TALLAHASSEE (WFLA News) -- Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a death warrant for Bobby Joe Long, who's been on death row at Florida State Prison since 1985, for the murder of Michelle Simms in Hillsborough County.
Long is set to die by lethal injection 6:00 p.m. May 23rd at Starke, barring last-minute appeals.
Hillsborough deputies say Long raped and attempted to strangle Simms before clubbing her to death. He admitted to killing eight other women in Hillsborough and Pasco counties and claimed to have sexually battered 40 other women in three different states. Long eventually pled guilty to eight murders.
Long was caught after being arrested for kidnap and sexual battery in the case of Lisa McVey in November 1984. McVey, the only woman known to have escaped Long, gave detectives details which led to Long's capture. McVey, now Lisa McVey Noland, is a Hillsborough County sheriff's deputy.
Long's is the first death warrant signed by DeSantis, who became governor in January.