What If Joey Buttafuoco Was Your Dad?
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What is the story of Jessie Buttafuoco?
Hey Infamous listeners, today we're doing something a little different. We're sharing an episode from a show we absolutely love, the Gratitudology podcast with Jamie Hess. It's a podcast that digs deep into resilience, recovery, and finding meaning through life's most intense moments. And this episode is pretty infamous. Jamie dives into the story of Jesse Budafuco, a name you might recognise from one of the most sensational true crime cases of the 90s. The case where one man's wife was shot in the face by his underage mistress, Amy Fisher. The case that maybe helped kick off the true crime craze that's still going on today. But what you might not know is what happened to that couple's daughter, Jessie, a nine-year-old whose normal life was upended when her family's tragedy became a media circus. This is Jessie's story. It's about reclaiming her voice and navigating trauma and media exploitation. It's powerful, moving, and honestly, kind of unforgettable. Here's Gratitudology, Growing Up Budafuco. Hope you enjoy.
This episode mentions gun violence and suicide. Please take care while listening. Born in 1983, Jesse's childhood was like one long movie montage combined with a classic family sitcom.
My parents, Joey and Mary Jo, and the name alone is adorable, right? And then there was so much love there. They were high school sweethearts. I mean, Joey and Mary Jo were like it. They were popular in the neighborhood. You know, it was very much them. The family lived in a safe, close-knit neighborhood on Long Island, New York. You knew everybody, and you could ride your bike up and down the street and go skateboard with those kids and go ding-dong ditch over there.
When Jessie was nine years old, she was getting ready to take part in it. She'd no longer be left behind while her big brother and the other neighborhood kids caused a little harmless mischief on their way to school. Her biggest worry was remembering her bike lock combination. Outside of school and neighborhood shenanigans, Jessie spent her time at dance classes and just generally preparing to be the greatest thing Broadway had ever seen. You know, singing along with the best of the 90s divas, just waiting to be discovered from her bedroom.
I came out of the womb just singing and dancing and wanting to entertain and make people laugh. I would play Whitney Houston on repeat, Mariah Carey on repeat, and just dance in my room with a hairbrush and just really like got into that kind of fantasy life. And then at nine years old, my mother was shot in the face by my dad's underage mistress.
Tonight, a mysterious shooting in the suburbs. A woman was shot in the head in front of her house. No suspect, no motive so far. Both neighbors and investigators are asking themselves the same question. Why? Why this neighborhood? Why this house? Why would anyone want to kill Mary Jo Buttafuoco? Jesse's last name is Buttafuoco.
And if you were around in 1992, even if you were just a kid, like Jessie and I were, then you probably know exactly who her dad is. And if you don't, we'll catch you up. Either way, you're going to want to hear this story from her perspective. Because even though Jessie gives off major main character energy, Her famous last name. The trauma of both the attack and the media coverage. And everything that came after pushed her down. But not anymore. Today, this warrior goddess takes back her narrative. And I couldn't think of a better guest to help us celebrate today. the one year anniversary of this podcast. That's right. This show holds space for humans to share stories of turning pain into purpose and the resulting switch flip that ensues, seeing life through a lens of gratitude. When I met Jessie Buttafuoco, I immediately knew that she was the literal embodiment of this. So today, on the one-year anniversary of this show, I bring you her story, Jessie Buttafuoco, today on the Gratitudology Podcast.
Would you ride through the storm? Will you walk on a wire? Will you save me if I fall? Will you break through the madness? Set us down where we're safe? I'll be right here waiting till you find me again.
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