Biography

Mary Jo Buttafuoco is a New York Times Best Selling Author and Motivational speaker. Her anonymous life as a suburban wife and mother on Long Island, New York ended in May 1992, when she was shot in the head on her own front porch by her husband's seventeen-year-old mistress. The 'Long Island Lolita' saga sparked a media frenzy that continues to this day. The story dominated all major media outlets at the time, where three Lifetime Original Movies were made, television references and appearances occurred daily, and the story was covered on all major (and non major) news outlets both in print and on television. Her book, "Getting it through my Thick Skull," uses Mary Jo's tragic and triumphant life lessons to help others understand sociopathic behavior and the emotional traps it springs on willing partners. It also offers hope and help for the millions of people caught in the cycle of toxic relationships. In an effort to spread awareness about this and a variety of other topics like mental health and addiction/recovery, Mary Jo has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, the Dr. Oz Show, ABC 20/20, The Megan Kelly Show, The View, Inside Edition, Access Hollywood, The Howard Stern Show, and countless more programs. Now, there is a new-and-improved Mary Jo, confident and at peace with her new life, where people of all ages and backgrounds will be inspired by her comeback.
- IMDb mini biography by: Melody Storm

In August of 1992, the then 16-year-old Amy Fisher (nicknamed by the media "The Long Island Lolita") shot Mary Jo in the head in front of her Long Island home. Mary Jo survived the wounds. The story then unraveled that her husband, Joey Buttafuoco, had been having an adulterous affair with Amy and supposedly had coerced her into shooting Mary Jo. Joey denied all allegations with his wife at his side. Amy was convicted of attempted murder and served her sentence until she was 18, then was released on the condition that she would never contact the Buttafuoco family again. Joey served a short sentence following his plea bargain admission that he had a sexual relationship with Amy that began while she was still a minor.

Has two children with Joey Buttafuoco: son Paul and daughter Jessica Buttafuoco.