Killer's final words to victim's family as he is executed on death row

A man was killed by lethal injection for the murder of a young mother who called 911 from her attacker’s cellphone while tied up in his car.

Michael Lee King, 54, was pronounced dead shortly after 6pm on Tuesday, March 17 at Florida State Prison in the United States. He had been convicted of first-degree murder, sexual battery and kidnapping in the 2008 killing of Denise Amber Lee, 21. The US Supreme Court rejected King’s final appeals without comment Monday.

King said in his final statement: "Since finding Jesus in prison, I have tried to live as His disciple obeying the Two Great Commandments: To love God with all my heart, my mind and all my being, and to love my neighbor to include everyone — my family, Denise Lee’s family, everyone in the gallery,” as well as Catholic volunteers who visit the prison and “those on the team to end my life,” he said.

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Court records show that Lee was outside her home on January 17, 2008, with her two sons, who at the time were a toddler and an infant, when King drove. He later abducted her while leaving the children home alone.

King took Lee to his home where he bound and raped her, investigators said. He later drove to his cousin’s house to borrow a flashlight, shovel and gas can, according to prosecutors.

Lee managed to get King's cellphone and called 911 while bound in his car. She could be heard on a recording of the call begging for her life so that she could see her husband and children again.

King drove Lee to a remote area where he shot her in the face and buried her, authorities said.

A state trooper pulled King over shortly after because his 1994 green Chevrolet Camaro matched the description give by another 911 caller.

Months later, the Florida Legislature unanimously passed the Denise Amber Lee Act. The Act provides better training for 911 operators.

The Denise Amber Lee Foundation, created by her husband Nathan Lee, continues to promote training and raise public awareness nationwide. The foundation said that at least four other 911 calls were made by others that day, including from her husband and people who saw parts of the crime unfolding.

Nathan Lee, as well as the victim’s father and one of Lee’s two sons were among relatives who witnessed the execution. All wore shirts in pink, her favorite color.

King’s execution was the fourth this year in Florida and the seventh overall in the US since the start of this year 2026.