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Believe Me: Lisa McVey's Powerful Statement At The Execution Of Her Abductor, Bobby Joe Long

Lucy Devine

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Believe Me: Lisa McVey's Powerful Statement At The Execution Of Her Abductor, Bobby Joe Long

Featured Image Credit: Lifetime/Netflix

Warning: This article contains content that some readers may find distressing and/or triggering.

Ever since Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey dropped on Netflix this weekend, viewers have been gripped to the sickening story of serial killer Bobby Joe Long, and the 17-year-old girl who became the catalyst to his capture.

Lisa McVey was just 17 when she was abducted at gunpoint while riding her bicycle home from work, on the evening of 3rd November 1984.

She didn't know it at the time, but her abductor was Bobby Joe Long, a serial killer who had taken the lives of at least 10 women in Tampa, Florida.

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The film arrived on Netflix last week (Credit: Lifetime/Netflix)
The film arrived on Netflix last week (Credit: Lifetime/Netflix)

For 26 hours, Lisa was held captive by Long, who raped her multiple times. But using a series of survival tactics, Lisa - who had been abused as a child - managed to persuade Long to set her free.

"I had to take all of the abuse I had incurred as a child and just reach down one more time, into the pit of my stomach, and tap into those survivor skills in order to overcome him psychologically. And it worked. Here I am," she told Fox News in 2018.

At Long's execution a year later, Lisa made a powerful and emotional statement.

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You can watch a clip below:

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In the statement, Lisa said: "Bobby Joe Long, people ask me what I would say to you if you were standing in front of me and here's my answer.

"Bobby Joe Long, thank you. Thank you for choosing me instead of another 17-year-old little girl. The reason why I say 'thank you' now is because I have forgiven you for what you have done to me.

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"Had I not forgiven you, I might as well have been in my own prison, without walls.

"God has shown me the only way to really be free when someone bestows injustice against you is complete forgiveness.

"My life changed forever and for the better. I chose not to remain a victim, I chose to live... I end my statement with one last thing Bobby Joe Long and hear me loud and clear, hear my roaring voice, may God have mercy on your soul, long overdue."

Bobby Joe Long was executed in 2019 (Credit: PA)
Bobby Joe Long was executed in 2019 (Credit: PA)
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After Lisa escaped, she managed to provide enough evidence for police to capture the serial killer. During her time with Long, she made sure to leave a trail of evidence in the form of fingerprints, hair and blood on his car seat. She had also "placed her hands on his face" to remember specific parts of his appearance.

Thanks to Lisa, Long was arrested on 16th November outside a cinema and received 28 life sentences and one death sentence.

Now, Lisa works as a member of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. She specialises in sex crimes and protecting children.

A real life hero.

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You can watch Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey on Netflix now.

If you have been affected by this story, you can find help, advice and support from Rape Crisis here, or Survivor's Trust here.

Topics: TV News, Netflix

Lucy Devine
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