Mary Jo Connery (formerly Mary Jo Buttafuoco) made headlines in 1992 when she was shot in the face by her husband’s teen lover, Amy Fisher. Their twisted love triangle became a true crime fixture while the case played out in the media as Connery’s then-husband, Joey Buttafuoco, and Fisher were both arrested and served prison time.
After Fisher’s son, Brett Anthony Bellera, was arrested in July 2026, Connery chimed in on the conversation and issued a statement about his arrest. In light of her recent comment, many people are likely wondering what she is up to today.
Where Is Mary Jo Buttafuoco Now?
Despite the revelation of her husband’s affair with Fisher, Connery stayed with Buttafuoco for another decade until they divorced in 2023.
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Connery went on to appear on several TV shows, including Larry King Live, The Oprah Winfrey Show and The Dr. Oz Show, to discuss the experience.
Meanwhile, she became a published author in 2009 when she released her book, Getting It Through My Thick Skull: Why I Stayed, What I Learned, and What Millions of People Involved with Sociopaths Need to Know.
The memoir was a cross-over of self-help and true-crime, and detailed Connery’s survival and emotional recovery after Fisher shot her. In the book, Connery explained why she remained married to Buttafuoco after his affair and she shared tools for recognizing and surviving sociopathic partners.
Connery found love again when she married her current husband, Stu Tendler, in a Las Vegas ceremony in February 2012.
In January 2026, she told People that she is a proud grandmother of two and lives in California.
Connery was also involved in Lifetime’s 2026 biopic I Am Mary Jo Buttafuoco, which recounted the experience. She even narrated the events of her own life in the project.
What Happened to Mary Jo Buttafuoco?
Fisher infamously shot Connery in the face when she was just 17 years old. Connery survived the shooting, which resulted in her suffering from permanent facial paralysis. The bullet landed near her brain stem and spinal cord, making it too dangerous to surgically remove. Due to this, she was left with severe, long-term nerve damage and partial paralysis.
Fisher reportedly wanted to kill Connery so that she could get her lover’s wife out of the picture and have Buttafuoco all to herself, according to Newsday. The shooting took place after Fisher and Buttafuoco had already been having an affair for one year.
Buttafuoco was never charged in the shooting. However, Fisher claimed he came up with the plan to kill Connery. Despite her claims, no evidence was ever provided to prove that he was involved.
Fisher, who became known as the “Long Island Lolita,” was arrested after the shooting and served seven years in prison. She was eventually released in 1999 on parole.
Buttafuoco was also arrested for the incident and served four months for statutory rape.
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Mary Jo Buttafuoco Has Been Open About the Shooting
Conner spoke to People about the shooting in January 2026 and recalled what it was like answering the door and finding Fisher.
“I remember the ringing of the door. Our exchange really wasn’t confrontational,” she said, adding that she didn’t know about the affair at the time. “I was so taken aback by this kid that I was like, ‘What? You’re here with a T-shirt telling me that Joey’s having an affair?’ And I’ve been raised a very polite lady, a nice Irish-Catholic girl. So I didn’t yell at her or argue with her or anything. I had no idea what was going to happen.”
Connery said she tried to call her husband to sort out the situation when she turned her head and “it exploded.”
“At the moment, my only thought was that she hit me with a bat, but I didn’t know where the bat came from,” she said. “That’s what it felt like. It was just such an explosion on the side of my head that knocked me backwards and down, but it didn’t hurt. I went out that quick, boom, that was it.”
Connery went on to share why she ultimately forgave Fisher and Buttafuoco for the incident. “To carry hate, to carry anger, it’s so debilitating. I did. I had that for a long time,” she said. “Forgiveness isn’t about saying, ‘It’s okay what you did to me,’ because it’s not. It’s more saying, ‘You did this to me, but I’m not going to let you ruin the rest of my life.'”
While she forgave Buttafuoco, Connery made it clear she has no interest in having a relationship with him. “I don’t have a relationship with him. I don’t even know where he lives,” she said. “My son sees him. My daughter has no relationship with him. I don’t feel for him, it’s kind of like karma. I feel like that with Amy, too.”
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Mary Jo Buttafuoco Reacts to Amy Fisher’s Son Being Arrested in July 2026
After Fisher’s son and his girlfriend, Jennifer Armenti, were arrested for allegedly killing their cat and possibly putting the pet in the microwave, Connery reacted to the news in a statement.
“I have known about this kid and his issues for years now. It’s about time someone has put it out there,” Connery told NewsNation on July 21, 2026. “This kid never had a chance.”
Connery concluded her statement by making a snide comment about Fisher’s new career. “I suggest you reach out to his mother at Streamate … a porn site. Are we surprised??” she said.
Us previously reported that the Broward County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Bellera and Armenti were both charged with aggravated cruelty to animals after their cat, Reaper, was found burned to death in a December 2024 incident at their Florida home. The investigation into the case remains ongoing.
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