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Michael King charged with Denise Lee's death
Harold Muxlow Sr. said his son did everything he could under the circumstances regarding Michael King's actions. (Slideshow)
SARASOTA (Bay News 9) -- Sarasota County police released new information Tuesday linking Michael King to the murder of Denise Amber Lee, last week in North Port.
Investigators found a woman's ring inside King's green Camaro. Lee's husband confirmed it was his wife's.
A second witness called 9-1-1 reporting a woman in distress screaming from inside a green Camaro. And three officers who went inside King's home found balled up duct tape that had long strands of hair attached.
King remains behind bars at the Sarasota jail. In the meantime, his family said they're still shocked about what's happened.
According to Harold Muxlow Jr., who lives in North Port, his cousin, Michael Lee King, came by to visit Thursday night and asked to borrow a shovel, flashlight and gas can. However, Muxlow's father and King's uncle, Harold Muxlow Sr., said his son didn't realize it was a request that may have had murderous consequences.
"He then asked if he could borrow a gas can because his lawn mower was stuck in the mud and it ran our of gas, and he said, 'well it's my cousin and I'm going to loan that to him,' " Muxlow Sr. said.
Muxlow Sr. said his son told him as he talked to King he heard a woman scream to call police. He said his son told him King then shoved the woman inside the car and told Muxlow Jr. to not worry about it and quickly drove away.
Muxlow Sr. said his son didn't think much about it because of King's past.
"Mike kind of hung out with girls that were wacky," Muxlow Sr. said.
Muxlow said moment's later his son had a feeling he should check on the situation. He called his daughter and told her about the situation. She immediately called 9-1-1, but still Muxlow procrastinated.
However, after driving to King's home, Muxlow Sr. said his son found no sign of a lawn mower stuck in the mud. He said that's when his son knew something was wrong and he also called 9-1-1.
Muxlow Sr. said he believes his son did everything he could under the circumstances.
"He's a witness," Muxlow Sr. said. "Let's face it, if it hadn't been for him it would have been another missing persons and nobody would have known what happened to her."
Investigators are still looking for a gun and other evidence to help with the investigation. Authorities have not said if Lee and King knew each other or if they believe this was a random act of violence.
King had Citrus County connections
Before the search for Denise Lee and before Michael King was in jail and charged with the kidnapping and murder of the 21-year-old mother of two, King lived in a mobile home in Homosassa.
Neighbor Crystal Sabian would pick up her younger siblings from King when they would go over to jump on the trampoline in his back yard.
"I thought he was a nice guy, but I guess not," Sabian said.
King is charged with first degree murder, accused of shooting Lee in the head and burying her in a shallow grave in North Port last week. Sabian is scared to think her 10-year-old and 6-year old would play at King's old house.
"I had no idea, actually," Sabian said. "I had no clue whatsoever. It's scary."
Other neighbors said they never had a problem with King and rarely saw him.
Records show King lived in Homosassa for about six months last year. Neighbors said he lived there with a woman and two children.
King waived his court appearance in Sarasota Tuesday morning. Sarasota County prosecutors said they will formerly charge King with Lee's murder and they will seek the death penalty.
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