The Michael King Execution: “He’s Going To Burn In Hell”

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Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes Present 19 min 4 speakers 5 chapters transcribed
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Amy Robach 0:00
This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed human. Hey there, everybody. Welcome to Amy and TJ Presents, The Michael King Execution. We are talking about Florida's fourth execution this year, but it's more about the crime that led to the execution that has everyone talking, that has changed laws and certainly saved lives. And with that, everyone, welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ Presents. I'm Amy Robach, alongside TJ Holmes.

What led to the execution of Michael King?

Amy Robach 0:35
Michael King pronounced dead at 6.13 p.m. Eastern Time this past Tuesday. That was March 17th. And the execution chamber was full.
T.J. Holmes 0:48
Yeah, this is, it's always fascinating to see who does show up for these things, because oftentimes they do take, not years, not just a couple of decades sometimes, but in some cases, several, three or four decades. A lot of family, friends, colleagues are gone. So it is. I don't know. There's something very heartening, and as crazy as it sounds about an execution, it's sweet that family members wanted to see it through after sometimes decades. So yeah, this said a lot about who the person was.
Amy Robach 1:20
Yes. And in this case, the victim, we should mention 21-year-old Denise Amber Lee. She was already the mom of two. She had a two-year-old. She had a six-month-old. We'll get into the crime and why that crime made national headlines. But it was, and I say just interesting. 18 years ago that this crime happened. And I say that because when we often talk about executions and inmates on death row, finally getting that execution date, sometimes we're talking three decades, even four decades. So this is actually a relatively quick from, uh, prosecution and sentencing to actual execution. Just 17 years, actually.
T.J. Holmes 2:01
The shortest one we've covered in the past two years. Not even close. 18 years is lightning fast compared to the ones we've covered.
Amy Robach 2:09
Yes, and so this might also speak to the reason why so many people were able to be in that execution chamber. We mentioned Denise Amber Lee was the victim. Her father, her mother, her siblings, her husband, and her oldest child, I mentioned he was two at the time, so he was 20 at the time of the execution. We're all there to see Michael King executed. And look, we talk a lot about every execution is different. And it's interesting, the last several we've covered, babe, the inmates have had not just a few final words, but actually fairly significant final words. And this is not necessarily the norm.
T.J. Holmes 2:50
Oh, no. We call it a morbid fascination, but... Final meal and final words. We're always interested to hear. And I swear, all last year, and we covered a lot, Robes, there was some that said, no, I got nothing to say. There was some that said one quick little word or two. But man, it seems, Robes, when they have something to say, they say a lot.
Amy Robach 3:14
Exactly.
T.J. Holmes 3:14
It's either this, it's feast or famine.
Amy Robach 3:16
Yes, and a lot of times, and at least it's been wonderful to report those moments. We've had a few recently where the inmates have offered an apology, have given some sort of closure or peace to the family. So in this case, Michael King did have quite a bit to say. but he did not offer an apology. And according to Denise's family, he's never even acknowledged that he committed this crime. But I'm gonna read for you his final words and let you take what you will from them. Since finding Jesus in prison, I have tried to live as his disciple, obeying the two great commandments to love God with all my heart, my mind, and all my being, and to love my neighbor, to include everyone, my family, Denise Lee's family, everyone in the gallery, as well as the Catholic volunteers who visit the prison, and those on the team, to end my life.
Amy Robach 4:13
What do you make of that?
T.J. Holmes 4:14
No, it matters. I take them at their word. We have heard families say that hearing words at the end of asking for forgiveness or taking responsibility have made a difference in how they can go about the rest of their lives.
Amy Robach 4:31
But he chose not to, even saying he's a disciple of Christ and talked about how he found God. He didn't offer that apology.
T.J. Holmes 4:37
I don't know what it meant to him at the end, where his head was at the end of his life, what he was thinking at the end of his life.

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