Where Is Lorena Bobbitt Today? Inside Her Life More Than 30 Years After Infamous Trial

More than three decades after becoming one of the most infamous figures of the ’90s, Lorena Bobbitt has mostly stepped away from the tabloid spotlight.

Lorena, who now goes by her maiden name, Gallo, made headlines around the world in 1993 after she cut off her then-husband John Wayne Bobbitt‘s manhood after years of alleged abuse. She was later charged with malicious wounding.

During the trial, Lorena testified that she feared for her life and accused John of physically and sexually abusing her throughout their marriage. (John denied the allegations.)

The former couple married in 1989, and Lorena claimed that the abuse began just one month into their marriage.

“Every time he will hit me, he will just try to force me into the sex again,” she told ABC News in 1993, per People. “He just trapped me. I feel trapped.”

Lorena alleged that on the night of the incident, John came home after a night of drinking and raped her before he fell asleep.

According to Lorena, she went into the kitchen for a glass of water after the alleged assault and noticed a knife on the counter. She then returned to the bedroom and used the knife to sever John’s genitals.

Lorena then fled the scene in her car, throwing her husband’s appendage out of the window. (Police eventually found the organ and placed it on ice. It was successfully reattached to John’s body later, according to ABC News.)

However, John denied Lorena’s accusations.

“Never raped anybody in my life,” he told ABC News in 2019, per People. “Everything was done in my sleep. The sexual advances, the talking … all in a deep sleep.”

Lorena’s charge of malicious wounding carried a potential sentence of up to 20 years, but she pleaded not guilty due to temporary insanity.

During the nationally televised trial, Lorena claimed that she had suffered years of abuse during her marriage and maintained that her actions stemmed from the trauma she experienced. Witnesses also took the stand and backed her claims, testifying that they had seen bruises on her body.

In January 1994, Lorena was found not guilty by reason of temporary insanity. She was sent to a mental health facility for treatment and evaluation and was released 45 days later, according to ABC News.

John was charged with marital sexual assault. His trial was not televised and after two days, he was acquitted.

Today, Lorena lives in Virginia with her longtime partner and daughter. She’s become an advocate for victims of domestic violence and created the Lorena Gallo Foundation — a nonprofit organization that focuses on domestic violence and sexual assault prevention.

In recent years, Lorena has participated in projects that revisit the case from her perspective, including the 2019 docuseries, Lorena, and the Lifetime movie I Was Lorena Bobbitt, which she helped produce.

After his acquittal, John had a brief career in adult entertainment and was a frequent guest on The Howard Stern Show.

According to People, John has been arrested multiple times and served jail time in cases involving allegations of violence against women. He has denied those allegations.

He now lives in Sarasota, Florida.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, call the National Sexual Assault hotline at 1-800-656-4673, text HOPE to 64673 or go to rainn.org.