Here’s an update on Lisa McVey, the subject of the Lifetime movie Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey. In 1984, she was abducted and sexually assaulted by serial killer Bobby Joe Long, but ultimately survived and provided valuable case information to investigators. Canadian actress Katie Douglas portrays McVey in Jim Donovan’s thriller, which has become more popular due to its availability on Netflix in the UK.

Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey explains how the subject was targeted but glosses over the specifics of what she endured. Rather than focusing on the darkest aspects of the case, screenwriter Christina Welsh details how the victim managed to escape, and why some investigators didn’t initially believe her story. In the real case, McVey remembered crucial details about her abduction, which ultimately led to the capture of her assailant, Long, who was identified as the so-called “Classified Ad Rapist” and later executed via lethal injection 35 years after the events depicted in the 2018 Lifetime movie.

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In Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey, the filmmakers highlight the bond between the victim and the police officer who shows the most support, Sergeant Larry Pinkerton (David James Elliott). He initially learns that McVey had previously been abused by a family member, which makes her experiences with Long even more tragic. The ending of Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey shows Pinkerton offering to adopt McVey, who passes on the opportunity in order to spend time with her aunt and uncle. The Lifetime/Netflix movie concludes with a brief update on the subject, and also features an appearance from the real woman who later became a Sheriff’s deputy and specialized in sex crimes.

McVey currently works at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in Florida. According to a May 2021 report (via The U.S. Sun), she pursued her line of work in order to help fellow victims but to also move forward with her life, stating, “That was my motivation to become a police officer… I’m no longer a victim.” McVey also hopes that Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey will give hope to Netflix viewers from around the world who are struggling to deal with emotional trauma (per Tyla):

“It’s to show people how to embrace life after horrific things happen to you,” she said. “Maybe physical things, maybe mental or emotional, I want to be an inspiration to others.”

In the present, McVey also works as a school resource deputy and motivation speaker (per Distractify). In May 2019, she attended the execution of her attacker, Long, who had previously been convicted on eight counts of murder. The serial killer admitted to committing at least 50 sexual assaults, and McVey wanted to be “in the first row” for his fatal lethal injection. After the execution, she provided a public statement and took another step forward in her life by forgiving Long:

“Bobby Joe Long, 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. Had I not forgiven you, I might as well have been in my own prison, without walls. God has shown me the only way to really be free when someone bestows injustice against you is complete forgiveness.”

Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey is in Lifetime in the US, and released in the UK on Netflix.

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Q.V. Hough is a senior writer at Screen Rant. He’s also the founding editor at Vague Visages, and has contributed to RogerEbert.com and Fandor.

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