In a criminal investigative process and the subsequent trial proceedings, the involvement of a victim as a witness presents a complex and risky challenge to the prosecution.
Many procedures during the investigation make the victim undergo a re-traumatization, which may bring about all sorts of difficulties in conducting a compelling inquiry into an alleged criminal activity.
For instance, a victim of sexual assault or abuse is inevitably forced to relive the physical violence and psychological distress of the actual incident in the past.
Many victims quickly become frustrated, wanting to put the bad experience behind. But when victims are determined to help solve cases, they can be the most reliable witnesses.
Lisa McVey Noland was a rape victim who helped the police catch her attacker.
Her excellent memory and willingness to cooperate with the authorities led to the capture of a serial killer and rapist Bobby Joe Long in November 1984, about two weeks after Lisa had escaped her ordeal.
Nearly 35 years later, in May 2019, Lisa sat in the front row when Long was executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison in Raiford.
10 /10 Killing Rampage
When Bobby Joe Long kidnapped Lisa McVey on November 3, 1984, he peaked an eight-month killing rampage.
All across Tampa, the police had recovered ten women’s bodies but without any clear path toward solving the mystery.
However, it was clear that the deaths were linked because the police found the same red carpet fibers in all the bodies.
The connection was the most conclusive fact the investigation could find for months. The beginning of the killing spree happened when Lisa managed to convince Long to release her.
9 /10 Executed By Lethal Injection
Before the capture, Bobby Joe Long was one of Florida’s most notorious serial killers.
Following the arrest in November 1984, he eventually admitted having killed ten women and raped dozens of others since March across the Tampa area.
Many of his victims were exotic dancers, sex workers, and women advertising furniture in newspapers. All victims were between 18 and 28 years old, last seen walking alone at night.
After spending 34 years on death row, Bobby Joe Long was executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison.