Florida Supreme Court clears final hurdle for execution of Denise Amber Lee’s killer

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WINK) – The Florida Supreme Court has cleared the path for the execution of Michael King, one of Southwest Florida’s most notorious killers, by rejecting his final legal appeal.

King is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on March 17 for the 2008 kidnapping and murder of 21-year-old Denise Amber Lee. The high court’s ruling on Tuesday effectively removes the last major legal barrier standing between King and the death chamber.

The Legal Challenge

King’s legal team filed a successive post-conviction motion seeking additional records from the Department of Corrections. Their argument centered on recent records regarding lethal injection procedures, claiming there were unanswered questions about how the state would carry out the death sentence.

However, the Florida Supreme Court was not swayed. In an opinion affirming a lower court’s decision, the justices labeled the claims "speculative."

"Nothing has stopped him or his counsel from mounting this evidence long before the signing of his death warrant," the justices wrote.

The court further ruled that King failed to demonstrate any viable equal protection or due process claims that would warrant a stay of execution.

A Case That Changed the 911 System

The murder of Denise Amber Lee remains a painful chapter for the North Port community. In January 2008, Lee was kidnapped from her home, leading to a massive regional search.

The case gained national infamy due to critical failures in the 911 system. Despite Lee managing to make a call for help, and witnesses reporting King’s vehicle, dispatchers failed to relay vital information to officers in the field. Since her death, her husband, Nathan Lee, has turned his grief into advocacy. Through the Denise Amber Lee Foundation, he has successfully lobbied for sweeping 911 reform and dispatcher training nationwide.

"We've Been Ready For Years"

Nathan Lee told WINK News that while he expected the appeal, he was confident the court would deny it. He has stated he will not be participating in further on-camera interviews as the execution date nears.

In a recent emotional interview with Chief WINK Investigates Reporter Chorus Nylander, Lee reflected on the long road to justice: "It’s kind of a wave of emotions. I don’t even know how to describe it," Lee said. "I think the first was finally... This is happening. We’ve been ready for years."

What's Next

Michael King remains at Florida State Prison in Raiford. Unless a federal court or the U.S. Supreme Court intervenes—which legal experts say is unlikely at this stage—the execution will proceed on March 17.

WINK News will be on-site at Florida State Prison to provide live coverage of the execution and reaction from the family.