A Florida woman survived a scary crime to become crooks’ worst nightmare

Being a victim of crime is a life-altering experience. 

It can send people down many paths. 

And a Florida woman survived a scary crime to become a crooks’ worst nightmare. 

Florida woman survives encounter with serial killer to become a police officer

Lisa McVey, who was seventeen years old at the time, was riding her bicycle home from her job at a Krispy Kreme Donuts store in Tampa, Florida when she was abducted by serial killer Bobby Joe Long in November 1984. 

Long kidnapped and tortured her for 26 hours. 

She managed to escape after she told the madman a story about how she needed to help her sick father. 

“I’m 17 years old and in the fight for my life,” McVey said. 

McVey helped the police track down Long who was arrested weeks later. 

Long killed at least 10 women in 1984 before he was arrested and eventually executed in 2019. 

That experience shaped the rest of McVey’s life. 

“Bobby Joe Long, thank you,” McVey said after his execution. “Thank you for choosing me instead of another 17-year-old little girl. The reason why I say thank you now is I have forgiven you for what you have done to me. Had I not forgiven you, I might as well be in my own prison without walls.”

McVey joined the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office to make sure that victims get justice. 

Victim of Florida serial killer climbs the ranks in the sheriff’s office

Now, she is trying to rise from the rank of Master Deputy to Detective.

“I think that’s what motivates me to want to be a detective,” McVey told Fox News Digital. “They were looking for a notorious serial killer for eight months. Here comes a 17-year-old… my evidence and my quick thinking and my retaining, remembering every little detail not only saved my life, but countless lives, right? So in two weeks, we catch him… I worked with the police.”

McVey is in the running to be a detective and got to be one for 30 days as part of a career development program. 

“I did get to work in the Criminal Investigation Division with sexual assault victims, drownings, battery, missing, exploited children,” McVey explained. “I was very honored to be a detective for 30 days. I’m just honored to know that I can do that job.”

She changed her name to Lisa Mae to honor the memory of her aunt and uncle who took care of her when she was 17 after she was abducted by the serial killer. 

“My uncle passed away two years ago, and in honor of him, I wanted to take his last name because my aunt and my uncle are the only ones that came and rescued me when I was 17 to give me a home,” Mae said. 

Her life’s mission was shaped by being abducted 40 years ago and escaping to get a second chance at life. 

“I’m excited to explore and live another 40 years to the fullest…to live in freedom,” Mae said. “My freedom was granted, you know, 40 years ago.”

Lisa Mae used her tragedy to help others in her community and put the bad guys behind bars. 

DeSantis Daily will keep you up-to-date on any new developments in this ongoing story.