Michelle Denise Simms, a 22-year-old woman, was tragically murdered on May 27, 1984, in Tampa, Florida. She was one of the victims of Bobby Joe Long, a serial killer who abducted, sexually assaulted, and murdered at least ten women in the Tampa Bay area during an eight-month period in 1984. Simms, a former California beauty contestant, was among those who fell prey to Long's violent spree.
Bobby Joe Long was arrested on November 16, 1984, after investigators linked him to multiple
crimes, including the murder of Michelle Denise Simms. He was sentenced to death in 1986 for her murder and was ultimately executed by lethal injection on May 23, 2019. Long's criminal activities included armed burglary, aggravated assault, kidnapping, robbery, and multiple counts of sexual battery. His violent history and the brutality of his crimes led to his conviction and subsequent execution.
Simms' murder was part of a larger pattern of violence that terrorized the Tampa Bay area in 1984. Long's victims were often abducted, assaulted, and killed in horrific circumstances. His arrest and conviction brought some measure of justice to the families of those he murdered, including Simms. Her case was later featured on the television show Forensic Files, highlighting the investigative efforts that led to Long's capture.
