Disclaimer: The article contains mentions of sexual abuse. Reader discretion is advised.
On November 3, 1984, an unknown man kidnapped Lisa McVey in Tampa, Florida. Reports indicate that the abductor held a pistol against her left temple and pulled her inside his car. Subsequently, the unknown man took her back to his apartment and held her at gunpoint for 26 hours. However, the abductor had a change of heart and dropped her on the road. The young girl told her horrifying ordeal to the police and led them to her abductor’s house, identified as Bobby Joe Long.
After abducting Lisa McVey, the kidnapper took her to his apartment and sexually assaulted her repeatedly. According to Washington Post, Bobby Joe Long raped her as a vindicative move towards women. However, she didn’t try to fight. Instead, McVey talked gently to him about his bad experiences with women. The publication noted that McVey shared a story about a sick parent and how she was the sole caregiver for them. Almost 26 hours later, Long dropped her off close to her neighborhood and ran away.
Lisa McVey told her grandmother and grandmother’s boyfriend everything. Washington Post reported that she told the authorities what happened to her. Additionally, the survivor informed investigators about the location from where she was taken. The outlet mentioned that they started surveillance in that area and eventually arrested Bobby Joe Long.
Upon his arrest, Bobby Joe Long admitted that he murdered 10 and entered a guilty plea for eight of the slayings. According to the Tampa Bay Times, the serial killer received life sentences for each murder. Moreover, he was sentenced to death for killing one of his victims. He remained on death row for almost 34 years and was executed by lethal injection in May 2019, per FOX Tampa Bay.
How did Lisa McVey escape her serial killer?
Lisa McVey calmly talked to her abductor and tried to gain sympathy. According to another report by FOX Tampa Bay, McVey started talking to her like a four-year-old and told Bobby Joe Long she would take care of him. The publication also mentioned her experience as a victim of child sexual abuse helped her in talking to Long. Citing her statement, FOX Tampa Bay noted, “I said, ‘Listen, it’s unfortunate how we met, but I can be your girlfriend. I could take care of you, and no one ever has to know.”
McVey got a glimpse of Bobby Joe Long’s car plate that said “Magnum.” Moreover, she made sure that she left her fingerprints all over the apartment. She said, “At one time he placed my hands on his face. There were pockmarks, a small mustache, small ears, short hair, clean-cut, kind of stout, but not overweight; a big guy.”
McVey also opened up about her father’s declining health and how she was the only one available to take care of him. Her plan worked and the following day, Bobby Joe Long dropped her near her house. McVey said, “I pulled my blindfold down, and the first thing I saw was this gorgeous, beautiful oak tree. That’s the moment I knew my life was about to change for the good. I saw the branches of new life.”
Upon his arrest, Bobby Joe Long opened up about how he committed the slayings and noted that he’d tie his victims before taking them out. Long entered a guilty plea and received the death sentence for slaying one of his victims. Before his execution in May 2019, the officials asked Long if he wanted to say anything. He simply replied, “no.”
