Her Last Call

Episode of 20/20 · June 20, 2026 · 1 h 27 min

20/20 revisits the 2008 abduction and murder of Florida mother Denise Amber Lee, the 911 failures, Michael King's trial, and his 2026 execution.

Summary

This 20/20 episode, anchored by Deborah Roberts, recounted the January 17, 2008 abduction of 21-year-old Denise Amber Lee from her North Port, Florida home. Her husband Nathan Lee described coming home to find their two young sons alone and calling 911, while her father, Charlotte County detective Rick Goff, and North Port investigator Chris Morales described the rapid multi-agency search and a neighbor's sighting of a green Camaro.

The program focused on a series of 911 calls: Denise's own call from her abductor's phone, which led police to Michael King; a call from Sabrina Muxlow relaying that King's cousin Harold Muxlow had seen a tied-up woman and lent King a shovel and gas can; and motorist Jane Kowalski's call describing screaming from a Camaro. Kowalski's call went to Charlotte County dispatch and was never broadcast to searchers. A trooper later stopped King without Denise; her body was found buried in woods after a canine search.

Family members argued the Kowalski call could have saved Denise, while the sheriff at the time disputed that. King was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death; the family settled a wrongful death suit for $1.2 million and pushed the Denise Amber Lee Act mandating dispatcher training. The episode closed with King's execution on March 17, 2026, and reflections from Denise's now-grown sons.

Chapters

0:57
Denise and Nathan
Nathan Lee and Denise's family describe her life as a young mother and the couple's romance, including the $40 heart ring.
8:36
A mother vanishes
Nathan finds the boys alone and calls 911, and Rick Goff mobilizes law enforcement as police canvass for a green Camaro.
19:17
Denise's own 911 call
Denise secretly calls 911 from her abductor's phone, and the number leads investigators to Michael King.
27:29
The cousin and the witness
Sabrina Muxlow reports what her father Harold saw, and Jane Kowalski calls 911 after seeing a struggle in a Camaro.
38:34
The manhunt and arrest
Police raid King's empty house and a Florida Highway Patrol trooper stops King, but Denise is not in the car.
48:12
Interrogations and the ring
King claims to be a kidnap victim, Harold Muxlow fails a polygraph, and Nathan identifies Denise's ring found in the car.
59:00
Search ends in tragedy
A search dog finds Denise's burial site and ballistics link King to a gun range visit with Robert Salvador.
1:04:37
The dispatch failure
It emerges that Kowalski's call was never dispatched, prompting dispute over whether Denise could have been saved.
1:07:50
The trial
Prosecutors present eyewitnesses and physical evidence, the defense accuses Salvador without evidence, and King is convicted.
1:15:26
Legacy and reform
The family sues the sheriff's office, Denise's sons reflect on growing up without her, and the Denise Amber Lee Act passes.
1:24:34
The execution
Nathan Lee attends King's 2026 execution carrying Denise's ring, and the sons reflect on her legacy.

Key points

What was said, by whom, with the exact words. Timestamps jump to the moment.

Chris Morales
Morales described Denise's secret 911 call as heroic, saying she gave dispatchers clues without alerting her abductor.
“It is absolutely incredible and very heroic. She was very good at giving indicators to 911”
Listen from 21:33 · Murder of Denise Amber Lee
Nathan Lee
Nathan Lee said he assumed a 911 call would reveal Denise's location but learned that is not how it works.
“I assume she called 911, they know where she is. That's what everybody thinks. Turns out that's not how it works”
Listen from 26:06 · 911 emergency dispatch
Rick Goff
Rick Goff said he was angry at Harold Muxlow for not calling police himself and called him a coward.
“because he was too much of a coward to do it himself. He had a 17-year-old daughter too and he didn't want to help my daughter”
Listen from 30:03 · Duty to rescue
Chris Morales
Morales said Michael King changed his route specifically because Jane Kowalski had seen him.
“It is clear that he changed course of direction because of Jane Kowalski”
Listen from 37:06 · Murder of Denise Amber Lee
Chris Morales
Morales said he wished Harold Muxlow could be charged but noted the law imposes no duty to call for help.
“I wish there was a law that could charge him and put him away, but unfortunately in the law, he has no duty to call or stop someone for help”
Listen from 57:30 · Duty to rescue
Rick Goff
Rick Goff said the dispatch failure was a major error that could have saved his daughter's life.
“It was a major screw-up. When I say major, I mean it could have saved her life”
Listen from 1:05:51 · 911 emergency dispatch
Jane Kowalski
Kowalski rejected criticism that her description was inaccurate, arguing police should still have sent a car for a screaming child.
“You're not going to go after someone if I think there's a child that's been adopted, right? They should have still sent a car”
Listen from 1:06:38 · 911 emergency dispatch
Rick Goff
Rick Goff said the sheriff was wrong and that Denise would have been rescued had the call been dispatched.
“Oh, he's 100% wrong. I have faith in the people I work with. I've been by that sheriff's office 41 years now”
Listen from 1:07:05 · Charlotte County Sheriff's Office
Rick Goff
Rick Goff said Denise deliberately hid her ring and pulled out hair with roots in the car to leave DNA evidence.
“She pulled hair out by the roots and stuck them under the back seats. She knew about DNA, had to have the roots and stuff”
Listen from 1:12:22 · DNA evidence
Linked moment · 1:17:47Skip to 1:17:47 using a listen link in the info box.
Nathan Lee
Nathan Lee said he filed suit because he wanted those who made mistakes held accountable for inadequate public safety.
“the sheriff's responsibility to provide the best public safety that they possibly can to their citizens. And Denise wasn't given the best public safety”
Listen from 1:17:47 · Charlotte County Sheriff's Office
Nathan Lee
Nathan Lee argued King should not live since Denise does not, while acknowledging the process is slow.
“Denise isn't here, so why should he be? The pain and the suffering, the horror he put her through, he should not be here”
Listen from 1:21:22 · Capital punishment
Nathan Lee
Nathan Lee said he will keep telling Denise's story to dispatchers nationwide despite the pain because it is important.
“I know the dispatchers need to hear it. So I'm gonna keep doing it as long as I have breath in my lungs”
Listen from 1:22:23 · 911 emergency dispatch
Rick Goff
Rick Goff said the family pushed for legislation after learning there was no mandatory training for communication officers.
“We found out there was no mandatory training for communication officers. So we're going, let's make this bill”
Listen from 1:23:49 · Denise Amber Lee Act

People

In the conversation

Deborah RobertsABC News correspondent and 20/20 co-anchor who conducted the episode's interviews
David MuirABC News anchor and 20/20 co-anchor
Nathan LeeHusband of Denise Amber Lee and founder of a foundation advocating for 911 dispatcher training
Rick GoffDenise Lee's father, longtime detective with the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office
Chris MoralesDeputy Chief of the North Port Police Department, lead case agent in 2008
Sue GoffDenise Lee's mother
Amanda GoffDenise Lee's younger sister who later became a 911 dispatcher
Jane KowalskiMotorist who witnessed the abduction in progress and called 911
Adam LeeYounger son of Denise and Nathan Lee
Tammy TreadwayCanine handler with Sarasota Canine Search and Rescue who found the burial site

Discussed

Denise Amber Lee21-year-old North Port, Florida mother abducted and murdered in January 2008
Michael KingMan convicted of murdering Denise Lee and executed in Florida in March 2026
Harold MuxlowMichael King's cousin who saw Denise in King's car but did not call police
Ron DeSantisGovernor of Florida

Topics

From the publisher

After a young mom is abducted from her home, it will take a series of chilling 911 calls - including one from the victim herself - to solve the case. Her family speaks out in a new "20/20" interview. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Summary, chapters and key points were generated from the episode transcript on September 29, 2026. Quotes are checked word for word against the transcript.

Categories: True Crime·Government