Lisa McVey

Lisa McVey is an American survivor, retired law-enforcement officer, author, and motivational speaker from Tampa, Florida.

Lisa McVey is an American survivor, retired law-enforcement officer, author, and motivational speaker from Tampa, Florida. At age 17, she was abducted and sexually assaulted by serial killer Bobby Joe Long; the information she gave police helped lead to his capture. Her experience later became the basis for the 2018 film *Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey*, which was filmed in Canada.

Early life

Lisa McVey was born in March 1967 and lived in the Tampa, Florida area. Public accounts note that she was experiencing severe personal distress before the abduction.

Abduction and survival

In November 1984, McVey was abducted by Bobby Joe Long and held for about 26 hours. She survived by carefully observing details about Long and his surroundings, which later helped investigators.

Investigation and aftermath

The information McVey provided contributed to Long's arrest, and he was later convicted for multiple murders. Her account became widely known as an example of survival and investigative assistance.

Later career and public work

McVey later worked for the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office for about 30 years. She is also a published author and motivational speaker.

Media portrayals

McVey's story was adapted into the 2018 film *Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey*. The film brought renewed public attention to her case and was filmed in Canada.