On January 17, 2008, Denise Amber Lee was tragically murdered by Michael King, following his earlier kidnapping and rape. 

Despite five desperate pleas for help from the 9-1-1 service, including one from the victim herself, both police and other emergency services were too late to intervene.

In the wake of this incident, failings were identified in the 9-1-1 operators’ handling of Jane Kowalski’s account of events as they unfolded before her. 

An audit also uncovered deficiencies nationwide in the 9-1-1 system as a whole. Due to these findings, the Florida Legislature passed the Denise Amber Lee Act on April 24, 2008, in recognition of this tragedy and with hopes of preventing further suffering of this kind.

The Denise Amber Lee Foundation, formed in June 2008 in memory of Denise Amber Lee, continues to spur legislatures into action. 

Currently, enough movement has been made to pass the bill that provides for voluntary training for 9-1-1 operatives. However, Lee’s family is resolute in their endeavor to enact more stringent standards and have christened it ‘Denise’s Law.’ 

This law would recommend mandatory training and certification for all 9-1-1 dispatchers with the aim of reducing tragic incidents such as the one involving Denise Amber Lee and Michael King – a situation which resulted in her death and saw King sentenced to the death penalty.