Murder of Denise Amber Lee

Murder of Denise Amber Lee
Denise Amber Lee
LocationNorth Port, Florida, U.S.
DateJanuary 17, 2008; 16 years ago (2008-01-17)
Attack type
Murder by shooting, rape, kidnapping
VictimDenise Amber Lee, aged 21
PerpetratorMichael Lee King
VerdictGuilty on all counts
Convictions
SentenceDeath

The murder of Denise Amber Lee occurred in North Port, Florida, United States, on January 17, 2008. Lee, was a 21-year-old woman who was kidnapped, raped, and murdered by Michael Lee King. The murder case became notorious because Lee and several others had attempted to call for help through the 9-1-1 system but there was a lack of communication and the police and other emergency services arrived too late.

Five 9-1-1 calls were made that day, including one by Lee herself from her abductor's phone and one from a witness, Jane Kowalski, who gave a detailed account of events as they unfolded before her. Failures were found in the way the 9-1-1 operators handled Kowalski's call, and additional failures were identified nationwide in the 9-1-1 system. In 2009, King was found guilty of the kidnapping, sexual battery and murder of Denise Amber Lee. He was sentenced to the death penalty.[1]

The Denise Amber Lee Act was passed unanimously by the Florida Legislature on April 24, 2008.[2][3] This act provides for optional training for 9-1-1 operators. Lee's family continue to lobby for a new law to be passed nationwide that would institute mandatory training and certification for all 9-1-1 dispatchers. The Denise Amber Lee Foundation was established in June 2008 to promote such training as well as to raise public awareness of the issues involved. Lee was the daughter of a police detective, Sgt Rick Goff.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference NBC-2 King sentence was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference CS/SB 1694 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference HT DAL Act passed was invoked but never defined (see the help page).