his Camaro and drove to his cousin’s house to obtain a torch, shovel, and gas can. During this time, Lee pleaded for help.
Desperate 911 Calls Ignored
Lee managed to place a 911 call, during which she cried and begged to be saved to reunite with her husband and children. The death warrant notes: “Ms. Lee is heard crying and begging to be saved so that she could see her husband and children again.”
At least three additional 911 calls reported the incident, including one from King’s cousin and another from a motorist who heard Lee’s screams and pounding on the car window. Despite an ongoing massive search for Lee, no officers were dispatched to the scene.
The Murder and Evidence
King drove Lee to a remote area, shot her in the face, and buried her body. Prosecutors state that her clothing was found nearby, and King’s DNA matched evidence from the scene.
Victim’s Background and Investigation
Lee was the daughter of Charlotte County Sheriff’s Lt. Richard Goff, former chief of the narcotics division. Goff identified his daughter’s voice on the 911 recording presented by officials. Her husband reported her missing after returning home to find their two young children alone.
Legal Proceedings
Florida’s Supreme Court upheld King’s death sentence in 2012. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the death warrant on Friday. If no further appeals succeed, King will become the fourth person executed in Florida this year.
