The tawdry story soon became a tabloid and talk-show fixture, the source of three television movies and countless jokes. Mary Jo Buttafuoco survived the attack but was left with a bullet lodged in her head and a partially paralyzed face.
Fisher, who pled guilty to the shooting, was convicted of assault and received a sentence of 5 to 15 years the following year. The courts, however, were less forgiving; Joey was convicted of statutory rape and received a six-month jail sentence in This line of appeal was not very successful but Mary Jo Buttafuoco, apparently having a change of heart, eventually helped Fisher get out of prison. After taking anger-management courses in jail, Fisher wrote to apologize to Mary Jo, who later appeared at her parole hearing and forgave her.
Fisher was released on parole in May , after serving nearly seven years. Sign up now to learn about This Day in History straight from your inbox. Get all of today's events in just one email featuring a range of topics. You can opt out at any time. You must be 16 years or older and a resident of the United States. Your Profile. Email Updates. Sign Up.
