Lisa McVey survived due to her strategic manipulation during her 26-hour captivity:
- Psychological Manipulation: She sympathized with Long, called him “sir,” and offered to be his “secret girlfriend.”
- Fabricated Story: Claimed to care for a terminally ill father, evoking pity.
- Evidence Collection: Memorized car and apartment details while blindfolded, and deliberately left fingerprints.
Long released her near her home on November 4, 1984, which led to his eventual arrest.
2. Is Bobby Joe Long Still Alive?
No. He was executed by lethal injection on May 23, 2019, at Florida State Prison. He was 65 years old.
3. Who Was Bobby Joe Long?
- Born: October 14, 1953
- Died: May 23, 2019
- Crimes: 10 murders, 50+ rapes
- Aliases: “Classified Ad Rapist,” “Adman Rapist”
- Psychological Profile: Suffered from Klinefelter syndrome, childhood trauma, head injuries, and sexual sadism.
Long’s crimes escalated after a 1980 divorce. He initially posed as a buyer answering classified ads to commit rape, then murdered 10 women between March–November 1984.
4. Execution Details
- Death Sentence: Received in 1986 for the murder of Michelle Simms.
- Governor Ron DeSantis signed the death warrant in April 2019.
- Final Meal: Roast beef, bacon, fries, and soda.
- Witnesses: Survivors Lisa McVey and Linda Nuttall were present.
5. Crimes and Victims
- Victims: 10 women, primarily sex workers or women he abducted through deception.
- Capture: Arrested on November 16, 1984, after McVey’s description helped police trace his red Dodge Magnum.
- Conviction: Pleaded guilty to 8 murders; sentenced to death and multiple life terms.
6. Other Serial Killers in Tampa
Howell Donaldson III (“Seminole Heights Killer”)
- Killed 4 people in 2017 in random shootings.
- Arrested after handing a loaded gun to his McDonald’s manager.
- Sentenced in 2023 to four life terms after pleading guilty.
7. Legacy
- Lisa McVey: Became a sheriff’s deputy and advocate for abuse survivors.
- Film: Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey (2018) dramatized her story.
- Legal Impact: Long’s case influenced interrogation law after his confession was partially invalidated due to denial of legal counsel.