The True Story Behind ‘Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey’ and Where She is Now

Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey just dropped on Netflix in the UK, and viewers across the pond are already praising the “disturbing” true-crime drama. Unfortunately, the 2018 Lifetime film isn’t streaming on Netflix in the States at this time, but it is available elsewhere. The film is based on a true story — one that’s fairly recent, too. Wondering how much of the story is true, and where the characters in the film are today? Read on to find out the true story behind Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey.

The film follows Lisa McVey, a 17-year-old girl who was abducted in 1984 by serial killer Bobby Joe Long. Over the course of 26 hours, the murderer raped and traumatized the teenager. Then, McVey used reverse psychology to free herself. When she returned home, though, no one believed her story. One detective listened to the case, recognizing that it was the infamous serial killer who abducted her.

Finished the movie and want to know how much is true? Here’s everything you need to know about the true story behind Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey:

What is the true story behind Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey?

The entire story of Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey is based on real events. Even McVey herself gave the film her approval — she attended a special screening when the film was released in 2018. On Nov. 3, 1984, Long knocked McVey off of her bike and captured her. He held her, raping her at gunpoint. McVey had already suffered through abuse from her mother’s boyfriend, as seen in the film, and used past techniques to free herself from Long.

“I had to take all of the abuse I had incurred as a child and just reach down one more time, into the pit of my stomach, and tap into those survivor skills in order to overcome him psychologically,” McVey recalled.

As a result of her tactics, Long was arrested in 1984 and pleaded guilty to eight murders. The 2018 movie states that Long is still on death row — that’s no longer true, as he was executed in May 2019.

Where is Lisa McVey now?

Lisa McVey’s (now Lisa McVey Noland) fate is mentioned at the end of Believe Me. She became a Hillsborough County sheriff’s deputy, specializing in sex crimes and working to protect children. She also works as a school resource deputy at a middle school close to the original crime, and occasionally serves as a motivational speaker.

Where is Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey streaming?

Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey is available to stream on Lifetime Movie Club, which you can subscribe to for just $3.99/month. Or, you can purchase the film for $3.99 on Prime Video or Vudu.