I SURVIVED A SERIAL KILLER: Tampa Terror

Summary

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Cold Case Files – "I SURVIVED A SERIAL KILLER: Tampa Terror"

Podcast Date: March 7, 2026
Narrator: Marisa Pinson

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Episode Overview

This gripping episode centers on the harrowing survival story of Lisa McVeigh Nolan, the only known victim to escape notorious Tampa serial killer Bobby Joe Long in 1984. Using firsthand testimony from McVeigh alongside law enforcement insights and confessions from Long himself, the episode reconstructs both the terror of her ordeal and the painstaking investigation that ultimately brought Long to justice. Themes of trauma, resilience, and the crucial role of survivors in solving cold cases are at the heart of the episode.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Abduction: Lisa’s Ordeal

[02:33 – 07:42]

• Lisa McVeigh Nolan describes being abducted at gunpoint while riding her bicycle home after a late-night shift at a donut shop in Tampa.
• She details her acute awareness and survival tactics while blindfolded, such as loosening the blindfold (“I would tighten my jaw to make the blindfold loose.” [05:15]) and memorizing clues like the "Magnum" logo on the dashboard.
• McVeigh recounts the cycle of violence, psychological manipulation, and moments of calculated empathy she deployed in order to survive:
  • Quote: “I had to use basically reverse psychology, like he finally got someone to care about him. But then he told me he couldn’t keep me.” [09:31]

The Serial Murders

[03:43 – 08:34]

• Retired law enforcement officials Randy Latimer and Larry Pinkerton provide background:
  • At least eight women were murdered over six months, all showing signs of sexual assault, ligatures, and the presence of distinctive red carpet fibers.
• Bobby Joe Long is revealed—through tape and confessions—to have targeted women with chilling methodology:
  • Quote (Long): “It’s basically the same thing as with the other two girls. Tie her up, took her out, took her clothes off, had sex with her.” [08:02]

Breakthrough in the Case

[12:12 – 15:28]

• After Lisa's escape and detailed account (including the car, the ATM stop, and her observations), detectives connect her case to the unsolved murders by matching the red carpet fibers found on her clothing to those on other victims.
• Investigative efforts focus on Dodge Magnums registered in Hillsborough County, narrowing to Robert Joe Long.
• Long is apprehended as he leaves a movie theater [15:28].

Confession and Investigation

[16:09 – 19:06]

• Confronted with forensic evidence and witness testimony, Long confesses to Lisa’s abduction and the string of murders:
  • Quote: “I killed all of them.” [18:56]
• Long admits to more than 50 rapes under the moniker "the classified ad rapist."
  • Quote: “He said that he probably raped more than 50 women. That’s what he said.” [19:53]
• Investigators reflect on the horror and relief of solving the case.

Aftermath & Lisa’s Strength

[20:14 – 21:38]

• Lisa credits her survival to quick thinking and psychological strategy:
  • Quote: “I think the reason why I was the only one that made it out was because I did what I had to do to get him to listen with his heart instead of just his evilness.” [20:14]
• Long is eventually charged, convicted, given multiple life sentences, and one death sentence.
• Lisa attends Long’s execution decades later, sharing her message of forgiveness:
  • Quote: “Bobby Joe Long, thank you. Thank you for choosing me instead of another 17-year-old little girl... I have forgiven you for what you have done to me.” [21:08]
• Lisa becomes a deputy in the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, counseling other survivors:
  • Quote: “I became a deputy because... I tell them my story to show them. This doesn’t mean you can’t make something of yourself.” [21:38]

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Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• Lisa McVeigh Nolan describes her abduction:
  “Then out of nowhere, and I felt someone just yank me off my bicycle... I just know I’m gonna die.” [01:54]
• Lisa’s survival tactics:
  “I would tighten my jaw to make the blindfold loose. And it worked.” [05:15]
• Recounting the psychological struggle:
  “I had to use basically reverse psychology, like he finally got someone to care about him.” [09:31]
• Detective’s admiration:
  “Her story of what happened was in such detail that it was like a plot for a movie.” [13:47]
• Bobby Joe Long’s confession:
  “I killed all of them.” [18:56]
• On why Lisa survived:
  “I think the reason why I was the only one that made it out was because I did what I had to do to get him to listen with his heart instead of just his evilness.” [20:14]
• Lisa’s message at Long’s execution:
  “I have forgiven you for what you have done to me.” [21:08]
• Her ongoing courage:
  “This doesn’t mean you can’t make something of yourself.” [21:38]

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Timeline of Key Events

| Timestamp | Segment | |------------|----------------------------------------------| | 02:33-07:42| Lisa’s abduction and survival tactics | | 03:43-08:34| Murders overview; investigation background | | 12:12-15:28| Forensic breakthrough; Long identified | | 16:09-19:06| Arrest; Long’s confession | | 20:14-21:38| Lisa’s aftermath; forgiveness and resilience |

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Tone & Language

The episode is raw and emotional, using frank survivor testimony and matter-of-fact law enforcement accounts. Lisa’s vulnerability and strength come through in her direct language. The tone is tense and suspenseful, turning resolute and hopeful as Lisa describes reclaiming her life.

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Conclusion

"I Survived a Serial Killer: Tampa Terror" stands as a testament to Lisa McVeigh Nolan’s courage and the critical impact a single survivor’s bravery and attention to detail can have on solving seemingly impossible cases. Her story, woven between chilling details of trauma and the unfaltering determination of investigators, underscores the hope that even the coldest cases can be solved—and that survivors are more than victims, but powerful agents of justice and change.

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Transcript

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[Narrator / Host]

This program contains subject matter that may be disturbing to some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.

[Detective / Investigator]

Bobby Joe Long has been convicted of

[Lisa McVeigh Nolan (Survivor)]

raping and brutally murdering Tampa Bay women.

[Bobby Joe Long (Perpetrator)]

I had sex with her and then I stabbed her with my neck.

[Law Enforcement Officer / Investigator]

We're dealing with a sick, sick person.

[Detective / Investigator]

The problem is how many more women would die before we got a break. In that case, out of nowhere and

[Lisa McVeigh Nolan (Survivor)]

I felt someone just yank me off my bicycle. I see a black revolver in his left hand and I just know I'm gonna die.

[Detective / Investigator]

He hated women and enjoyed exercising power over women.

[Lisa McVeigh Nolan (Survivor)]

This guy was the worst demon you'd ever want to know. I took my blindfold off and then I turn around and I just start running.

[Narrator / Host]

Real people who faced death and live to tell how this is I survived a serial killer.

[Lisa McVeigh Nolan (Survivor)]

I am Lisa McVeigh Nolan and I survived a serial killer. Back in 1984. I was 17 year old little girl. I was living in Tampa and I worked at a donut shop. It was November 2nd. I had went to work like any Other day and at 2 o' clock in the morning into November 3rd and I started riding my bicycle home from work. As I'm pedaling my bicycle, I come to an intersection of our church. And I noticed in the church parking lot was a car parked. It just struck me odd. The road was dark. It was frightening. But I had to get home. So I just keep pedaling. Then out of nowhere, and I felt someone just yank me off my bicycle. A man put his arm around my neck and next thing I know, I felt the cold steel barrel of a gun to my left temple. He drugged me to the car. He threw me into the car. I noticed it was maroon colored car, white seats. He orders me to take all my clothes off. And at that moment, I knew this guy was the worst demon you'd ever want to know.

[Narrator / Host]

Randy Latimer is a retired sergeant from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's office.

[Law Enforcement Officer / Investigator]

Six months before Lisa was abducted, we found a victim that had been murdered next to the interstate. Lana Long was a dancer.

[Bobby Joe Long (Perpetrator)]

A pool of night. She started fighting and screaming. I just tied her up.

[Law Enforcement Officer / Investigator]

Atlanta Long had a ligature around her neck and she had been raped. That tells me that we're dealing with a sick, sick person. Two weeks after we discovered Lana Long, we found the body of 22 year old Michelle Sims.

[Narrator / Host]

This is the voice of, of Bobby Joe Long.

[Bobby Joe Long (Perpetrator)]

The same thing with Long. I tied her up, had sex with her. I tried to strain her a little bit. It didn't work. And then I stabbed her with the knife, the neck.

[Law Enforcement Officer / Investigator]

We sent the evidence off to the FBI lab. And Lana Long and Michelle Sims both had this red carpet fiber on their bodies. Fiber came from a car. At this point, we felt that the two cases were similar enough to where we needed to keep them together.

[Narrator / Host]

Larry Pinkerton is a retired sergeant from the Tampa Police Department.

[Detective / Investigator]

They had some physical evidence, but no suspects, no person of interest.

[Lisa McVeigh Nolan (Survivor)]

After my abduction, he decides to tie my wrists up my legs and. And blindfold me. I was scared, but at the same time I was gonna do whatever it took to survive. I'm thinking, if he blindfolds me, how am I gonna see anything? So I would tighten my jaw to make the blindfold loose. And it worked. At any given moment, I was able to peek beneath a blindfold. I had to try to see if I can identify anything in the car that would help me recognize the car again if I was to go to the police. And then I saw the word Magnum on the dashboard. I just categorized it in my mind. Magnum PI So I can Remember to the T of what type of car I might have been in. And that's when he ordered me to perform an oral act on him. When there's a person that has a gun to your head, you tend to do what they say because at any given moment you're risking your own life. Afterwards, we went on about a 20 minute drive. Eventually he pulls over, he orders me to get dressed, and then he gets out of the car. And I'm praying the Lord's prayer because I'm thinking he's going to rape me, he's going to shoot and kill me. Next thing, I grabs my arm and we walk up to a door. He opens the door. We enter the apartment. I'm still blindfold, but all my senses were extremely heightened. I can hear the sound of a box fan. He removes my ligatures, my blindfold, insisting and demanding that I keep my eyes shut. And he escorts me into the bathroom. He puts me into the shower. Then he climbs in the shower with me. Then he bathes me. It was almost like he was living out a fantasy, as if we were just two lovers in the shower. It was just odd. But then he orders me out of the shower. And that's when the first attack happened. He got enraged. He threw me down floor and just brutally raped me. It was horrible.

[Law Enforcement Officer / Investigator]

When Lisa was abducted, she knew that she was in trouble. But I really don't think she knew just how close she was coming to dying. From June of 1984 for the next six months, law enforcement was involved in four more finds of bodies of women.

[Bobby Joe Long (Perpetrator)]

It's basically the same thing as with the other two girls. Tie her up, took her out, took her clothes off, had sex with her.

[Law Enforcement Officer / Investigator]

Of those four women, one of them was shot and the other three were strangled. There was also red carpet fibers found on three of the four women. We felt without a doubt that these additional four murders also joined the first two that we were working already. We knew them, we were dealing with a serial killer.

[Detective / Investigator]

But they had no suspect, no witnesses. The city was on edge with this murderer in their midst.

[Law Enforcement Officer / Investigator]

Authorities are urging everyone to be on the lookout for any suspicious activity.

[Detective / Investigator]

I had to believe that he would be caught. The problem was how many more women would die before we got a break in that case.

[Lisa McVeigh Nolan (Survivor)]

After the attack in the bathroom, he gets me up, walks me into the bedroom. He escorts me to the bed. He retires my wrists and my ankles, re blindfolds me again. I lost count how many times he attacked me. I asked him why he was doing this. He said he was getting back at women in general due to a recent bad breakup. It was a clue for me to be able to get inside his head. I can coddle him at all times to basically keep myself alive. About three o'clock the next morning, he says, what am I going to do with you? And I said, listen, we can stay together. We don't have to tell people how we met. You seem like a really nice guy and I'll take good care of you. I had to use basically reverse psychology, like he finally got someone to care about him. But then he told me he couldn't keep me, it wouldn't work out. Then he took me back to the car. We got in the car and I really for sure thought he was going to kill me.

[Narrator / Host]

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[Lisa McVeigh Nolan (Survivor)]

After I asked if we can be boyfriend and girlfriend, he told me it wouldn't work out. We get to the car, and he said he had to go to the bank. When he pulled up to the building, he told me to sit tight. Don't run. It was 26 hours that this monster had me in captivity. I've come this far. I'm gonna do exactly what he says. I was blindfolded, but I could see beneath my blindfold, and I knew exactly where we were. After we leave the ATM machine, He pulls into his side of a business and parks the car. And then he gets me out of the car. He goes, I need you to stand there for five minutes. Is he gonna shoot me now in the back? Is he gonna kill me? But just as quick as he took me, he drove off. And I'm standing there, I'm frozen, and I'm thinking to myself, what just happened? I was in shock that I was still alive. I took my blindfold off. Then I turn around, and I just start running. I just was so afraid of him coming back. Just kill me. It was a half a mile to run home, and it seemed the house was getting further and further away. But eventually I made it back to my grandmother's house. My grandmother calls the police. I had to go to the hospital. I had to have a rent kit done. It was almost like being violated all over again. It was horrible, But I did it. I had to do it. And that's when they decided to take my clothes for evidence.

[Detective / Investigator]

I took lisa's statement. Her story of what happened was in such detail that it was like a plot for a movie. I said to myself, this man could be the serial killer of all six women. We made sure that the evidence from all these cases were compared to the evidence from Lisa.

[Law Enforcement Officer / Investigator]

November 14th, we got the results back on the analysis of lisa's clothing. The FBI lab told us that we had a match with the red carpet fiber with hers and the other murder victims. And so we knew now that she had been abducted by our serial killer.

[Detective / Investigator]

Now we not only have evidence, we have a live witness. Lisa is the key to everything.

[Law Enforcement Officer / Investigator]

But after lisa reported her abduction to the police department, we found two more bodies.

[Detective / Investigator]

Authorities are responding to skeletal remains found in a pasture in Pasco County.

[Law Enforcement Officer / Investigator]

We've got eight women murdered. Now we're racing against time because we've got to find him and stop him before he kills again. We don't need any more evidence. We need him. Lisa had so many pieces of good information. She knew they were at an ATM machine, so that led us directly to the bank. We subpoenaed their ATM records from the night that she was abducted.

[Detective / Investigator]

Because of the description that Lisa gave us of a car everyone was looking for, the Dodge Magnum.

[Law Enforcement Officer / Investigator]

We were able to get a printout from the department of motor vehicle of all Dodge Magnums in Hillsborough county. And then we were able to compare the two lists. One name was the only name that showed up on each list. That name was Robert Joe Long. November 16th, about two weeks after Lisa was abducted, we were able to find his car in the parking garage of the movie theater. And when he came out of the movies, he was taken down and arrested. The task force announced the arrest of long at 11 o' clock this evening. And here he is, 31 year old Robert j. Long.

[Lisa McVeigh Nolan (Survivor)]

Larry Pinkerton told me about Robert Jelong's arrest. I was relieved that he'd finally been caught and that he couldn't do this to women anymore.

[Law Enforcement Officer / Investigator]

He's covering his face with his manacled arms. He's now in the car, the car now pulling away. Robert J. Long charged here in Hillsborough county tonight. We were able to get a search warrant for his automobile. And in searching Long's car, we were able to find the red carpet fibers.

[Detective / Investigator]

It was the same fibers in Lisa's case and the murder cases.

[Law Enforcement Officer / Investigator]

We took Long to the sheriff's office to ask him if he was involved in the rape and abduction of Lisa. And after a period of time, he admitted that he did abduct her. So then I threw out the pictures of all the homicide victims and asked him if he knew any of them. He hung his head down and finally he looked up and I was surprised at what we got.

[Narrator / Host]

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[Law Enforcement Officer / Investigator]

I threw out the pictures of all the homicide victims and asked him if he knew any of them. Finally he said, I killed him. I killed all of them.

[Bobby Joe Long (Perpetrator)]

I just tied her up. Did the same thing with the other girls.

[Law Enforcement Officer / Investigator]

Once we got through discussing the murder victims, they asked me if there was anything else that he had done. And he said that he had been dubbed the classified ad rapist.

[Bobby Joe Long (Perpetrator)]

What other rapes did you do about? We were signed down Miami and Lauderdale.

[Law Enforcement Officer / Investigator]

He terrorized this area for a long time. They were on high alert and they were scared.

[Bobby Joe Long (Perpetrator)]

How long ago was this? Goes back a long time. How did you pick your victims down there?

[Law Enforcement Officer / Investigator]

He would read a classified ad. He'd go to their house and if it was a woman by herself, then he would rape her.

[Bobby Joe Long (Perpetrator)]

How many? 2, 5, 20?

[Law Enforcement Officer / Investigator]

He said that he probably raped more than 50 women. It's when he said. And I knew when I took Lisa and let her go, that I was gonna get caught.

[Bobby Joe Long (Perpetrator)]

I had a pretty good idea. She could see underneath the blindfolds. And it was a real tug of war trying to decide if I should let her go or not. But I didn't want to hurt her.

[Lisa McVeigh Nolan (Survivor)]

This guy, he knew what he was doing. He had me forgot. I could have been dead. I could have been lying down in some ditches somewhere. I think the reason why I was the only one that made it out was because I did what I had to do to get him to listen with his heart instead of just his evilness he had in his mind. And it worked. He killed 10 women.

[Law Enforcement Officer / Investigator]

We've only found 10, but I think he killed more than 10. September 24, 1985, Long pled guilty to the murder of eight women and the abduction of Lisa Long received more than two dozen life sentences and one death sentence for the murders.

[Narrator / Host]

After 34 years, Bobby Joe Long, the man convicted of raping and brutally murdering Tampa Bay women, is scheduled to be executed.

[Lisa McVeigh Nolan (Survivor)]

I chose to go to Robert Geelong's execution because I'm stronger than ever and I needed to close that chapter of my life. Bobby Geelong, 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.

[Law Enforcement Officer / Investigator]

Lisa is now a deputy for the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and she is now and always will be my hero.

[Lisa McVeigh Nolan (Survivor)]

I became a deputy because what I've been through in my life, there's times I get victims of rape and I tell them my story to show them. This doesn't mean you can't make something of yourself. I'm just proud of myself that I stood up and I worked towards my goals to get to where I'm at today.

[Narrator / Host]

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[Lisa McVeigh Nolan (Survivor)]

I swear, if I'm lying, I'm dying.

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[Lisa McVeigh Nolan (Survivor)]

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[Lisa McVeigh Nolan (Survivor)]

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