Lorena Bobbitt: 15 Years Later

CBS News ^

[SilvieWaldorfMD]

Exactly 15 years ago this week the world first heard the story of John Wayne and Lorena Bobbitt. John Wayne, an ex-Marine, was accused of coming home drunk and raping his wife. Lorena was accused of retaliating by cutting off her husband's penis while he was asleep.

Lorena went from anonymous to notorious - her story the subject of countless newspaper and magazine articles. Now in her first ever network morning show interview she discusses how she's using her notoriety to help others.

"All of a sudden, my private life is out in the open and it's an open book and a lot of people know my history," she told The Early Show "Sometimes I couldn't even go to the grocery store to buy food because I would be recognized."

Today, the once shy native of Ecuador who barely spoke English is a confident 39-year-old who works as a real estate agent and next month gets her hairdressing license.

"My self esteem is a lot better than it was years ago. I grew a lot," she said. "I learned to cope with this. I cannot have myself with a blanket over my head and not to live, might as well go into the mountains and forget everybody. I had to make a choice so I just said 'Hey, I have to keep going, this is my life.'"

Lorena is now a mother to two-and-a-half-year-old Olivia - and in case you're wondering, yes, there is a man - fiancé Dave Bellinger.

"We've been together for 14 years and he's just wonderful," she said. "He's my best friend and he is a good father. Before, when I was young, when I was married, I was really naïve and young, I didn't know what I wanted."

While Lorena has stayed out of the spotlight since a jury found her not guilty by reason of temporary insanity - ex husband John Wayne has sought it out - making numerous TV appearances and starring in several highly publicized adult films.

"That kind of did bother me that he was, you know, going up and trying to make money off a tragedy and you know that was a tragedy. I mean if he doesn't consider it a tragedy then he's wrong," she said.

John Wayne has also had several brushes with the law including a 2003 domestic violence conviction.

"I hope that he's definitely seeking help. If he needs help because he does need help, you know, he keeps on abusing women and I'm working on my goal and I'm trying to focus on my life and I do have a new life," she said.

The focus of her new life is Lorena's Red Wagon - an organization which provides funds to abused women in shelters who seek mental health counseling.

"They've gone through a lot, and I know that," she said. "Who knows that better than me?"

She hopes one day to open her own shelter and prevent women from making the same mistakes she did.

"Don't ever take the law into your own hands. No, never," she said. "Because take that from me, that's the advice that I give, don't take the law into your hands - it's not good."

Lorena and John Wayne Bobbitt divorced in 1995 after six years of marriage. She said that she hasn't spoken to him since.

[MES401067]

Wack.

[dk88]

Why in the he!! is she the victim in this story? Oh wait, nevermind.

[SilvieWaldorfMD]

Lorena Bobbitt today --

[Grizzled Bear]

Right after the Bobbitt "incident" many women committed "copycat" crimes. One particular lady tried to skewer her husband's "appendage" with a boning knife but missed and impaled his thigh.

She was charged with a missed-a-wiener.

***Duck and Run***

[Secret Agent Man]

“how she helps others...”

“...see you wait until he’s asleep, THEN you cut the penis with the knife...”

[SilvieWaldorfMD]

HAHAHA!!! Oh Lawdy, Grizz!

[Grizzled Bear]

I’m betting we won’t see anyone post “I’d hit it!”

[Secret Agent Man]

GUILTY! WHACKO! /sarc

[indylindy]

This Bellinger fellow better take plenty of NoDoze or wear steel enforced underpants.

No one wants to be looking for their manhood beside the road in the middle of the night.

[Secret Agent Man]

I’d hit it.........with my car! ;)

[Viking2002]

An old buddy of mine has lived in Manassas for over 20 years, and told me he actually drove past the grass where ol' Johnny's manhood was resting in peace that day, right before it was found and reunited with it's loved one. LOL

[csvset]

a real estate agent and next month gets her hairdressing license.

I wouldn't trust her with a pair of scissors.

[MaxMax]

Billybob and Ed were driving down the road when Bobbit's pecker bounced off their windshield.
Ed looked over and said, "wow that bug was hung".

[word_warrior_bob]

I’m betting we won’t see anyone post “I’d hit it!”

—

With a 2 by 4

[Perdogg]

It put Manassas/Prince William Co on the map

[RoadKingSE]

This story reminds me of Willie Nelson’s statement on the occassion of his 75th birthday recently. He remarked, “I can’t believe I’ve outlived my d!ck.”

[prolifefirst]

Who cares about her 15 years later, what about her ex’s pennis?!!

[HoosierHawk]

I'll never forget this. Shortly after the verdict, one of the ABC News programs was doing a retrospective piece about the entire incident.

At one point, after the camera followed Lorena walking up the steps of the Courthouse, a picture of the actual court room was displayed on the screen with a voice over, "All Rise."

Mrs. HH started laughing her head off; almost doubled over on the couch .

I looked at her, puzzled. Finally, she looked at me and said, "Your honor, would you mind if I just stand?"

[RoadKingSE]

"Don't ever take the law into your own hands. No, never," she said.

[Enchante]

Bill Clinton is grateful that he never encountered Lorena Bobbit, and that Juanita Broadderick did not decide to try such retaliation......

[SilvieWaldorfMD]

From www.brainyhistory.com —

October 11, 1995 in History

Event: John Bobbitt has plastic surgery to increase his penis 3 inches

[SilvieWaldorfMD]

Good one, Hawk! Mrs. HH is one smart lady!

[Roscoe Karns]

[SilvieWaldorfMD]

Who’s that behind Lorena? McGreevey?

[The Ghost of Rudy McRomney]

Thanks. EVERY time I just FINALLY manage to completely forget about this crazy bitch and what she did, somebody like you has to remind me.

[SilvieWaldorfMD]

My pleasure, Ghost! ;-)

[HoosierHawk]

She always keeps me smiling. : )

[Old Sarge]

[Roscoe Karns]

Rep. Anthony (ahem) Weiner.

[kenavi]

"Lorena and John Wayne Bobbitt divorced in 1995 after six years of marriage.

They stayed married for two years after the "event"?! What were they doing, going to counseling?

[SilvieWaldorfMD]

Rep. Anthony (ahem) Weiner.

Isn't he going out with Huma what's-her-name?

[mkjessup]

Why do they keep referring to the husband as 'John Wayne'?!?

His name is 'John Wayne Bobbitt'.

The entire story insults the memory of a great American patriot!

As for Lorena?

She should have done time, and if she had been a man accused of genital mutilation of a woman, she might STILL be behind bars.

[SilvieWaldorfMD]

They stayed married for two years after the "event"?! What were they doing, going to counseling?,

I guess that maybe they were all caught up in her insanity trial, and time just flew or something....

[normy]

Damn! That’s funny!

[Roscoe Karns]

I’ve heard that rumor. Don’t know if it’s true or not.

[MES401067]

That would make it run away no knife needed.And it been 15 years times just flies out the window of a speeding car fast don’t it.

[lonestar]

This Bellinger fellow better take plenty of NoDoze or wear steel enforced underpants.

I think it's safe to assume he isn't abusive...so has no worries.

[mkjessup]

This story reminds me of Willie Nelson’s statement on the occassion of his 75th birthday recently. He remarked, “I can’t believe I’ve outlived my d!ck.”

I don't care who you are, that's FUNNY!!!

[normy]

Yeah, I knew a man whose wife was abusive. He cut off her breasts. I hope his new wife isn’t so abusive.I would assume she isn’t.

[WyCoKsRepublican]

Just when I’m finally getting over the “flying monkeys” in the Wizard of Oz, Lorena B. reappears.......yikes!

[4yearlurker]

Englebert said it best when he sang:

“There goes my only possession,there goes my everything!”

[xarmydog]

Hmmmmm,a friend would like the name of his plastic surgeon

[tuffydoodle]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8f_EZFjDlE

[lonestar]

I knew a woman who explained her bruises by saying she ran into things...until her son killed his father.

[murron]

Actually, why do they have to use his middle name at all?

I read a story about Lorena Bobbit in a pro-life publication sometime after the “event”. The story I read is that one year prior exactly to the date that she did the crime, her husband forced her to have an abortion, and that she mutilated him on the first anniversary of that incident. Supposedly she never got over the abortion and blamed him and wanted to take away his masculinity because she felt that part of her womanhood had been taken away from her.

[mohresearcher]

Maybe she could be a guest on Martha Stewart’s show. She would be an absolute hit on The View.

[rlmorel]

[Lizavetta]

So what was the upshot to the Bobbitt case?

Did they find the penis and reattach it?

Is he penis-less?

WTH??

[Siberian-psycho]

Weird Al “Headline News” third verse.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqXLqYSyzXI