Bound to Die: The Shocking True Story of Bobby Joe Long, America's Most Savage Serial Killer

by Anna Flowers

'Bound to Die' is the true crime story of Florida serial killer Bobby Joe Long, who was convicted of the heinous killings of nine women in 1984 in the Tampa Bay area. The first body of 19-year-old disco dancer Lana Long was found in a field on Mother’s Day with her legs grotesquely ripped apart. Six months later, the bloody rampage ended when the ninth victim was discovered. All had been tortured with ropes and savagely beaten and raped. The killer’s confession of his crimes is haunting. The vividly rendered results of his trials and appeals are equally shocking.

First published by Kensington, NY in 1995, 'Bound to Die' was internationally recognized. It received seven mass media printings and was issued in hardback as a Doubleday Mystery Guild Book Club selection. This second edition features a new foreword on a capital case which is still considered a definitive example of excellent police detection before DNA.

Multiple television presentations have been made based on this book, some including the author’s participation. Shortly after first publication, a documentary based on the case was shown on Medical Detective that aired sporadically for years. In 2012, this story became the pilot for the new show Killer Profile on the Biography Channel.

Genres: True Crime, Crime, Nonfiction

290 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 1995

Reviews

[Stefanie Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bobby Joe Long was born in West Virginia in 1953. Long was a serial rapist and serial killer, active during the 1980s. One of his victims, Lisa McVey, was snatched as a teenager. She was taken to his home, where he assaulted her repeatedly. She left plenty of fingerprints at the scene. She was set free by Long, and reported all she could remember to the police. Her actions allowed police to apprehend Long. McVey later became a police officer. Long eventually confessed to nine murders and the assault against Lisa McVey. Long died in 2019 via lethal injection.

It is interesting to note that Long suffered from several head injuries as a child, and that must not be discounted when looking at motivations for crimes. Traumatic brain injuries affect people's impulse control, conscience, and aggression. While this may not have been the root cause of Long's crimes, it probably did not help. The same can be said for the bullying he faced while growing up. Long was born with Klinefelter Syndrome, which caused him to grow breasts. This syndrome can also result in small and poorly functioning testicles. Long also had a weird relationship with his mother. None of these factors could have possibly been good for his murderous predilections.

This case was featured on Forensic Files, and this book is on the Forensic Files reading list. The book outlines the life and crimes of Long sufficiently. It was a fairly quick read, though some of the court parts were a bit tedious. Overall, a solid crime book for those interested in serial killers.

[Book Hub · Rating 5 out of 5]

A harrowing read that gives an inside glimpse of Florida serial killer Bobby Joe Long and his infamous murders. Highly recommended to fans of true crime and detective drama!

[Bill reilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bobby Joe Long is another in the annals of serial killers. I was unfamiliar with him and his adventures in Florida. His first victim was found in a field in Tampa in 1984. The eighty-eight pound woman had been strangled. Ironically, her name was Lana Long, a girl of Laotian descent who worked a a stripper.
Victim number two was discovered two weeks later and she was also bludgeoned and strangled. Michelle Simms was a hooker with a thousand dollar a week cocaine habit. Ten murders were Bobby's final total.
A seventeen-year-old girl was taken to Long's apartment and raped repeatedly for two days. For some unknown reason, he let her go and her phenomenal memory led to his capture.
Blood evidence, as well as tire track and carpet fiber matches from his car proved to be enough to encourage a vicious confession. Unfortunately, the suspect stated that he may need a lawyer, which caused years of successful appeals by the killer.
A series of psychiatrists were in agreement that Long suffered from antisocial personality disorder but he was not legally insane and understood right from wrong.
At the date of publication, the case was still in the appeals process and the legal wrangling takes up a good portion of this book.

[Julie Kinney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing

Very Legalese. Hard for those of us without legal degrees to follow. Very confusing. But most disappointing is the fact that Ann Flowers chose to put horrific death scene photos, (color pictures, not black & white), right next to a picture of the victims when they were alive. The photos were very gruesome & felt like another slap in the face to not only the victims, but their loved ones too. Those photos were used as sensationalism to sell a book. Shame on Ann Flowers. I don’t recommend this to those who prefer to not see, or read about, all the gory detail of a victims life.

[Jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This could have been a great book. But it fell short. I’d never heard of thus killer dmc was excited to learn something new. Unfortunately, this missed the mark as it didn’t a lot of time throwing in numerous names, court decisions that brought nothing to the take of Joe, and a few nosey nellies who have something to say about everything. Wish I knew of other books starring Joe. I’d like to read something a little less dry.

[Robin Kingsley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't the Author wonder why he moved to Tampa? I think I know. I never knew he became a serial killer. But I'm a survivor of Bobby Joe Long. He kidnapped almost exactly like Lisa McVey. But he gave me his name. I never came forward!

[Tonya Mathis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was recommended to me. I used to live in Florida. I'd never heard of Bobby Joe Long. It was interesting, but I really only liked the first half of the book. The rest of the book was about the trial and repeated things over and over.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book seemed to go by so fast. The writing was fine, and the information seemed well researched, but I kept feeling like there should be something more content wise. I could never put my finger on what was missing though.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely well-researched, but somehow didn't grip me as I thought it would.

[Carl Brookins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Widow Tori McMillan is thrown into political intrigue, murder and fraud in high channels of nation government.

Tori McMillan is discouraged and depressed. It’s easy to understand why. She’s a recent widow because her husband Ben has just died after a protracted illness. Now, the funeral just over, Tori’s company has just laid her off. Several family friends seem to be more remote now and she’s completely lost contact with her best friend of several years. Things are pretty bad and then she goes to a professional outing in a park near Washington, D. C. As the outing is winding down, Tori finds herself missing her husband more and more and is awkwardly fending off unsubtle approaches from her former boss and others. Leaving the gathering, she looks up and sees her best friend Cindy approaching. Strangely, Cindy ignores Tori, then walks up to the group. Tori turns to follow her back to the picnic area. Horror erupts when Cindy suddenly produces a weapon and blasts away at the crowd of men and women who desperately try to escape. When the screams and gunfire have died down, four people are dead and Cindy has disappeared.

It’s the beginning of a taut, swift-paced, well plotted thriller. The author has done his research well and it shows. That together with excellent writing skills, carry the reader along in close proximity to Tori as she attempts to sort out a complexity of emotions and menace from unknown sources. At times Tori has difficulty separating reality from a sense of being manipulated. These feelings as well as a developing relationship between a detective assigned to the case and Tori McMillan, a strong independent woman, for all her doubts and fears, add rhythm and texture to the story. The book follows Tori deeper and deeper into high government intrigue, long range journeys and several thrilling confrontations.

If there are times when Tori seems to be superwoman, the pace of the narrative and her vulnerability allows us to suspend disbelief and rush along to the next adventure. Brian Lutterman’s first thriller roars to a satisfactory conclusion amid the promise of more exciting adventures from this author.

[Gayle Pace · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY TAKE:

The shocking true story of Bobby Joe Long, America's Most Savage Serial Killer back in 1984, when it all started, in Tampa, Florida. The first body was found on Mother's Day, 1984. Six months later a ninth body was found. When would it stop? When would this serial murderer be found? All young in their late teens and early twenties. The oldest being 28. No matter what they did, no matter what their vocation, no one deserved what they got. NO ONE! Who was this man or savage, who was finally arrested? He was eventually sentenced to death for the nine, at least nine, deaths. He brutally and savagely raped and killed these young women, who had their whole lives ahead of them. Bobby Joe Long, at the time was known as America's Most Savage Serial Killer. What set this 6 month murder spree off? Was there even a reason? What kind of reason would justify the bound, raped and beaten bodies? If you're faint of heart or just don't want to hear about those in the past that have done horrible crimes, then this book isn't for you. Lives today are not respected any more than they were years ago. Actually it's worse. Killing people you don't know, who have never done anything to you, just for the sake of killing. What have we become? And Why? When these senseless murders and rapes occur, the victims are not only the deceased or the raped but their family, friends and all the people around them. There are some photos in the book of some of the victims and also of Bobby Joe Long. You may be interested in the explanation as to why he committed these murders from Long, himself. Bobby Joe Long sat in prison for around 25 years before the over loaded and bogged down system executed him. He lived a far longer time than his victims had a chance to.

We need to be aware, respect our surroundings, quit being so trusting, use our brains and above all, educate your children, especially your daughters. Try your best to keep them safe.

This is an older book published back in 1995 and written by Anna Flowers. A newer edition was published in 1999.

[Pam Koenig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor Bobby Joe, what a joke!

Kidnapping, rape, murder, a confessed serial killer sits in prison for over 25 years. Convicted and sentenced to death, three times for one murder, and twice for another, with convictions being overturned each time. A flawed legal system lets a man who murdered at least 10 women and raped possible more than 100 still live. They say the death penalty is cruel and unusual punishment, does that mean what he did to his victims was fun and games. It's about time for the legal system to get their heads out of their rear ends and start putting their sympathy with the victim instead of the perpetrator. This book is the perfect example of our flawed justice system.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bobby Joe may not have been the flashiest serial killer, but he was certainly effective. This book hit home for me because I was living in Florida when I read it. I didn't live far from his hunting ground and was fairly familiar with the area he did most of his work. It really put in perspective how deranged men can easily stalk the underprivileged and over-drugged. Especially on a major drag on which prostitutes are seeking johns.

[Fishface · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very quick read that covers the basics of the Bobby Joe Long murders. A brutal story with hideous crime-scene photos and no real insight as to what made any of this happen. Curiously, it never mentions the Kleinfelter's Syndrome that other journalists made so much of, although there were plenty of other conflicting psychiatric opinions in here to sort through.

[Nat PlainJanetheBookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

This took me ages to finish! I just couldn’t gel with it, but had to finish it for some reason.

A lot of dryness in there. I enjoyed reading about this SK but it was just drying in many spots and it was a struggle.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

This guy was kind of a BLAH killer. Nothing special about him really. Same with the book.

[Lindsay Downs · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first true crime novel ever. I was probably too young to read it, however it did turn me on to true crime.

[Patricia Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

in 1984 9 women had been brutally bound raped and beaten in tampa bay florida with the fbi involved in catching him even thought he was the green river killer

[♥ Marlene♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is what I wrote on shelfari:

Not very well written. To bad cause I think it is the only book about this serial killer.

[Baylee Hoskison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow justice

I enjoyed the way this book gave reasons the justice system is so slow. Great reading. Very informative. Worth reading