MURDERED MOM Denise Amber Lee 2008

[CSA FD]

911 operator in Lee murder case calls it quits
Aug 11, 2009

NORTH PORT: A 911 call made during the search for murder victim Denise Amber Lee in January 2008 cast a dark shadow on the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office. Now nearly 19 months later, the operator who took the call that sparked an internal investigation is calling it quits.

"She asked for a transfer into a slightly less stressful position of a district clerk," Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Cameron said.

We obtained a copy of Mildred Stepp's one-sentence letter to her supervisor, Capt. Ronald Chandler, requesting the move. Cameron says her recent performance was under review.

"Just lately her supervisor has been working with her on some performance issues, and you can imagine it's been a stressful year for her," Cameron said.

Witness Jane Kowalski called 911, describing a man driving a dark Camaro down US-41 with someone screaming in the back seat. But the call center never dispatched a deputy.

Prosecutors say it was Lee and suspect Michael King in the car.

Husband Nate Lee has criticized the 911 call center, leading an effort to bring state legislation to streamline training for 911 operators.

"I think it's long overdue and I definitely think the citizens of Charlotte County are better off without her as a 911 operator," Lee said. "She was really the last person that had an opportunity to do something to save my wife."

The failed response led to suspensions and mandatory retraining by those involved with botching the call.

Kowalski's call is back in the public spotlight as part of the state's case against King.

On Monday, Circuit Judge Deno Economou ruled the 911 call could be played for jurors.

King's trial begins Monday with jury selection at the Sarasota County Courthouse.

Meanwhile, Stepp will still be taking calls as a clerk inside the district office at the Port Charlotte Town Center mall.

"Everybody sometime in there career needs a break," Cameron said. "I think that's Millie's asking for - a little break."

www.nbc-2.com/global/story.asp?s=10887075

[CSA FD]

911 tape to be heard in Denise Amber Lee murder trial

Aug. 10, 2009

NORTH PORT - A jury will hear a nine minute long conversation between a woman and her suspected killer in an upcoming murder trial.

Denise Amber Lee’s family said the tape is not something they want to hear again, but will endure the pain if it leads to a conviction of her suspected killer, Michael King.

“nobody needs to listen to that tape it’s the most horrendous thing you'll ever listen to in your life" said Lee’s father Rick Goff. But "the jury has to hear it. And without a doubt they'll make the recommendation of death and that's what we want” continued Goff.

A North Port judge decided Monday to allow the tape of a 911 call made by Lee while she was being driven around by her suspected killer.

“The tape's horrendous. I don't ever want to have to hear it again.” Stated Lee’s husband Nathan. “It’s just not something that’s good to listen to.” He added.

Another woman who saw Lee in the car also called 911 to report what she called a suspicious situation.

That tape will also be allowed in court.

Lee was abducted from her North Port home in January of 2008, her two young boys were left home alone.

And despite those two 911 calls, she was not found until it was to late.

The jury will also get the chance to see in person, the Camaro police believe King drove Lee around in.

It will be brought to a secure location at the courthouse and the court session will be moved outside while the importance of the car is discussed.

Today a judge also ruled to admit bullet casings collected from a firing range where King visited just hours before police believe he abducted Lee.

The casings were collected the next day, but investigators say they are a match, for the gun used to kill Denise Amber Lee.

Jury selection in the murder case against Michael King will begin on Monday, August 17th.
They hope to have a jury seated by Friday, August 21st, and begin the trial the next Monday.

www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/local/sun_coast/amber_lee_evidence_admitted

[CSA FD]

New report on 911 in Florida points to recommendations for improving emergency response
Independent analysis funded by state’s largest community foundation was prompted by 2008 death of Denise Amber Lee

August 31, 2009

A first-of-its kind analysis of 911 in Florida identifies numerous vulnerabilities and offers specific recommendations for shoring up a fragmented emergency response system. The independent study was commissioned by Florida's largest community foundation following the 2008 murder of Denise Amber Lee. While 911 calls placed by Lee from her abductor's cell phone and by a witness who suspected a crime was occurring were answered, units that could have been dispatched to help Lee were not. The report is available online at gulfcoastcf.org.

"Florida 911: The State of Emergency," prepared by Tartaglione & Associates of Gainesville and funded by Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice, analyzed all of the components of emergency response that are activated when a person in need of assistance tries to call 911 in Florida. The study found that Florida's 911 system is not a "system" at all, but rather a patchwork of state and local agencies, protocols, and technologies cobbled together to respond to 911 calls.

"This is the first time that 911 in Florida has been analyzed from the placement of a call to the arrival of a first responder on the scene," said Mark Pritchett, the Foundation's vice president for community investment.

The study reveals several key findings of why the 911 system in Florida falls short as a public service, including:

* No single state agency to monitor how effectively calls for emergency assistance are handled

* Underfunding the system on a statewide level

* No mandated, uniform training in the state's 258 call centers that handle 911 calls

* Incomplete statewide coordination of equipment used for emergency response

"The tragic abduction, rape, and murder of Denise Amber Lee last year devastated our community," said Pritchett. "Gulf Coast Community Foundation commissioned this objective analysis to help understand how the 911 system works, how it is funded, and what can be done to improve it. The Foundation's goal is to stimulate conversation and action among those who can improve the system, to ensure that it doesn't fail others in the future."

The study presents 18 recommendations for overcoming these challenges and establishing a coordinated, seamless 911 system, including:

* Redefine 911 as a comprehensive emergency response system inclusive of all aspects of emergency service provision, from the time a call to 911 is placed to the time when help arrives.

* Appoint a state-level position to oversee and coordinate all aspects of 911 emergency response in Florida.

* Mandate minimum standards for training, protocol, and equipment for all call centers.

* Establish state-level lists of approved equipment or standards for interconnectivity among all types of devices used to access and mobilize emergency response.

The Foundation has also worked with Nathan Lee, the widower of Denise Amber Lee, who established a charitable fund in his wife's name with memorial donations he received. The fund supports the efforts of the Denise Amber Lee Foundation to promote public safety through uniform training, standardized protocols, defined measurable outcomes, and technological advances in the 911 system.

www.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com/page/content.detail/id/509773.html

[CSA FD]

Murder victim's husband to sue Charlotte County Sheriff's Office

Oct. 14, 2009

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, FL -- The husband of murder victim Denise Amber Lee will file a lawsuit on Wednesday against the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office.

Nathan Lee and his attorneys will hold a news conference today at 11 a.m at the Charlotte County Justice Center in Punta Gorda to discuss the wrongful death and negligence suit.

Lee's husband says a 911 call from a witness was not quickly relayed to deputies searching for his wife.

In January 2008, Michael King kidnapped Denise Amber Lee from her North Port home. He then raped and killed her before burying her body in a shallow grave.

King was convicted of killing Lee and was sentenced to death last month.

www.abcactionnews.com/news/local/story/Murder-victims-husband-to-sue-Charlotte-County/sjCAA1-OXU6IpQ6N55OPdw.cspx?rss=794