Execution date set for man convicted of killing 21-year-old Denise Amber Lee

NORTH PORT, Fla. (WWSB) - An execution date has been set for a man convicted in the 2008 murder of a North Port woman.

Michael King is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on March 17th at the Florida State Prison.

According to the death warrant, King, a plumber, abducted Denise Amber Lee, 21, the mother of two, from her home on Jan. 17, 2008. Lee was first taken to King’s home and sexually assaulted.

Lee was placed in the backseat of his car, and while driving to his cousin’s house to borrow a flashlight, shovel and gas can, she was able to get King’s cell phone and call 911.

On a recording of the call, “Ms. Lee is heard crying and begging to be saved so that she could see her husband and children again,” the warrant states.

At least four people called 911, including one woman who followed Lee and gave 911 workers a detailed description of his location, but no officers were sent to help.

King later drove Lee to a remote area where he shot her in the face and buried her.

He was convicted of kidnapping, sexual battery, and first-degree murder in 2009.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: How a kidnapped Florida mom left clues to catch her killer - ABC7 San Francisco

Communication failures prevented help from ever being sent, which led to the creation of the Denise Amber Lee Foundation, created by Lee’s husband, aimed at improving 911 operator training.

“I know that she would want me to be a good influence for the boys and show them that bad things are going to happen in their lives. It’s not that that defines you. It’s what you do about it” Lee told ABC7 in a 2017 interview about the foundation.

Denise’s family released a statement about the execution on social media after the warrant was signed.

“Today marks a significant development in Denise’s case”

“While no legal outcome can undo the loss our family and community experienced, we remain committed to turning pain into purpose.

Denise’s legacy lives on through training, education, and advocacy that strengthen emergency response and save lives. Every class taught, every professional trained, and every agency committed to improvement is an opportunity to be the difference for someone in crisis.

We continue to stand for communication, accountability, hope, and the belief that even in tragedy, positive change is possible."

This is the fourth death warrant signed this year by Gov. Ron DeSantis.