Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey

Seventeen-year-old Lisa McVey is kidnapped after leaving a doughnut shop in Tampa. Bobby Joe Long rapes her in his car before driving her to his studio apartment. The abduction marks the start of a brutal captivity that lasts into the following day.

Lisa is bound and blindfolded in Bobby's studio apartment and subjected to repeated rapes. She uses reverse psychology to gain Bobby's trust and keeps her wits about her. She secretly leaves fingerprints and strands of hair as clues she hopes will help later, while memorizing the layout of the apartment.

After revealing he's been hurt by past victims, Bobby decides he must get rid of Lisa. He drives her to a secluded wooded area, holding a gun and threatening her life. Lisa pleads for her life, and ultimately Bobby releases her and flees, leaving her to find her way home.

Lisa makes contact with the outside world by escaping back to her grandmother's house and telling them what happened. Her grandmother Diane and Morris refuse to believe her story, treating it like a runaway incident. Diane eventually reports Lisa missing to the police, prompting an investigation.

At the police station, detectives work on an extensive case involving nine murdered women. Sergeant Larry Pinkerton, an expert in sex crimes, takes special interest in Lisa's account and lends credibility to her claims. The team is initially skeptical about the details because they seem unusually precise.

Pinkerton sends Lisa's clothing for forensic testing and the fibers match those found on all the bodies. This pivotal link convinces the detectives that Lisa's abductor is the serial killer they are seeking. Lisa's detailed testimony continues to support the investigation.

Over time, Pinkerton and Lisa develop trust, and she opens up about her home life. She also confides in him about the abuse from Morris. Meanwhile, Morris is arrested for child abuse, further isolating Lisa from her supposed protector.

Pinkerton arranges for Lisa to be placed in protective housing for young adults, separating her from her grandmother's household. This offers her a safer environment to recount her ordeal. The detectives guide her through the memory of the abduction, retracing the parking lot where it began and the drive to Bobby's apartment.

Lisa retraces the route from the parking lot to Bobby's apartment, identifying key turns and landmarks. She finds the tree where she was left, prompting the police to set up a two-mile radius search. The memory of these details solidifies the case in the minds of the investigators.

A deputy searches the area and spots a car similar to the one Lisa described. He photographs it and, with Lisa's confirmation, gives investigators a positive identification of Bobby Joe Long. This moment ties Lisa's account to a real suspect.

On November 16, 1984, Bobby is arrested outside a movie theater. The arrest validates Lisa's account and marks a turning point in the case. The community learns of the connection between the suspect and the crime spree.

Lisa is publicly honored for her bravery and contribution to the case. Pinkerton offers her a place at his house, but she declines and chooses to live with Aunt Carol and Uncle Jim. She pledges that Pinkerton has not seen the last of her, signaling a continued commitment to helping others.

In the postscript, Lisa is shown living happily with her relatives, and Pinkerton remains her friend. She later becomes a deputy sergeant in Sex Crimes, dedicating her career to protecting young people from similar fates.

The postscript notes that Bobby Joe Long remains on death row, and that he was eventually executed in prison by lethal injection in 2019. This marks the end of his case in real life.