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Posted on 03/06/2026 6:22:23 AM PST by TheDon
NORTH PORT, Fla. (WFLA) — “Denise and I were soulmates,” said Denise Amber Lee’s husband, Nathan Lee. “We were supposed to be together forever; we were madly in love.”
However, on Jan. 17, 2008, the dream abruptly ended for the couple.
Former Florida officer who raped, murdered 11-year-old set to be executed Denise Amber Lee, 21, was abducted in broad daylight from her North Port home. She was driven around for hours, raped, and murdered.
Several 911 calls were made throughout her abduction, including from Denise herself, but with communication failures between dispatchers, help arrived too late.
“It was just a nightmare; it was a total nightmare,” Nathan said.
Denise and Nathan met at Lemon Bay High School in Englewood. They didn’t start talking to each other until Denise’s senior year, when Nathan started taking classes at what was known as Manatee Community College in Venice at the time.
The two were in the same calculus class, and they instantly fell in love. They got married a year later and started a family soon after.
However, everything changed in the blink of an eye. Nathan was left to raise their 2-year-old and 6-month-old sons, Noah and Adam, without their mom.
“It took a village, but our extended family teamed together and wanted to do the best we could to make sure the boys had the best possible future,” Nathan said. “There were so many moments where I wished I could have asked her for advice, but I think the hardest part was all the things she missed.”
Nathan said Denise missed everything. From the first days of school to birthdays to sporting events, the only milestone she got to experience was Noah taking his first steps.
“Those were all moments that she should be here and that’s just the beginning,” said Nathan Lee. “They’re going to get married someday and they’re going to have kids. To me, the most devastating part is that they won’t have her there for all those things.”
One man is responsible for Denise’s abduction and murder: Michael King. After a lengthy trial, he received the death penalty in 2009. Now, after nearly two decades, an execution date has been set for March 17, 2026.
“I think we knew going into it that it was going to be a while, but I’m just glad that the Governor signed it,” said Nathan Lee.
“I’m ready to stop having this one more dark spot that we have to go through. I think justice was served when the jury sentenced him to death. He’s been sitting in prison for 18 years, but I don’t think there will ever be closure. Closure to me would be Denise comes back and is part of our life again. As long as she’s not here, I feel like that’s always going to be open.”
Nathan said he and his family are planning on going to King’s execution.
“I’m excited that he’s not going to breathe anymore,” Nathan Lee added. “I’m not excited to go watch him die, that’s something I’m not excited about, but I’m just excited for it to be over. I just think we’re all ready to take a deep breath and know that he’s not here anymore.”
The last words Nathan ever heard Denise speak were from a 911 call she secretly made from King’s phone during her abduction.
“She was an amazing human and was taken way too soon,” he said. “Michael King took the wrong person because Denise made sure that, not only was he going to be caught, but that he wasn’t going to be able to do this again to anybody else. At the end of the day, I think Denise really came out victorious because she was able to wipe him off the earth, as well.”
As a result of mishandled 911 calls in this case, including Denise’s, Nathan established the Denise Amber Lee Act, requiring mandatory standards for 911 centers. It was first passed in Florida and has gone on to be adopted in other states, nationwide.
“The fact that we could see the power of her story and how we could use it in a positive way, I think that was exactly what she would have wanted us to do,” Nathan said. “If there is one thing my kids learn from me is that life is going to throw you stuff, and it’s all how you respond to it.”
If Nathan could bring Denise back for a day, there’s many things he wishes he could say to her, but ultimately, he would want to give his time to his sons.
“I’d probably transfer my time over to Noah and Adam because I got an amazing four years with her and they didn’t get even close to that,” he said. “I would tell her that we are doing all right, but there’s still a hole and always will be. We miss her a lot.”
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Justice will be served 18 years delayed.
Here’s one thing (of many) about liberals that infuriates me. They talk about how expensive a lawful execution is. And how it’s not much of a deterrent.
Well, why is that? It’s because they use all sorts of legal tricks to drag things out for years, if not for decades.
There is no bigger contradiction from the left to fighting for abortion including partial birth with only seconds left, to spending millions upon millions of dollars, and decades if necessary to keep a heinous mass murderer alive.
Our country must to better if it is to survive.
Correct; it is expensive as a result of the ‘process’ led by leftists. The argument that it isn’t much of a deterrent is just speculation. The deterrent effect, though, is to me only a part of the reason we should quickly execute those guilty of the most heinous crimes: I simply want them gone, out of society. Inside prison, they are a burden; outside, they are a danger. Further, and FWIW, I almost think if I were guilty of such a crime, I’d prefer a quick death over a lifetime behind bars.
The victim, Denise Amber Lee, had two sons, ages two and six months, left to grow up without a mother.
I hope the bastard fries and experiences the same pain he inflicted on this beautiful 21-year old mother of two.
The boys should have the honour of hitting the button to inject the drugs into their mother’s killer.
She was a policeman’s daughter and a cool thinker in peril.
She managed to call 911 on her kidnapper’s cell phone, unknown to him, and gave dispatch as much information as shd could while pretending to talk with him.
She left forensic evidence hidden in his car.
She broke free once and tried to run, begged witnesses to call 911. They did.
Kept fighting in the car and managed to alert another driver who called 911 and was able to follow for a while.
It is infuriating that the dispatch system missed somany chances.
Denise Amber Lee was a valiant hero, fighting to go home to her loved ones, even to end. May her memory stay green and ever blessed; may her sons and sisters have many children.
You want it OVER.
Understandable and quite healthy.
It is justice and an ending.
Years, I can see. Decades, no. And, in some cases, years may even be too long. But I’m for the appeals process, When someone’s life is determined in a court of law, his life is basically entrusted to lawyers that you can’t trust with 10 cents.. Exceptions, of course in obvious cases of guilt where the perp is caught in the act, those should be expedited. Deterrence? Probably isn’t much, because executions are no longer public. Guillotine on main street at noon would probably be a little deterrent..
Hanged in on the courthouse square, with the body left swinging until birds peck it clean.
Only in recent history have executions been “privatized” The perp disappears into the prison system, until everyone except the immediate family of the victim/s are the only ones still really aware of the situation, and then, they are taken to a private place and quietly put to sleep. With barely any media attention. Throughout most of history, executions were made public with the express purpose of deterrence. Whether it was crucifixion by the Romans, or simply “staked out” by Vlad, the intent was deterrence....The way it’s done nowadays, it’s about the same as getting a colonoscopy and not being woke up....
Exactly. Heads were once put on pikes for a reason. Pirates were once gibbeted for a reason.
The perp a “former Florida officer”; what kind?
It's going to be a 100% effective deterrent to the bastard who did this, and that's good enough for me.
“Former Florida officer who raped, murdered 11-year-old set to be executed Denise Amber Lee, 21, was abducted in broad daylight from her North Port home. She was driven around for hours, raped, and murdered.”
Missed a text link to a different story.
Former Florida officer who raped, murdered 11-year-old set to be executed
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