Failure of a lifetime: Mom called 911 from kidnapper's car. It still didn't save her
USA TODAY
The murder of Denise Amber Lee in Florida exposed the vulnerabilities of the 911 system nationwide and led to reform within the industry.
Denise Amber Lee was in the back of her abductor's car, fighting for her life. Michael King had raped her, blindfolded her and tied her up after kidnapping her from her Florida home in broad daylight. Even so, when King briefly got out of the car, Lee managed to grab his phone and dial 911.
"Please. My name is Denise," a frantic Lee told a 911 dispatcher. "I'm married to a beautiful husband, and I just want to see my kids again."
Lee's call to 911 was one of four within minutes of each other. Another came from a driver who heard Lee screaming for her life and saw her struggling in the backseat as King drove. The caller stayed on the line for nine minutes, giving a 911 dispatcher real-time updates on Lee's location as police swarmed the region looking for her.
Authorities had everything they needed to save Lee and capture King. But through a series of mistakes and apparent incompetence, 911 dispatchers never got the information to police who were seconds away.
Lee's body was found two days later, naked in a shallow grave. The 21-year-old stay-at-home mom of two sons had been fatally shot once above her right eye.
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The murder of Denise Amber Lee in Florida exposed the vulnerabilities of the 911 system nationwide and led to reform within the industry.
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