DeSantis Signs Death Warrant for Plumber Convicted of Murder

On March 17, 2024, Michael King, a 54-year-old plumber, is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison. This announcement follows the signing of a death warrant by Governor Ron DeSantis on Friday, marking the fourth such warrant issued by DeSantis in 2024. King was convicted for the 2008 kidnapping and murder of Denise Amber Lee, a 21-year-old mother from North Port.

According to the death warrant, King abducted Lee from her home on January 17, 2008. In a horrific sequence of events, he took her to his residence where he subsequently raped her. He then transported her in the backseat of his vehicle, stopping at a cousin’s house to borrow tools, including a flashlight and shovel. During this drive, Lee managed to call 911 using King’s cell phone, pleading for help and expressing her desire to see her husband and children again.

Despite at least four 911 calls made during her abduction, including one from a woman who followed King’s vehicle and provided a detailed description to operators, no law enforcement officers were dispatched to assist Lee, as reported by the Sarasota Herald-Tribune at the time. Tragically, King later shot Lee in the face and buried her in a remote area.

Legal Proceedings and Legislative Reforms

In 2009, King was convicted of kidnapping, sexual battery, and first-degree murder. The following year, Florida legislators enacted the Denise Amber Lee Act, which aimed to enhance the training and certification requirements for 911 dispatchers in light of the failures highlighted during Lee’s tragic case. This law mandated that applicants for certification complete a minimum of 208 hours of training and affirm under oath that they were not addicted to alcohol or controlled substances. Previously, 911 centers set their own training standards, leading to inconsistencies in dispatcher preparedness.

A letter from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, included with the death warrant, noted that the Florida Supreme Court upheld King’s convictions and death sentence in 2012. His subsequent petitions for review were denied by the U.S. Supreme Court, and he has since engaged in unsuccessful post-conviction litigation in both state and federal courts.

Context of Executions in Florida

King’s impending execution is part of a broader trend in Florida, which executed a record 19 individuals in 2025. Just days prior, on March 12, 2024, Ronald Heath, 64, was executed for the 1989 murder of Michael Sheridan. DeSantis has also signed death warrants for two additional prisoners: Melvin Trotter, scheduled for execution on February 24, and Billy Leon Kearse, set for March 3. Trotter was sentenced to death for the 1986 murder of 70-year-old Virgie Langford, while Kearse was convicted of killing Fort Pierce police officer Danny Parrish during a traffic stop in 1991.

The case of Michael King continues to evoke significant emotional and legal ramifications, reminding the public of the serious consequences of crime and the complexities involved in the justice system. As the date of his execution approaches, the focus remains on the impact of the Denise Amber Lee Act and the ongoing discussions about the efficacy of emergency response protocols in Florida.