Lorena Bobbitt - Age, Sentence & Facts (2024)

(1970-)

Who Is Lorena Bobbitt?

In the early hours of June 23, 1993, Lorena Bobbitt took an eight-inch knife from her apartment's kitchen and cut off the penis of her husband, John Wayne Bobbitt. She then drove away from their apartment and threw the severed organ into a field in Manassas, Virginia. After her actions became public, the media swept in to cover everything from John's successful penis reattachment surgery to Lorena's trial in 1994. Lorena has stated that she was a victim of domestic violence throughout her marriage and that her husband had raped her shortly before she castrated him. Though John denied any abuse, Lorena was found not guilty of wounding her husband due to temporary insanity brought on by the trauma she'd endured. She has resumed the use of her maiden name of Lorena Gallo and become an advocate for victims of domestic violence.

Early Life

Lorena was born Lorena Leonor Gallo in Bucay, Ecuador in 1969. She grew up in Caracas, Venezuela, with two younger siblings. Her father worked as a dental technician and the family led a middle-class lifestyle.

After a trip to the United States that was a gift for her quinceañera, Lorena wanted to live in the country. Though her family was unsuccessful in an attempt to emigrate, in 1987 she obtained a student visa. To earn money she worked as a nanny, and later took a position at a nail salon.

Relationship With John Bobbitt

In 1988, Lorena met John, then a U.S. Marine, at a club for enlisted men. At the time Lorena was a community college student in Virginia. John became Lorena's first boyfriend when they subsequently began dating. The pair were married on June 18, 1989, when Lorena was 20, and John was 22.

Lorena has said her husband became violent a few weeks after their 1989 wedding, as John hit her when she voiced disapproval of his dangerous driving when they were returning home from a bar. Per Lorena, the violence in the relationship continued from that point, with John striking and raping her. Arguments often stemmed from her questioning his spending or habit of having people stay in their apartment with no advance notice.

According to Lorena, John forced her to get an abortion when she became pregnant. She's said that at the clinic he taunted her about how the procedure would kill her.

After John left the Marines in 1991, Lorena's work at a nail salon became the couple's main source of income. She also stole from her employer, stating that she acted due to financial pressure, as she and John were unable to keep up with mortgage payments on a home they'd purchased in 1990. She also shoplifted dresses, which she said occurred because she wanted to improve her appearance to keep her husband from seeing other women.

Police were called to the Bobbitts' home on multiple occasions. In February 1991 John pleaded guilty to assault and battery, though the charges were dismissed after he went through counseling.

The couple separated in October 1991 but reunited a year later. In April 1993 they moved into a new apartment in Manassas. On June 21, 1993, Lorena began the process of filing for a protective order.

John has denied he was abusive during the marriage. In his version of events, Lorena was extremely jealous and the one who hit him; if he struck her it was while protecting himself. His attorney stated that terminating Lorena's pregnancy was a mutual decision.

John has offered the explanation that Lorena was upset that he planned to divorce her, putting her green card and ability to become a U.S. citizen at risk. In 1993, Lorena denied that her marriage took place because she wanted to stay in the country. She once told Vanity Fair, "I thought John was very handsome. Blue eyes. A man in a uniform, you know? He was almost like a symbol — a Marine, fighting for the country. I believed in this beautiful country. I was swept off my feet. I wanted my American Dream."

June 23, 1993: The Castration of John Bobbitt

According to Lorena, in the early hours of June 23, 1993, her husband came home drunk. He then raped her in their apartment. After the attack, she spotted a knife when she went into the kitchen. She returned to the bedroom and cut off her sleeping husband's penis.

Lorena, still holding the knife and the severed organ, then drove away from their apartment building. She tossed the penis into a field before ending up at a friend's house. At her friend's urging Lorena contacted the police and told them where she had thrown the penis. Police located it and reattachment surgery was a success. Meanwhile, Lorena had a rape kit examination in the same hospital.

News of Lorena's actions resulted in a whirlwind of media attention. Some women's rights activists thought the incident could lead to more awareness of domestic violence, but instead, the case became a tabloid sensation and fodder for comedians.

Trials

In November 1993, John went on trial for marital sexual assault. (Though Lorena had accused him of rape, at the time Virginia law required couples to be living separately or for serious physical injuries to occur for a charge of marital rape.) He was found not guilty.

In January 1994, Lorena's trial began. She had been charged with malicious wounding, which put her at risk for up to 20 years behind bars and possible deportation from the United States. During the televised proceedings, Lorena testified that her husband had raped and hit her throughout their marriage. Her defense team argued that she had been tormented by years of abuse and driven temporarily insane, and that in slicing off her husband's penis she had been subject to an "irresistible impulse."

The prosecution's case included a statement Lorena had given to police, in which she said, "He always have orgasm and he doesn't wait for me to have orgasm [sic]." She later stated that the interview was inaccurate because she didn't have access to a translator.

During Lorena's trial, John testified that he had never committed any acts of violence against his wife. However, other witnesses corroborated that Lorena had appeared with bruises and stated that John had been seen hitting and shoving his wife. Friends of John's said under oath that they had heard him express a liking for forced sex.

Outside the courtroom, there was an almost circus-like atmosphere. One radio station served up hot dogs and Slice soda. Chocolate penises and T-shirts with the slogan "Manassas: A cut above the rest" were available for purchase. But not everyone considered the case a joking matter. Though they weren't the focus of much media coverage, members of the Hispanic community regularly came to the courthouse to show their support for Lorena.

On January 21, 1994, Lorena was found not guilty due to temporary insanity, meaning she did not have to spend time in prison for wounding John. Following the acquittal she was sent to a hospital for a 45-day psychiatric evaluation, as required by Virginia state law, after which she was released.

Lorena Bobbitt - Age, Sentence & Facts (1)

Lorena Bobbitt attends the 2019 Sundance Film Festival on January 28, 2019 in Park City, Utah.

Life After Acquittal

Despite her notoriety following the attack and trial, Lorena chose to remain in the Manassas area. When asked why by The New York Times in 2019, she responded, "I live here. This is my home. Why should he have the last laugh?"

Lorena became a U.S. citizen in the summer of 1994. Her divorce from John was finalized in 1995. She accepted money for some appearances in South America but has said she rejected the $1 million offered if she would pose for Playboy. To earn a living she worked as a cosmetologist, an administrative assistant, and a real estate agent.

Domestic Violence Advocate

With the Lorena Gallo Foundation, founded in 2007, Lorena created an organization to help victims of domestic violence and their children and to raise awareness of the issue. She has explained she didn't know of the option to seek refuge in a shelter during her marriage. She has also revealed, "As an immigrant woman, I was often too scared to call the police for help. My abusive husband always threatened that he could have the police detain me and have me deported back to my country."

Later Relationship and Daughter

While attending Northern Virginia Community College after her trial, Lorena met David Bellinger. The two were friends before a romantic relationship developed. Their daughter, Olivia, was born in 2005. Though Lorena has sometimes referred to Bellinger as her husband, she opted not to marry him.

Documentary and Lifetime Movie

Lorena took part in Lorena, a 2019 documentary that was produced by Jordan Peele. The program revisited how her claims of domestic violence had been swept aside in 1993 as the media focused on John's severed penis. Lorena also served as an executive producer and narrator for the 2020 Lifetime biopic I Was Lorena Bobbitt.

Watch I Was Lorena Bobbitt on Lifetime Movie Club

  • Name: Lorena Bobbitt
  • Birth Year: 1970
  • Birth date: October 31, 1970
  • Birth City: Bucay
  • Birth Country: Ecuador
  • Gender: Female
  • Best Known For: Lorena Bobbitt became a public figure after she sliced off her husband's penis in 1993 but since then she has evolved into an advocate for survivors of domestic violence.
  • Industries
    • Crime and Terrorism
  • Astrological Sign: Scorpio
  • Nacionalities
    • American

We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us!


  • Article Title: Lorena Bobbitt Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: The Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/crime/lorena-bobbitt
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: March 3, 2021
  • Original Published Date: April 2, 2014
Lorena Bobbitt - Age, Sentence & Facts (2024)

FAQs

How much time did Lorena Bobbitt serve? ›

Under state law, the judge ordered Lorena to undergo a 45-day evaluation period at Central State Hospital in Petersburg, after which she would be released. In 1995, after six years of marriage, John and Lorena finalized their divorce.

Where is John Wayne Bobbitt today? ›

Bobbitt, who now lives in Florida, told the Sun the condition has caused nerve damage and bone infections. He's undergone a series of operations, losing his last toe last year. John and Lorena Bobbitt became household names after she cut off his penis with a kitchen knife on June 23, 1993.

What penalty did Lorena Bobbitt get? ›

In the culmination of a sensational eight-day trial that captivated headlines, on Jan. 22, 1994, a jury found Lorena Bobbitt not guilty by reason of insanity of slicing off her husband John Wayne Bobbitt's penis the summer before. Lorena had been charged with malicious wounding and faced up to 20 years behind bars.

What did Lorena Bobbitt do to her husband? ›

On June 23, 1993 Lorena Bobbitt chops off the penis of her sleeping husband, John Wayne Bobbitt, with a kitchen knife. She flees their home, tossing the severed organ from her car window as she drives away.

What mental illness did Lorena Bobbitt have? ›

Both psychiatrists agreed that Lorena Bobbitt remains a sick woman, troubled to this day by depression and a post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from her four-year marriage to John Wayne Bobbitt.

How long was John Bobbitt in the military? ›

Johnny Bobbitt was discharged as an E-1 after only 14. months in the Corps.

What is Lorena Bobbitt doing these days? ›

At 49, she still lives in Virginia, with a partner of 20 years and her middle school-aged daughter, and volunteers at shelters for victims of domestic violence. She talked to TIME about how she views her case from the distance of 25 years. You now run the Lorena Gallo Foundation, which focuses on domestic abuse issues.

Did John Bobbitt ever get married? ›

He's been married three times, including his union with Gallo, but is currently single. Vanity Fair also revealed Bobbitt is a supporter of President Donald Trump, and Gallo claims Bobbitt sends her love letters around Valentine's Day each year, according to the New York Times.

Where in Florida does John Wayne Bobbitt live? ›

Bobbitt, who now lives in Sarasota, Florida, told the outlet he's undergone several operations on his toes throughout the years, which has left him unable to work. Bobbitt, pictured with TV personality Mindy Robinson, at a Nevada Republican election event in Las Vegas in 2018.

Why did John Bobbitt lose his toes? ›

Bobbitt recently had to have his toes taken off after a diagnosis of toxic peripheral polyneuropathy from being exposed to contaminated water at the Camp Lejeune military training facility in the late 80s.

Did John Bobbitt get kicked out of the Marines? ›

He was assigned to the E-1 pay grade four months before his discharge, according to his official Marine Corps personnel records. It's unclear why Bobbitt left the Marine Corps after only 14 months when most enlistment contracts require a four-year service commitment.

Is Lorena Bobbitt still friends with Janna? ›

Instead of taking 50% commission on the work Lorena did at the salon, she took 60% until the money was repaid, which took Lorena a year to do, Talese wrote. The embezzlement didn't appear to sour the relationship between the pair, who remained close friends.

Did John Wayne Bobbitt have kids? ›

John Wayne Bobbitt has already admitted he's a father.

How long was Lorena Bobbitt abused? ›

Lorena Bobbitt and others who testified at her trial said she was trapped in an emotionally, sexually and physically abusive marriage with her husband for four years. She says he beat her, raped her and belittled her. She claims she didn't realize what she had done until she was driving away from their home.

Did Lorena Bobbitt ever remarry and have children? ›

Lorena Bobbitt explains why she never remarried after slashing ex-husband's genitals. Lorena Gallo, known to the world as Lorena Bobbitt, has been with her partner for more than 20 years. She and David Bellinger have a 13-year-old daughter. They met long ago in college and share a life together in Virginia.

What is Lorena Bobbitt doing today? ›

At 49, she still lives in Virginia, with a partner of 20 years and her middle school-aged daughter, and volunteers at shelters for victims of domestic violence. She talked to TIME about how she views her case from the distance of 25 years. You now run the Lorena Gallo Foundation, which focuses on domestic abuse issues.

Who is John Bobbitt married to now? ›

Was Lorena Bobbitt given bail? ›

She was released on bail the next day. During the trial, Lorena Bobbitt claimed that her husband had repeatedly sexually and physically abused her. The jury found Lorena Bobbitt not guilty due to temporary insanity caused by years of abuse. Lorena Bobbitt was born in 1970 in Quito, Ecuador.

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