On May 19, 1992, Mary Jo Buttafuoco opened her door, and her life was forever changed. Standing on the other side of it was Amy Fisher, then 17, who claimed she was having an affair with Mary Jo’s husband, Joey. Fisher went over there to talk to Mary Jo, but by the end of their conversation, the teenager shot the mother of two in the head.
Mary Jo survived the shooting, and now, a third of a century later, she told her story to Lifetime.
Executive Producer and Narrator Mary Jo Buttafuoco said: “It’s been 33 years since I was thrust into the true crime spotlight after surviving a near-fatal gunshot wound to the head at the hands of my husband’s teenage lover. In the years that followed, I endured extreme public scrutiny, relentless media coverage, and was often mocked and misunderstood in the public eye. What many didn’t see was the private toll it took—battling depression, suicidal thoughts, and addiction as I tried to make sense of a life that had been so violently and publicly shattered. Today, I stand not as a victim, but as a survivor who has turned unimaginable pain into purpose. Through my book and my work as a motivational speaker, I’ve been able to share my truth and help others find strength in their own struggles. I am deeply honored to see my life story told from my perspective in this new Lifetime movie. This is not just a true crime headline—it’s my journey of resilience, healing, and reclaiming my voice.”
I am Mary Jo Buttafuoco is the first time her story is being told in a movie. Fisher, on the other hand, had three movies about her released within a year, which aired on CBS, NBC, and ABC.
The telemovie, I Am Mary Jo Buttafuoco, premieres on January 17th.
