Woman who helped put away serial killer awaits his execution

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — At 17, Lisa Noland was fighting for her life. A killer on a rampage that would leave 10 women dead abducted her outside a church and raped her. The day before, she'd written a suicide note, planning to end her life after years of sexual abuse by her grandmother's boyfriend.

She made heroic use of that history.

Noland became the victim Bobby Joe Long let go, the one who knew the mind of a rapist and played it while gathering — and leaving — evidence that would lead to his capture. Her abduction and rape saved her own life.

"At the time he put the gun to my head, it was nothing new to me," she said while packing a suitcase to leave for Long's execution, scheduled for Thursday night.

She said she knew from her past abuse that if she fought, it would further enrage her attacker.

"I had to study this guy," she said in an interview with The Associated Press. "I had to learn who he was, what made him tick. If I did the wrong move, could it end my life? So literally, the night before I wrote a suicide note out, and now I was in a position where I had to save my life."

Investigators were horrified and baffled by the trail of bodies Long left in the Tampa Bay area. Artiss Ann Wick was the first woman killed, in March 1984.

Nine more victims followed.

Most were strangled. Some had their throats slit. Others were bludgeoned. Law enforcement had few clues until Noland was set free and told her story. Long later confessed to the crimes, receiving 28 life sentences and one death sentence for the murder of 22-year-old Michelle Simms.

Noland plans to sit in the front row in the room where witnesses will watch Long die. Long will get to say his final words, and she will hear them. She won't be able to say anything back.

But if she could, it would be...