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The Horrifying Kidnapping and Murder of Denise Amber Lee
A witness called 911, but officers were never dispatched.
Denise and Nathan began dating in her senior year of high school. They were a classic case of ‘opposites attract.’ Denise was a timid math whiz and bookworm who mostly kept to herself while Nathan was a popular jock who loved to socialize and crack jokes.
A whirlwind romance turned into a beautiful marriage with two loving children. The family of four settled in North Port, Florida where Nathan worked three jobs to support his family. Finances were tight but it didn’t matter to the Lees’, they were happy. All they wanted was to raise their children and grow old together.
For their first Valentine’s Day together, Nathan gave Denise a heart-shaped ring and she wore it every single day, until January 17, 2008.
On Thursday, January 17, 2008, 21-year-old Denise Amber Lee was at home taking care of their two children, 2-year-old Noah and 6-month-old Adam, while Nathan was at work.
At 11:09 am, Nathan called Denise during his lunch break and they chatted for a few minutes about the surprisingly warm January weather. Denise had mentioned how warm and stuffy the home was and Nathan suggested she open the windows. Denise responded she had already done so.
At 3 pm, Nathan called Denise to let her know he was heading home but she didn’t answer. He called her eight more times during the 25-minute drive home. As he pulled into the driveway, he noticed that the windows which Denise said she had opened were now closed.
As Nathan entered the home he found Denise’s phone and keys on a chair and both of the children in the same crib. The windows had been shut but not latched. It was then Nathan realized that the person who had shut the windows, was not Denise.
He immediately called 911 and told the operator his wife had been kidnapped. The next call Nathan made was to Denise’s father Rick Goff, a police detective. Within a half-hour, he had police dogs and a helicopter canvassing the area. Authorities began…
