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Memorial Ceremony To Honor Slain North Port Mother

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By JOHN DAVIS

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Published: January 16, 2009

NORTH PORT - The city that a year ago watched the unfolding tragedy of the abduction and slaying of 21-year-old North Port mother Denise Lee will pause Saturday at City Hall to remember her.

A memorial ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. in front of the North Port City Hall, 4970 City Hall Blvd. State and local leaders and Nathan Lee, Denise's husband, are scheduled to speak.

Lee was taken from her home Jan. 17, 2008, touching off a massive, multiagency search that ultimately failed to save her. Michael King, 37, of North Port, is awaiting trial on kidnapping, rape and murder charges.

The Lee abduction became a symbol for flaws in the 911 system when investigators found later that a witness, Jane Kowalski, reported seeing a passenger struggling in a dark colored Chevrolet Camaro on U.S. 41 that night. Kowalski's information never made it to deputies patrolling nearby after Charlotte County's 911 center mishandled her call.

Nathan Lee has started a nonprofit foundation, the Denise Amber Lee Foundation, with a goal of improving the emergency call system in Florida and across the nation. He lauded Kowalski for her 911 call.

"She has been amazing towards my family," Lee told city leaders this week. "What she did that night is something everybody should do. It doesn't matter who you are."

North Port will award Kowalski a key to the city Saturday in recognition of her attempts to save Denise.

The problems related to the 911 call call have garnered national media attention and led to a state law on voluntary statewide training standards for people who work in emergency communications centers.

But Nathan Lee, who indicated he plans to sue Charlotte County over its response to Kowalski's call, said more improvements are needed.

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