‘Denise won’: Husband reacts after execution date set for Michael King in 2008 kidnapping and murder case

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WINK) — Nearly two decades after a case that exposed tragic flaws in the nation’s emergency response system and devastated Southwest Florida, a death warrant has finally been signed for Michael King.

On Friday, Governor Ron DeSantis signed the warrant, scheduling King’s execution for March 17, 2026, at Florida State Prison in Starke. The decision marks the beginning of the end for a legal saga that has spanned 18 years.

A Wave of Emotion

For Nathan Lee, Denise’s husband, the news brought a complex surge of relief and grief. Speaking to Chief WINK Investigates Reporter Chorus Nylander via Zoom from Houston—where he was ironically teaching a 911 dispatcher training course—Lee described the moment he received the call from the State Attorney’s Office.

"I immediately broke down," Lee told WINK News. "It’s kind of a wave of emotions... I think the first was 'finally.' You know, like finally, this is happening."

Michael King was convicted of the 2008 kidnapping, rape, and murder of Denise Amber Lee. While the evidence against King was overwhelming, the appeals process stretched across three different decades. For Nathan, the execution represents the system finally finishing the work Denise started when she fought for her life.

Turning Tragedy into Reform

The 2008 case became a national flashpoint for 911 reform. Despite Denise being able to call 911 from her captor's phone, and witnesses reporting the abduction, communication breakdowns between agencies prevented rescuers from reaching her in time.

In the "after" of his life, Nathan Lee founded the Denise Amber Lee Foundation. He has spent the last 18 years traveling the country to:

• Train Dispatchers: Ensuring call-takers have the tools to handle high-stress abductions.
• Advocate for Technology: Pushing for better location-tracking software.
• Standardize Training: Creating uniform protocols to prevent the "silo" effect that failed Denise.

"I miss her every day," Nathan said. "I’m in Texas right now telling her story, and I’m going to continue to do it because what happened to her should never have happened. I’ve dedicated my life to her."

The Final Chapter

When King is executed by lethal injection next month, Nathan plans to be there. He won't be alone; he will be accompanied by their son, Noah, who was just a toddler when his mother was taken.

"I’m going to be glad when he takes his last breath," Nathan said. "I’m going to be glad that justice is served. Denise won, is basically what I’ll be thinking."

For Noah Lee, the closure is personal and poignant. "I just wish I got the chance to tell her how much I love her," he shared.

As the March 17th date approaches, the Lee family views this not just as an execution, but as the closing of a painful chapter in Florida history—one that ultimately led to lives being saved in Denise's name.