NORTH PORT, Fla. (WFLA) — An execution date has been set for a man who abducted a North Port mother in 2008 and subjected her to a “tortuous ordeal” before shooting and killing her.
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a death warrant for Michael L. King on Friday, with his execution set to be carried out on the afternoon of March 17. It’s the fourth execution scheduled this year and follows a record 19 executions in the state in 2025.
Sarasota, Fort Lauderdale spree killer sent ‘suicidal text’ while murdering ex’s family
King abducted 21-year-old Denise Amber Lee from her home on Jan. 17, 2008, in broad daylight. Her two young sons were left unattended as their mother was taken away. King took Lee to his own home, where he held her captive for hours, and bound and raped her.
King then forced Lee into the backseat of his car and drove to his cousin’s house to borrow a flashlight, shovel, and gas can. Lee was still alive at the time and managed to get ahold of her captor’s cell phone and secretly call 911…