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Who Was Bobby Joe Long?
Bobby Joe Long, born on October 14, 1953, in Kenova, West Virginia, became one of the most notorious serial killers in U.S. history. His criminal activities spanned several years, beginning with numerous rapes in the early 1980s before escalating to a series of brutal murders in 1984. Despite being arrested that same year, Long’s legal journey lasted for decades, marked by multiple appeals. He was ultimately executed by lethal injection on May 23, 2019, after being convicted of 10 murders.
Early Life and Troubled Childhood
Long’s early life was marked by hardship and dysfunction. His parents, Louella and Joe, separated when he was a young boy, and he lived primarily with his mother in Florida. His formative years were troubled, with significant challenges such as failing the first grade and experiencing a series of accidents. Long’s relationship with his mother was notably strained, exacerbated by her work in a bar and a series of unstable relationships. This early environment shaped his negative view of women, which later manifested in violent and misogynistic tendencies.
Marriage and Early Criminal Activities
Long’s marriage to Cynthia, whom he met at 13, was fraught with turmoil. They married in 1974 and had two children, but the stress of parenthood and a traumatic motorcycle accident in the late 1970s began to change Long’s personality. Cynthia later described a significant shift in his temperament after the accident, with Long becoming increasingly violent and erratic. Long’s growing sexual obsession, which analysts later linked to his sadistic tendencies, marked a dangerous escalation in his behavior.
In 1980, Cynthia filed for divorce, and Long moved in with a woman named Sharon Richards, who would later accuse him of rape. Around this time, Long also began to engage in criminal behavior more seriously, including the sending of inappropriate materials to a young girl, for which he was briefly jailed.
From Rapist to Murderer
Long’s criminal activities transitioned from rape to murder in 1984. His first known victim was Artis Wick, a prostitute he murdered after sexually assaulting her. This marked the beginning of a killing spree that would last until November of that year. Long’s modus operandi typically involved abducting women, often from the streets of Tampa, before raping and killing them. His victims included prostitutes, strippers, and other vulnerable women.
Notably, in the fall of 1984, Long abducted and held 17-year-old Lisa McVey for over 24 hours, repeatedly assaulting her. Unlike his other victims, Long allowed McVey to live, and her testimony would later play a critical role in his arrest. McVey’s description of Long and his car, combined with forensic evidence, led to his capture on November 16, 1984.
Conviction and Sentencing
In 1985, Long was convicted of the murder of Virginia Johnson and sentenced to death. Throughout the following years, he pleaded guilty to several more murders and was convicted for crimes across Hillsborough County, Florida. In addition to the death sentence, Long received multiple life imprisonment sentences.
Though Long confessed to killing 10 women, he suggested in interviews that there might have been additional victims. His execution was delayed for years due to numerous appeals, but ultimately, he was executed in 2019.
Execution
Bobby Joe Long’s death was the result of decades of legal proceedings. He was executed by lethal injection, witnessed by Lisa McVey, who had bravely testified against him years earlier. She later stated that she wanted to be the first person he saw, a poignant conclusion to a harrowing chapter in her life and a final chapter in Long’s criminal legacy.