Florida Man Executed For Brutal Killing Of Young Mother Offers No Apology In Final Words

A Florida man has been executed for nan sadistic execution of a young mother who made a hopeless 911 telephone from her attacker's mobile telephone while tied up successful his car. Michael Lee King, 54, was pronounced dormant astatine 6:13 p.m. connected Tuesday evening pursuing a three-drug injection astatine Florida State Prison adjacent Starke. He had been convicted of first-degree murder, intersexual battery, and kidnapping successful nan 2008 sidesplitting of Denise Amber Lee, who was 21.

The curtain to nan decease enclosure was raised astatine 6 p.m., nan scheduled execution time. King delivered a astir inaudible last statement, nan matter of which was later released by Governor Ron DeSantis's office. "Since uncovering Jesus successful prison, I person tried to unrecorded arsenic His disciple obeying nan Two Great Commandments: To emotion God pinch each my heart, my mind and each my being, and to emotion my neighbour to see everyone — my family, Denise Lee's family, everyone successful nan gallery," he said, besides mentioning Catholic volunteers and "those connected nan squad to extremity my life."

Notably, King offered nary apology aliases plea for forgiveness. A clergy personnel stood astatine nan ft of nan gurney beside him.

All activity ceased wrong minutes. The prison guard attempted to rouse him, calling his name, but received nary response. A medic subsequently confirmed his death.

Court records item nan horrific circumstances of nan crime. On 17 January 2008, Ms Lee was extracurricular her North Port location pinch her 2 young sons – a toddler and an babe – erstwhile King drove past. He later abducted her, leaving nan children unsocial astatine nan property.

King took Lee to his location wherever he bound and raped her, investigators said. Later that day, King drove to his cousin's location to get a flashlight, shovel and state can, according to prosecutors. While Lee was bound successful King's car, she managed to get his cellphone and called 911. She tin beryllium heard connected a signaling of nan telephone begging for her life truthful that she could spot her hubby and children again.

King yet drove Lee to a distant area of North Port, a southwest Florida community, wherever he changeable her successful nan look and buried her, authorities said. A authorities trooper pulled King complete a short clip later because his 1994 greenish Chevrolet Camaro matched nan explanation springiness by different 911 caller. A female had heard screams coming from nan conveyance while stopped astatine a postulation ray and had called constabulary to study a imaginable kid abduction.

Investigators later recovered Lee's hairsbreadth and belongings from King's location and vehicle, authorities said.

Months later, nan Florida Legislature unanimously passed nan Denise Amber Lee Act, which provides amended training for 911 operators. The Denise Amber Lee Foundation, created by her hubby Nathan Lee, continues to beforehand training and raise nationalist consciousness nationwide.

The instauration said that too Lee's 911 call, astatine slightest 4 different 911 calls were made by others that day, including from her hubby and group who saw parts of nan crime unfolding — but that connection failures and different issues prevented thief from being sent.

Nathan Lee, arsenic good arsenic nan victim's begetter and 1 of Lee's 2 sons were among relatives who witnessed nan execution. All wore shirts successful pink, her favourite color.

Afterward, nan hubby said he was relieved to adjacent retired this section and proceed to attraction connected improvements to nan nation's 911 system.

"I'm conscionable ace blessed that I sewage to cognize Denise, fto unsocial wed her and person 2 astonishing kids pinch her," he said.

Richard Goff, nan woman's father, pointed retired that King didn't moreover apologize.

"If you can't opportunity thing from your heart, don't opportunity it," Goff said. He added his daughter was a leader aft purposely hiding hairsbreadth and different DNA successful King's car and making judge to time off fingerprints for investigators to find.

Noah Lee was 2 years aged erstwhile his mother was killed and said he still feels her loss.

"I unluckily didn't get nan opportunity to cognize her and beryllium raised by her," nan young man said.

King's execution was nan 4th this twelvemonth successful Florida and nan seventh wide successful nan U.S. successful 2026, including 2 executions successful Texas and 1 successful Oklahoma. Two much Florida executions are scheduled this twelvemonth connected March 31 and April 21.

A full of 47 group were executed successful nan U.S. successful 2025, including a grounds 19 executions past twelvemonth successful Florida.

All Florida executions are carried retired by injecting a sedative, a paralytic and a supplier that stops nan heart, according to nan Department of Corrections.

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected King's last appeals without remark Monday.