Long Island was thrust into the national spotlight (again) on May 19, 1992, when a shocking crime shattered the tranquility of one neighborhood. That was the day when Amy Fisher, a teenage girl entangled in a love affair, walked up to the home of her lover and forever altered the life of his wife, Mary Jo Buttafuoco.
Fisher’s actions that fateful day, firing a 25-caliber handgun at Mary Jo Buttafuoco, left an indelible mark on Long Island’s history. The incident sparked a scandal that gripped the nation, earning Fisher the moniker “Long Island Lolita.” The affair between Amy Fisher and her lover, Joey Buttafuoco, unfolded into a tale of betrayal, obsession, and tragedy that seemed straight out of a tabloid headline.
The event spurred many parodies including this In Living Color sketch making fun of Fischer and Buttafuoco, especially their Long Island accents.
The aftermath of the shooting was a whirlwind of media frenzy and legal proceedings. Fisher, convicted for her crime, spent eight years behind bars before being paroled in 1999. However, her notoriety didn’t end there. In the years following her release, Fisher delved into various ventures, from adult films to reality television, ensuring her continued presence in the public eye.
Meanwhile, Mary Jo Buttafuoco endured profound physical and emotional scars from the attack. Despite losing her hearing in one ear and suffering from facial paralysis, she remained by her husband’s side for a considerable period, even defending him in the media. However, eventually, she made the difficult decision to leave her cheating spouse and rebuild her life. In 2009, she penned a book, shedding light on her reasons for staying in a tumultuous marriage for so long.
As for Joey Buttafuoco, he relocated to California, seeking a fresh start away from the tumultuous past. However, fate had other plans, as he later reunited with Fisher in 2011, sparking rumors of a reality television venture. The tangled web of relationships and repercussions continued, demonstrating the enduring fascination with this dark chapter in Long Island’s history.
Despite the passage of time, the saga of Amy Fisher, Mary Jo Buttafuoco, and Joey Buttafuoco remains etched in the collective memory of Long Island residents and true crime enthusiasts alike. Their story serves as a cautionary tale of love gone awry and the destructive consequences of obsession and infidelity. And while the years may have dulled the headlines, the echoes of that tragic day in 1992 continue to reverberate through the annals of Long Island crime history.
And while the years may have dulled the headlines, the details behind what actually happened are even more shocking than you remember.
How It Started on Long Island
- Amy Fisher was born in August 1974 and grew up in Merrick, with some accounts also tying her family to Wantagh, placing her squarely in central Nassau County.
- She was a student at John F. Kennedy High School in Bellmore when the events of the case began to unfold.
- Fisher met Joey Buttafuoco in December 1990 after her father brought a car to his auto body shop in Baldwin.
- She later admitted to intentionally damaging her own car multiple times just to return to the shop and see him again.
- By 1991, Fisher, then 16, had entered into a sexual relationship with Joey, who was in his mid-30s and married with children.
- The relationship continued despite the age difference and the fact that Fisher was underage.
The Day That Changed Everything
- On May 19, 1992, Fisher went to the Buttafuoco home in Massapequa and knocked on the front door in broad daylight.
- She introduced herself as “Ann Marie” and told Mary Jo that her husband was having an affair with her “sister.”
- Fisher showed a T-shirt from Joey’s auto body shop as supposed proof of the affair.
- After a brief conversation, Mary Jo turned to go back inside, at which point Fisher pulled out a .25-caliber handgun.
- She shot Mary Jo in the head at close range, then ran toward a waiting car parked nearby.
- In a detail that still stands out, Fisher dropped both the gun and the shirt while fleeing, then went back to retrieve them before escaping.
- Neighbors heard the shot, rushed over, and found Mary Jo bleeding on her porch before calling 911.
Survival and Lasting Damage
- Mary Jo Buttafuoco survived the shooting after emergency surgery, though doctors were unable to remove the bullet.
- The bullet remained lodged in her head, leaving her with permanent injuries.
- She suffered facial paralysis, hearing loss in one ear, and long-term damage to her jaw, nerves, and surrounding structures.
- She later said the injury nearly killed her and permanently altered her life.
The Arrest and Courtroom Fallout
- Fisher was 17 at the time of the shooting and was arrested just two days later, on May 21, 1992.
- Mary Jo identified Fisher as the shooter after regaining consciousness.
- Fisher was initially charged with attempted murder but later accepted a plea deal.
- In September 1992, she pleaded guilty to assault charges, avoiding a full attempted murder trial.
- She was sentenced to 5 to 15 years in prison and ultimately served about seven years.
- A judge later reduced her maximum sentence to 10 years, making her eligible for parole in 1999.
- Fisher remained on parole until 2003.
Joey Buttafuoco’s Role
- Joey initially denied having an affair with Fisher despite growing evidence.
- The case against him was later reopened after Fisher accused him of statutory rape.
- Hotel receipts and testimony supported her claims that the relationship began before she turned 17.
- Joey eventually pleaded guilty to statutory rape in 1993.
- He was sentenced to six months in jail, though some reports note he served about four months.
- The relatively short sentence drew criticism given the severity of the overall situation.
The Media Frenzy
- The case quickly became a national obsession, dominating tabloids, talk shows, and headlines across the country.
- Fisher was labeled “Long Island Lolita,” a nickname that stuck for decades.
- The story inspired multiple made-for-TV movies in the early 1990s, with different actresses portraying Fisher.
- It was also heavily parodied in pop culture, including on sketch comedy shows.
- Screenwriter Alan Ball later cited the case as an influence when writing American Beauty.
Life After the Scandal
- Fisher was released on parole in May 1999 after serving nearly seven years.
- After her release, she worked as a writer, including a stint as a columnist for the Long Island Press.
- Her 2004 memoir, If I Knew Then…, became a New York Times bestseller.
- She later appeared on reality TV, including Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew in 2011.
- For a period in the late 2000s, she entered the adult entertainment industry before stepping away in 2011.
- Fisher married in 2003, had three children, and later divorced in 2015.
Mary Jo’s Long Road Forward
- Mary Jo remained married to Joey for several years after the shooting despite the public scandal.
- The couple ultimately divorced in 2003 after more than two decades of marriage.
- She later remarried in 2012 and has spoken openly about her recovery and personal struggles.
- Mary Jo has said she eventually chose to forgive both Joey and Fisher as part of her own healing.
- She has also shared that the physical and emotional effects of the shooting never fully went away.
Why Long Islanders Still Remember It
- The case became one of the most infamous true crime stories ever tied to Long Island.
- It combined a suburban setting, a shocking act of violence, and a media circus that unfolded in real time.
- Decades later, it continues to be revisited in documentaries, articles, and new dramatizations.
- The nickname “Long Island Lolita” remains one of the most enduring and controversial labels in true crime history.
- For many on Long Island, it’s one of those stories that feels both distant and uncomfortably close at the same time.
