Michael King, a 54-year-old death row inmate, faces execution by lethal injection on March 17 at Florida State Prison.
The 2008 Abduction and Murder
Court documents reveal that King abducted Denise Amber Lee, a mother of two, from her home in Charlotte County in 2008. He took her to his residence, bound her wrists with duct tape, and raped her before forcing her into the backseat of his Camaro.
King then drove to his cousin’s house to borrow a torch, shovel, and gas can. During this time, Lee desperately pleaded for help.
Desperate 911 Calls Ignored
Lee managed to place a 911 call, where the death warrant describes her as “crying and begging to be saved so that she could see her husband and children again.”
Three other people also contacted 911, including King’s cousin and a motorist who heard Lee’s screams and banging on the car window. Despite an ongoing massive search for Lee, no officers were dispatched to the scene.
The Gruesome Conclusion
King drove Lee to a remote location, shot her in the face, and buried her body. Prosecutors note that her clothing was found nearby, and King’s DNA matched evidence from the scene.
Victim’s Family Ties
Lee was the daughter of Charlotte County Sheriff’s Lt. Richard Goff, former chief of the narcotics division. Lt. 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 Path to Execution
The Florida 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.
