Our Story So Far:
Denise was a 21-year-old loving mother of two boys, with a husband who worked three jobs so that Denise could
stay home and raise their children. On the day Denise was abducted from the Lees'
rented home in North Port in the middle of the day. Somehow, the
intruder gained entry and control of Denise, who most likely saved her children's
lives. Denise's father, Detective Rick Goff, was able to call
on all area state, county and municipal law-enforcement agencies to search for Denise
and her captor immediately following her abduction.
This was one of the most massive,
cooperative search efforts that this area ever experienced.
In the hours that ensued,
Denise fought mightily for her life. In her battle,
she was able to use the captor's cell phone to call 9-1-1, an act she thought would
save her life, just like we are taught as children.
She was not the only one to call 9-1-1 that day regarding this crime.
There were at least four other calls, one from her distraught husband and three
from eyewitnesses. One witness gave the local sheriff's department an exact location
of the crime happening right before her eyes. She stayed on the phone for more than
nine minutes, identifying cross streets as she continued driving. Despite the fact that as many as four patrol cars
were within a mile of the car in which Denise was fighting for her life, due to inefficiencies in the call center, none were dispatched.
On the morning of January 19, 2008, a few heart-wrenching days after she went missing, her body was found.
It is in memory of Denise and the
tragedy that could have been prevented that this Foundation is formed.
We envision a time when a citizen's first
call for help will be answered by a state-of-the-art 9-1-1 call center staffed with
dedicated and highly trained professionals. A time when 9-1-1 will fail no-one.
The national attention
garnered by this tragic case has allowed us to make considerable progress in the
short time since Denise's death. Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice, the
largest community foundation in Florida, has partnered with us to lend its considerable
resources and influence to our cause. This heart-breaking story has been featured
on Dateline NBC, The Today Show on NBC and ABC's 20/20. The Florida State Legislature
was so moved by this story and testimony from Denise's father, Detective Rick Goff,
that the bill passed unanimously and was named in Denise's honor.
God bless all the 9-1-1 operators out
there who care and are working so hard to do their job and keep us all safe. May
God give them the strength and guidance needed to do their job to the best of their
ability.
We need your help. Let's unite and make our country a safer place by improving our 9-1-1 system.