Episode 809: Lorena and John Wayne Bobbitt

Hey weirdos. I'm Elena. >> I'm Ash. >> And this is Morbid. [music]. [music]. >> It is morbid. What's up, squirrel. friend? [laughter]. [gasps]. >> Nothing. We were just looking until we. we had like a like a we were teaching. Ash, me and Aiden about some rock lore.

>> earlier. So, we just got through all. that. [laughter]. >> That was interesting. I learned a lot. Um, >> yeah, >> started with Rock of Love. [laughter]. >> Yeah, I realized I've never seen Rock of. Love. I've seen clips for sure. >> and I said, "Ah, honey.". >> But now I want to watch. >> sit you down, watch a bunch of women. fight over Brett Michaels. That sounds. like an [laughter] absolute nightmare, but I love reality television. And you. love horror. >> And I love horror. [laughter]. So perfect. >> Let's go.

>> Absolutely iconic. >> Yeah. >> Um, [clears throat]. do we have any bits? We do. >> You think? Oh, we do. >> We do. We have a fun business. >> A fun bit. So, our game that we collabed. with Hunter Killer to come out with, the. Salem Slicer, >> Slicer, >> the Salem Slicer is now available on our. Sirius website. >> Oh, yeah. Um, and on pod swag. So, anybody who is upset that doesn't live. in the US or in Canada, you can get it, I think, on um. >> pod swag. And that's like international.

shipping. >> That's for you. >> Brought to you, by you, for you, from. you, and all about you is international. shipping. >> Exactly. [laughter]. >> Yeah. And podswag. >> And thanks for caring. >> Yeah. Thank you for wanting the game. It's [ __ ] fun. So. >> guys, really fun. And I we we did a. special podcast episode for it for the. case in the game. >> Yeah. So when you get the game, you get. an exclusive Morbid Pod episode. >> as part of like the solving of it. And. it's it's so much fun. And I think the. what the world needs right now is a.

bunch of cool people sitting around a. board game and solving a fictional. murder. >> I wish you set that up as like what the. world needs now is people send a count. [laughter]. We could go so far with that and just. lose half our audience. >> Yeah, that's okay though. But ser like. let's let's. >> But for real though, >> get wholesome with it. >> Yeah, come on. Get. >> wholesome with a fictional murder. >> Yeah, definitely. >> You know, let's get analog. >> Analog. >> Sit sit in front of a board game.

>> Can I ask you a question? >> Yeah. >> What does that mean? Why do people say. that? >> I know. It just makes me think of. clocks. >> I mean, sure. Yeah, there's an analog. clock. Yeah, >> like a a wristwatch would be an analog. clock. Something like not digital. >> that. Oh, so analog is just not digital. >> Hobbies are things that are like. knitting, crocheting, >> putting together a little miniature, like things that don't involve. technology. >> Vinyl.

>> Vinyl. >> Vinyl. Yes. Vinyl is analog. Like things. that don't invol. that don't involve like digital. interference. >> Like being on the internet. >> Yeah. Like being on the internet. >> Okay. That makes so much sense. You. always say. >> streaming things is is not an analog. >> Screaming things. >> Streaming things. >> Screaming things. [laughter] I was like, screaming things actually feels kind of. analog. >> No, the internet is not analog. >> I had a feeling that's what you meant, but I just agree with you so often about. going analog that I was like, you know. what? I should know what. >> I love that you didn't know what it. meant. I'm going to look up the actual.

definition for you just so it makes it. clearer. >> I like felt like I knew what it meant, but I was like, let's be totally sure. Yeah, it's well it says a system device. or signal that represents data using. continuously variable physical quality. didn't tell me that first [laughter]. because I would have said shut up. I. don't want to hear anything else. [gasps]. >> Yeah, they Oh, so that this makes more. sense. Analog devices use physical. measurements like the sweep of a clock. hand. >> Yes. >> You know, physical measurements, the. voltage of a copper wire, like things.

you can measure that way. >> Okay. >> Um to like show you a value of. something. >> Okay. I love it. So, but like people. will use like analog hobbies as like. [laughter] things that don't involve the. internet. >> I like it. I like it. An analog life. >> So, let's go analog. >> Yeah. >> Not completely cuz TV is not analog, right? >> That one's hard to. >> This is fun. >> Like VHS. That's. >> Is it analog? [clears throat]. >> VHS feels weird, >> right? It feels like it's a little bit. in the. >> So if I'm not streaming then it's then.

it's. >> because obviously [clears throat] like. the way we use analog now is a little. different from the like exact definition. of analog. >> Uh it's like aesthetic. You know what I. mean? Like people have changed that. definition a little bit. >> Um is TV analog? Considered analog I. should say. >> Let's see. >> Cuz it's like physical media. >> Yeah. Yeah, I think like now it's not. considered analog because it's so. connected to the internet and so yeah, [clears throat]. >> I can never go fully analog cuz I love.

Housewives, but. >> yeah, there was an original analog TV. that used like signals to. >> that's cool. So that that's a thing. >> So if I watch that way, then I'd be. [laughter] analog. >> I don't know if they have housewives. that way. >> Probably not. >> But anyway, yeah, I like I like some. analog things so I can get down with. everybody chilling out. Yeah, >> if you drank every time we said analog, um, sorry to your your liver. >> Say analog again. >> Analog. Okay. [laughter]. >> Okay. Anything else? >> You. >> We're going on tour.

>> Yeah. Not for Mormon. >> Not for Mormon. Sorry, everybody just. [ __ ] We're going on a little [laughter]. tour. >> Honey. Honey. We just did Radio City. I. break. Uh we're going to um a few places. for um the Butcher Legacy and Ash is my. conversation partner. >> Hi. Uh because I feel safe with her. >> Oh, [laughter] that's cute. I like that. >> So, it'll be fun. And we get to talk. about the book and writing and then I. get to meet you and talk about the book. and writing some more. And she's live.

signing at a lot of. >> I'm live signing. So, it I I know a few. of them are sold out, but I think. >> you can still get your tickets to some. of them. So, check out my socials if you. need to find the the links for places. >> I feel like I was born to be a. conversation partner. >> Hell yeah. >> As a Gemini. >> Oh, yeah. >> And a girly who was told all the time. like like I got moved away from any. anybody in class. >> cuz you talk too much. >> Yeah. They'd move me away from my. friends and then they'd sit me next to. somebody else and I'd be like, "Hey, what's up? What are you doing?" And they. start talking. You want to talk about. everything? And they'd be like, "Oh my.

god, this girl.". >> I am the exact opposite. >> Yeah. You don't you don't be talking. >> I just be quiet. >> But we do be talking for a living. We do. be conversation partners pretty much. every day. >> But yeah, that's very true. >> We've never stopped conversing. In fact, >> yeah, I like it. >> Yeah, I like it. >> All right. Well, I think that's all we. have. So, Jeffrey, mark down your time. >> Yep. >> Okay. Today, we're going to talk about a. pretty famous case. I'd be pretty. surprised if you hadn't heard of it, but. hey, who am I? >> Hey, you never know. >> We're going to be talking about John and.

Lena Bobbit. >> Ever heard of them? >> Ever heard of them? If you haven't, here. we go. >> Oh, boy. And if you have, shall we. revisit revisit? >> Let's go. Let's take my hand. Let's go. on a journey together. >> Yeah. Come with me and you'll see. >> truly. >> that the world is pretty [ __ ] bleak. [laughter]. >> I just want to give a trigger warning at. the top for uh rape and sexual assault. >> Pretty prevalent in this story. >> Themes of that. Um so yeah, if that's. not something that you want to hear.

about, just skip to the next episode and. we get it. We understand. Well, we we'll. forgive you for anything. >> Yeah. Duh. >> Like that. Of course. >> Yeah. >> So, let's get into it. Lena Gio was born. in Ecuador in 1969, and she was actually. raised in Venezuela. >> As a child, she watched American movies. and American TV, just dreaming that one. day she would be able to move to the US. Now, that day finally came for her in. 1987 when she was issued a student visa. after enrolling at Northern Virginia.

Community College. Not long after she. arrived in the US, she found part-time. work as a manicurist at a salon. And she. just had a pretty easy time making. friends. One night, just a few months. after arriving in the country, her. friends convinced her to join them for a. night out. They were going to go to a. knack club and, you know, do nightclub. things. >> Do nightclub things. >> That's analog. >> Yeah. >> And they were going to, this nightclub. in [laughter] particular was going to be. near the US Marine Corps base at. Quantico. It was there that she met. Lance Corporal, and I hope I said that.

correctly, John Wayne Bobbit. He was a. Marine from Niagara Falls, New York. Uh. Lena was immediately attracted to John, and the feeling was mutual. They said, "You're hot. I'm hot. Let's do this.". >> Uh to Lena, John was more than just. handsome, though. As a Marine in. uniform, he represented that classic. Americana that she grew up seeing in. movies and on TV, like very. romanticized. She said, "I believed in this beautiful. country. I was swept off my feet. I. wanted my American dream.".

>> I mean, I get it. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. And it it truly is like the the. image of like a military man, you know, feels very Americana time, you know? >> You like you meet him one night out and. he sweeps you out. You go dancing. I. mean, >> that's the thing. You go dancing, you. meet a a marine. >> There's a million movies like that. >> Of course. >> Now, John was equally charmed by Lena at. first. Remembering his first impression, he said she was innocent. She was real. real sweet. So they started dating and. within a year he claimed that both Lena. and his mother quote started pushing the. idea of marriage as her visa was about.

to expire. So after a few months of what. he said was pressure, John gave into. their demands and agreed to marry. Lorena. In a very romantic summation of. the decision, he said had to bite the. bullet, I guess. Get married. >> Oh, >> Americana. >> Yeah, I was just going to say, wow. >> American dream. >> romance. >> Bite the bullet. Get married. That's. nice. >> Yeah. >> If I ever heard that my mans had said. that, >> that he just said, "I guess I had to. bite the bullet and marry you.". >> That'd be real upsetting. >> Jeez. >> Now, Lena denies John's account of their.

road to marriage, though. She claims. that he proposed without any pressure, and that there was never any mention of. her student visa expiring or anything. like that. Regardless of who asked who. and for what reasons, they were married. on June 18th, 1989 when John was 22 and. Lena was just 20. So, they were pretty. young. >> Yeah. At first, the marriage was. everything that Lena wanted it to be and. hoped that it would be. But not too too. long after the wedding, the cracks. started to show. John later [snorts]. said Lena was a good wife a lot of the.

time, but she was obsessed with having. her American dream. Her American dream. Her American dream. She said it all the. time. Her boss had a big house, a cabin. cruiser, a Mercedes. Lena wanted all. those things. She just wanted too much. too fast. >> Like a girl can't have a vision board. She that's she's just manifesting. >> Look it up. >> Yeah. According to Lena, it was just one. month into their marriage when Jon's. attitude toward her started to change. She said in the very beginning, like. when they were dating and even in the.

really early days of their marriage, he. was sweet, he was doing, but now she. said he was demanding, pushy, and at. times just downright cruel. When she. made mistakes or did something that he. didn't like, she said that he would mock. her or even threaten to have her. deported. >> Oh my god. which is [ __ ] up on an. entirely new level. >> In time, the verbal abuse turned. physical, according to Lena, especially. when she declined his demands for sex. In a 1993 interview, she told a. reporter, "Every time he will hit me, he.

will just try to force me into the sex. again. He trapped me. I feel trapped.". >> If that's what happened, that is [ __ ]. up beyond measure. >> Super [ __ ] up. >> Yeah. >> So, by the time Lena Bobbit went on. trial, which if you know this case, you. know why. and if you don't, you will. shortly find out. But by the time that. happened, all the public and the media. seemed to be able to focus on were the. drastic actions that she took that led. to her arrest. But there was a long road. from newlyweds to that action to then. divorce. And a lot of it was very.

chaotic and violent. >> In the four years that followed John and. Lena's wedding, >> Manasses, Virginia police responded to. the couple's home on multiple occasions. in connection with domestic violence. complaints. one of which resulted in. John's arrest for assault and battery, but the charges eventually were dropped. But there's a very clear history here, >> that things were going, it's not like. that came out of nowhere. >> No, things were going poorly. Now, at. the same time, friends and clients at. the nail salon allegedly started to.

notice bruising on Lena's arms and her. neck. So with nowhere else to go when. things turned violent at home, she would. usually seek refuge at the nail salon, >> either working or when it was too late, she didn't have a key to the salon. So. when it wasn't open, she would just park. outside and sleep in her car cuz she. just felt safe there. >> That's so sad. >> Mhm. Now, in 1991, John was discharged. from the Marines and he struggled to. find steady work. As a result, she. became the couple's sole source of. financial support, which like that's a.

lot. >> Yeah. And I mean she's a nail tech. Like. obviously you can make great money but. she was just starting out and I don't. think nail techs were making what they. are today back then. >> I'm sure not. >> So the stress and tension over their. financial insecurity. Yeah. Insecurity. only made things worse between them. Obviously financial stress is only going. to. >> make things a million times worse. >> Now it seemed like anything could set. off an argument which often led to. verbal abuse and then escalated to. physical violence. Now, it should be. said while Lena claims that Jon was.

primarily the one committing the. physical abuse, Jon did call 911 on a. number of occasions and accused Lena of. assaulting him. It's. >> a very volatile relationship. >> And I just point that out because I have. to tell both sides. >> Yeah. Cuz that just is documented. >> Now, living in a relatively upscale. suburb, Lurena's salary from the nail. salon quickly became insufficient. And. in time, the couple's home ended up. going into foreclosure. Desperate for solutions at that point. and running out of options, Lena started. falsifying her customers tickets at the.

salon to make it seem like she was. earning more on each ticket in each. service. Her boss eventually discovered. that Lena had taken approximately $7,200. from the salon over time. >> Wow. >> Yeah. By that time, she had worked at. the salon for years, and they had become. like a second family. So, when the theft. was discovered, her boss was actually. sympathetic and didn't press charges. >> Wow. The boss said she said she loved. him and she wanted her marriage to work. She was going to do anything to try to. make her marriage work. >> Oh man.

>> Like including stealing. >> Yeah. >> Now, [snorts] I think what happened was. eventually she just like paid the money. back over time. Now, her boss's act of. kindness kept Lena from the embarrassing. and very costly consequences of going to. court and maybe even jail. But it did. little to ease the tension at home. Like. I said, their home was foreclosed on and. they ended up moving into a studio. apartment. So, which if it's already like volatile, now you're in an enclosed quarters. Yeah. >> Some of the financial pressure was. relieved obviously by like spending less.

money on rent in your living situation, but the relationship didn't improve. Lena claimed that Jon's verbal, physical, and sexual abuse continued. And he claimed that Lena became. increasingly and intolerably jealous and. possessive of him. >> Oh man. >> Yeah. [snorts] By 1991, the relationship. had pretty much deteriorated. And it was. at the point where they started. separating, but then inevitably. reconciling again. >> Oh, what an awful way to live. >> Yeah. Just like. >> constant turmoil.

>> on a roller coaster. >> And they just repeatedly questioned. whether their marriage could be salvaged. and if it was worth it to even save it. at all. >> No. After years of abuse, Lena did want. to get away, but she had also grown up. in a strict Catholic family. So, she. felt that divorce was a sin. >> Yep. >> Not only that, but she also had invested. a lot into her marriage. And to her, she. felt like quote unquote giving up. wouldn't just mean that the relationship. was over, but it would be a sign that. she had failed. >> Yeah. And that's like a very Catholic.

way of looking at it, too. Like that. you're giving up instead of saving. yourself. >> Exactly. It's like Catholic guilt. >> Yeah. So, if she was looking for a sign. that she should go back to John, it came. in 1991 when Lina learned that she was. pregnant. Years later, she told ABC News. that she was excited about starting a. family. But that excitement quickly. faded when she returned home and told. her husband about the pregnancy. To her. surprise, Jon was less than enthusiastic. and told Lena he quote didn't think she.

was up to the task of motherhood. >> Wow. Not I don't think we're ready to be. parents. >> I don't think you're ready because this. will be on you. >> Cool. >> Like that's shitty. >> Cool. >> He allegedly insisted that she have an. abortion and fearing that she would lose. him if she didn't, she agreed. >> Oh man. >> Which like that's traumatic if that's. not what you traumatizing. >> In a 2019 interview, John said we. weren't ready anyway, so I suggested we. should wait. She wasn't happy about it, but you know what? What can you do?

>> That was in an interview. >> Uh-huh. What an [ __ ]. >> Yeah. [laughter]. >> Like that's He's an [ __ ] in my. opinion. So, >> you know what you can do? Especially in. the 90s. >> And also, she wasn't happy about it. But. And it's like, oh, she wasn't happy. about it. It's her body. >> Her body. Also, John, you know what. makes a baby. >> Yeah. Exactly. >> Take precautions if you don't think. either of you is ready or if she's not. ready. Like, what the [ __ ]. >> No, that's a [ __ ] up way to say it. >> It really is. So, basically, their. relationship started to become a.

marriage of convenience. if it was even. that. I don't even know that it was. convenient. >> But John made demands of his wife and. Lena acquiesced regardless of what she. wanted or needed at the time. >> And [snorts] sometimes she wasn't. acquiescing. It was just happening. allegedly. But no matter how often she. gave in, according to Lena, it was never. enough. Later her attorney, Blau Howard, uh Blair Howard would say the pushing, shoving, a punch here, punch there, and. then she said it carried over into the. bedroom that he seemed to be very. stimulated, excited by violent sex. Oh.

yeah. John denied ever having forced his. wife to have sex with him, but he did. admit that their relationship was. physically abusive occasionally. >> From time to time. >> From time to time. Okay, >> that was my words, but he said. occasionally. >> Finally, in the spring of 1993, the. abuse and the unhappiness became way too. much for the relationship to bear. One. night, after Jon had been physically. aggressive with her, Lena went to the. local police department. And while she. was there, she started filling out. paperwork for a protective order.

>> But as she filled out one section after. another, which is a daunting task, Yeah. especially if she was all by herself, it. occurred to her that the order would. likely mean her marriage was over and. she became washed with a feeling of. shame. >> So, she abandoned the paperwork and left. the station before the order could be. processed. >> Oh, man. >> Which is just so sad. Like. >> yeah, >> you wish that she had some kind of. advocate or like. >> I know someone to be with her and let. her know that like if this is what you. feel like you have to do, then this is.

what you should do. >> Yeah. And like this is your right. >> Like give her the confidence if that's. what she felt like she needed. Exactly. It's just sad that she. >> didn't have that. >> Now, according to John, by the time Lena. went to the police station to file for. the protective order, he had already. asked for a divorce. He said later that. hurt her. It hit her like a ton of. brick. She was crying and she was. begging. She said she didn't believe in. divorce, but I said, "It's pointless. What's the point of staying married? You're not happy. I'm not happy.". >> Yeah. >> Which, like, I agree with you there, partner. [snorts]. >> He claimed that while they decided how. they were going to proceed in terms of.

their living situation, he invited a. friend to come visit and stay with them. in the small one-bedroom apartment. This. friend was uh Robert Johnston. So, on. the evening of June 23rd, 1993, John and. Robert decided to go out drinking in DC. and Jon and his friend returned to the. apartment in the early morning hours, waking Lena by slamming the door. Robert. Johnston went to sleep on the couch and. Jon went into [clears throat] the. bedroom that he was still sharing with. Lena at that point. According to his. account, he climbed into bed and tried.

to go to sleep, but Lena started making. sexual advances. Ultimately, he. admitted, quote, "Some petting was going. on that night, but no sex." Okay. Now, in Lena's account of the event, it's. very different. John came into the room, quote, "Jumped on top of her, forcibly. ripped off her underwear, and sexually. assaulted her.". >> Oh, wow. >> She claimed it was the second time in. five days that she'd been assaulted by. him. After the assault, she said she. remembered that Jon fell asleep and she. just stayed up lying next to him trying.

to process what had just happened. >> Yeah. Eventually, she got out of bed and. she went into the kitchen to get a glass. of water. As she stood at the counter. holding the water glass, she noticed an. 8 inch Ginsu uh kitchen knife, which was. a brand that advertised for never. needing to be sharpened. >> I remember those that brand. >> Yeah, it was just sitting on the. counter. Later, she said, "I didn't want. to teach him a lesson. No, it was. survival, life and death. I was fearing. for my life.". >> Damn. >> So, she picked up the knife and she.

returned to the bedroom, standing over. her husband uh at his side of the bed. She pulled back the covers to reveal him. sleeping in the nude and she grabbed his. penis and dragged the razor sharp blade. across his shaft which severed the organ. entirely. Men, I'm really sorry for that. description. You have to be.

at such a point to do that. Yes, absolutely. That's all that's my opinion. on the matter is like I'm not I'm giving. absolutely no opinion on what is. happening here. I'm saying her state of. mind to be in that place I imagine you. have to be. in a real place. >> You're not alone with that feeling. >> to do that. >> Yeah. Absolutely. >> Like that is an extreme measure. >> Absolutely. And so I feel like you are.

to just go for it like. >> to that's the thing like me I'm sure. many women have thought about this. >> Yeah. >> Many. >> y. >> but going. >> going through with it much different. thinking about it. >> situation. So obviously the pain and the shock woke. John up immediately at which point Lena. got the [ __ ] out of there. She fled the. apartment into her car and just started. driving toward the nail salon while. still holding John. >> I was just [laughter] going to say she.

was still holding it. >> She was still holding his penis. >> Not correct. I meant not correctly. [laughter]. >> There's no correct way to hold that. Nope. >> While driving. >> Not a severed penis. No. >> Like, you know, apart from its owner. >> Yeah. No. No. >> Yep. >> I'm so uncomfortable. [laughter]. about a mile from away from the home, she realized she was still holding. John's severed penis. So, she threw it. out the window. She said, "I tried to. drive the car, but I had this thing in. my hand, so I couldn't drive, so I got. rid of it.".

>> I mean, she was in a state. >> Yeah. I. >> This I have to say this is not okay. Obviously, like we're not go around like. people's penis off, but. >> but I do have to say she was in a state. >> Yeah. And that's all. >> That's all. That's all. >> That's so by the time she Don't take. anything from like this is a this is a. strange case. It's a tragic case. It's. absolutely horrifying case. >> We're not telling you what to do or not.

to do. We're just saying you got to be. in a real place to go through with this. kind of thing. >> Yeah. And if we're telling you not to do. anything, it's absolutely to not cut. your husband's penis off people's penis. off. >> We don't condone that here. But like I. just I I feel for Lena for being at this. place. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> You know, >> so by the time she arrived at the nail. salon, her usual refuge, it was about. 4:30 in the morning, and as her. adrenaline started to to wear off, the. immediate and long-term consequences of.

her actions kind of started to dawn on. her. >> Yeah, I imagine. >> She called her boss, who she always went. to, for comfort, and together they. called 911 to report what happened. So, she did. >> kind of like turn herself in. I guess. you you could say. >> Yeah. >> By then, the paramedics had already been. called to the apartment to tend to John. >> But Lena's call provided the police not. only with her location, but also the. location of the overgrown lot next to. the 7-Eleven, where she had thrown. the severed organ, I will say. >> Mhm.

>> After combing through the grass and the. overgrowth for a bit, officers were able. to locate the severed organ. Despite the. seriousness and the urgency of the. moment, though, the men on the MA. Manasses Police Department didn't know. how to proceed, which I can imagine this. was most likely unprecedented. >> I was going to say, I I you know what, I. get that. I get I get not knowing how to. proceed here. >> It seemed that none of them were. comfortable touching the severed penis, so they called for the paramedics who. they figured would have latex gloves and. would know what to do.

>> I mean, here's the thing. I one I'm like. why don't you have gloves but two if you. don't have latex gloves I do understand. not wanting to just like. >> touch a penis a severed penis. >> pal a severed penis. >> or or any discarded organ you know. >> and you shouldn't like you should not be. going around touching them with your. bare hands so I get that if that's the. that's what it is like we don't have. gloves so we need someone Yeah I get. that. >> I guess yeah. >> yeah [laughter]. uh Dr. Jim Sen, who later operated on. John, recalled, "The law enforcement.

people wouldn't touch it. They stood. around staring at it until the ambulance. came up and gloves were obtained from. the ambulance and they finally had the. courage to pick it up.". >> Yeah. I mean, >> but again, if you don't have gloves, you. shouldn't be touching it. Yeah. I can't. really like fall. If it's just like, "Ew, gross. >> I don't want to touch it.". >> Is this going to make me gay touching a. penis? Like, if that's the vibe there, then like, [ __ ] off. But like, >> if you don't have gloves, I [laughter]. understand not touching a severed. anything. Yeah. Actually, you know what? Like, you know, >> do police usually have gloves on their.

person? >> I would think they should have latex. gloves or some kind of. >> Yeah, that's kind of what I would think. >> Or like a kit that should have some in. there. >> Yeah. I mean, it was the '9s. >> I was going to say this is the '9s, so. who knows? But I would think that should. be something that would, you know, >> that's kind of what I thought, too. But. >> I don't know. I would think. >> I've never been in a situation with the. police where they needed gloves. You. should never touch any body part that's. laying on the ground without gloves. >> or like any evidence. >> That's a thing. So, I do understand that. if that's what it is.

>> Although, yeah, I don't know. >> Yeah. [laughter]. >> So, one of the officers at least had the. foresight though to run to the nearby. 7-Eleven and returned with a hot dog box. filled with ice um where they placed the. penis before it was rushed to the. hospital where Jon had been taken. It is. important always to put severed body. parts on ice. >> Yep. Because it it does what does it do? >> It it like it like um helps the the. vessels kind of remain intact to be able. to reattach. >> period.

>> Um and it stops like the you know a. necrosis that can happen. Uh. it's the hot dog box that that really. got me on that one. >> Yeah. >> I don't know if I'm alone in that. >> No, I don't think you are. >> Okay. I was trying to breeze past it, but. >> Okay. I I couldn't let that go. >> No. And I think it would be I think it. would be silly if I let that go. None of. you would believe that we let that go. >> That I let that go. So that's why I'm. mentioning it. >> You're not going to believe me just.

going, "Oh, okay. Yes, hot dog box.". >> What else would you really grab? What. would you grab at 7-Eleven to put a se. any severed organ in? >> Here's the thing. >> You don't know. >> Probably a hot dog box. Like it makes. sense. It makes complete sense. >> They're always grilling those. always. got a hot dog on top and it's there. They they're always there. >> So, it was pretty perfect cuz you don't. want to just put it in a bag because. then all the ice is going to like melt. and get the bag all crazy. >> Sometimes the universe has a strange. sense of humor in the weirdest. situations and I think that's one of. those situations.

>> Very true. >> You know, >> yeah, I mean, I couldn't let that go. >> I would assume though that like a. 7-Eleven sells ice, so you could get a. bag of ice, but that would be really. big. >> Yeah. >> So, it's a good You know what? We'll. move on. >> Yeah. because you don't want to just. like put it in a big bag of ice and get. it crushed, you know? >> Yes. >> At least a box you can keep it in a. place where you can reattach it. >> So, it all makes sense. >> Yeah. >> But again, none of you would believe. that I wouldn't at least mention that. So, I'm being genuine with you. >> Good for you. >> Thank you. >> I appreciate your gen your your.

genuiness. >> Thank you. [laughter]. >> So, your. to your genuiness. >> Uh so, urologist Dr. Jim Sen happened to. be the doctor on call at the hospital. that night when he and when he got the. call about John Bob, it was a little. after 4:00 a.m. In a 2019 interview, he. said, "I was on my way into the. emergency room, not knowing much about. the case other than the patient had. presented with an amputation of the. penis.". >> At the same time, Lena and also John's. severed penis were still missing. So, Dr. Sen didn't know what to expect, like.

how they were going to move forward. here. >> Yeah, that's a that's a wild point in. your career. Yeah, I bet you don't get a. lot of calls like that for especially. like he's a urologist. >> Yeah. So he's like, "Oh, >> that's not [laughter] that's not. necessarily standard. >> Here we go.". >> So fortunately before he started tending. to the patient, Dr. Sen got the call. from the police department saying that. they had found the severed penis, packed. it in ice in a hot dog box, >> and we're rushing it to the hospital. And with that, he started making uh. preparations to reattach the penis. In. order to complete the surgery, he relied.

on assistance from Dr. David Burman, who. was a plastic surgeon that had. transferred to the hospital just one. month earlier, as luck would have it. >> Can you imagine? You're the new guy in. town. You're the new guy on on. >> on on the block. >> on the crew. >> on the rounds. >> And this is this is what Yeah. In the. pit. And this is the straw you draw. >> I'm actually so surprised that the pit. hasn't. >> had some kind of like Yeah. >> recreation of this event. That would be.

very interesting to see. >> Yeah. Well, yeah. I mean, it's HBO. They. could, right? You know, >> I mean, they've shown us a whole baby. birth. >> I was just going to say they've shown. quite a bit. >> Yeah. I think I think they Yeah. Anyways, >> watch The Pit. It's a great show. >> I love The Pit. You got to finish season. two, dog. >> I know. I do. >> I got really upset about Langdon. So, >> I get that. Well, he. >> I was morning. >> Watch season two. He he comes back. >> Good. >> So, Dr. Sorry, spoiler alert. [laughter]. Uh Dr. Sen said urologists don't. generally replant organs. So Dr.

Burman's assistance and his experience. in working with tiny blood vessels like. those in a penis was essential to their. success. >> Yeah. The surgery took more than 9 hours. to complete, but both surgeons were. surprised how successful they were in. the end. But it would be some time. before they knew if the organ would. continue to function normally. Thinking. back on the injury, Dr. Sen is still. surprised by how well everything went. He said, "I had never seen an injury. quite this gruesome before in urology. It's really just a unique moment, and.

you can't help but get a gut-wrenching. feeling in your gut to see it. Though, you quickly recover as a surgeon. We do. a lot of trauma, and you do what needs. to be done.". >> Wow. >> He'll [laughter] remember that surgery. for the rest of his life. >> That's the surgery. >> Yeah. I'm also sure like. >> being a man with the same organ, like. >> you probably feel something about it. >> Yeah. You'd have to, >> you know, >> you'd have to. >> Yeah, I would think. So, while Dr. S and Dr. B like I have no. idea. So, while Dr. Sen and Dr. Burman.

in the emergency room uh worked to. stabilize and reattach John's penis, the. police arrived at the nail salon and. arrested Lena for the assault on her. husband and charged her with malicious. wounding, a crime that carried up to a. 20-year prison sentence if convicted. Regardless of what had transpired in the. weeks and months leading up to her. assault, Lorena's assault on her. husband, the case did seem pretty. straightforward and Lorena's actions did. seem indefensible under all but the. direct circumstances. You know, >> however, as Prince William County.

prosecuting attorney Mary Grace O'Brien. was about to find out, there was very. little about this case that was. straightforward. And by the time a. verdict was rendered, it seemed that. everybody in America had already formed. an opinion as to who was guilty and who. was innocent. >> And people were on very different sides. of this, >> as I'm sure people still are. >> Yeah, probably. >> You know, like I'm sure there's crazy. like it's not it's not black and white. >> It's not black and white. No. And it's. just not it's it's quite salacious. Like.

it's not something you hear every day. >> Absolutely. And the way it was reported. was very salacious. the way it has been. turned into what has been turned into is. very salacious. It's got all that. >> Exactly. >> But it's at its core, it's just sad. >> It's very sad. >> all around. >> For a marriage to get to that point, like. >> that's a thing. And for two people to. get to that, like it's really sad. >> Now, given her confession, there was no. doubt that Lena would be held. responsible for the violent assault. But. what was likely a surprise to most was. that after hearing her story and taking. the allegations of uh rape seriously,

the prosecutor did charge John with one. count of marital rape. Now, this is. [ __ ] crazy. Prior to the mid70s, sexual assault that occurred within a. marriage was exempt from the laws that. criminalized rape. That is disgusting. >> And let me just break that down even. further for you in case that's not quite. hidden. That meant under most. circumstances it wasn't illegal for a. husband to sexually assault or rape his. wife.

>> What? >> I don't know how anybody could think. that that is. >> I also said the. >> anything but disgusting. >> 1970s. >> Yeah. >> Hello. >> Hello is right. >> Like what? >> That's horrifying. >> Absolutely it is. So throughout the late. 70s and into the 80s, thanks to various. feminist and activist groups, those laws. slowly started to change only at a state. level. But by the early 1990s, there. were still several states where marital. rape was not a criminal act. Like how.

insane is that? That's horrifying. Now, regardless of all the legal frameworks. that made it possible to prosecute. marital rape, a lot of Americans at the. time were actually surprised to learn. that it was a crime. And some even. argued over whether it should be. >> Yeah. If you were on that side of the. the place, I. >> If you're on the side, >> we don't want to hear from you. >> It [laughter] shouldn't be a crime for a. husband to rape a wife. >> Yeah. I don't want to hear from you. >> I You got to go. >> Yeah. I don't That's No.

>> What? >> Nope. >> What? >> Nope. >> Domestic violence activist Christelle. Nicole Nichols told a reporter in 1993, "These horrible things go on all day, every day." pointing to the domestic. violence that had been taking place. behind closed doors for centuries at. that point. But like I said, not. everybody saw it that way. National. Center for Men director Mel Felt said, >> "Oh yeah, let's hear from him. >> I'm going to I'm going to say this how I. think it sounded. >> This is the result of feminists teaching. women that men are natural oppressors.

>> Shut the [ __ ] up.". >> No, [laughter] this is the result of men. raping their wives and people saying it. out loud. >> Truly shut what was his name? >> Mel Felt. Mel, shut the [ __ ] up. Yeah, get [ __ ] [laughter]. >> Are you kidding me? We're really going. to make this like a feminist start? Like, what? >> Stop immediately. >> I can't. So, in early July, in his first. public statement after the charges were. announced, John vehemently denied having. raped Lena at any point in their. marriage. His denial was accompanied by. his vivid descriptions of how he had not.

only been physically assaulted by his. wife, but victimized in countless other. ways. When he returned home from the. hospital after a 3 weeks stay, for. example, he said he found the apartment. very nearly empty. His spokesperson, Paul Ericson, said she had removed every. stick of furniture down to the frozen. chicken. >> Damn. >> To which I say, do you consider frozen. chicken furniture? >> I was [laughter] going to say, do you sit on the frozen chicken? >> What? [snorts]. >> What? What part does that play in your. decor? >> I don't know. Frozen chicken isn't a.

part of my decor. >> It's not a part of mine. >> Like, hello. Within days though, the. Bobbits one's private arguments. obviously spilled out into the public. because of the tabloid press, which like. in the 90s was. running rampant. >> It was the thing. >> Yeah. And they got away with so much. more in the '9s than they do today. >> It wasn't just the tabloids, though, that were interested in the Bobbit. story. By the end of uh July, nearly. every news outlet in the country, from. the National Inquirer to the New Yorker,

was covering the story. >> Oh, yeah. National Inquir. >> like that's wild. >> In the grocery store you'd see those. >> Oh yeah. The Yeah. >> Yeah. >> The Bobbit story was elevated to the. level of national attention mostly. because of the violent act committed by. Lena. Obviously in a wild metaphor. metaphor Mel felt. >> a wild metaphor. >> I was [laughter] getting ready to say. Mel in my weird voice so I said metaphor. >> metaphor. Uh, in a wild metaphor, Mel.

Feld told the New York Times, "In the. Battle of the Sexes, this was like. stealing the other team's mascot.". You You got to go sit down. You got to. go sit down, Mel. I don't want to hear. from you again. Do I hear from Mel. again? >> Mel, do you consider your penis a. mascot? >> That's why I need you to go sit down. >> I don't believe we hear from him again. >> Sit down immediately. >> A mask? >> Are you kidding me, Mel? This is like. removing stealing another team's mascot.

>> Your penis is your mascot. >> My boobies are my mascot now. >> Like, are we being real right now? >> Come on. >> You're comparing your penis to Wall-E. the green monster. >> How dare you? >> Are you real? >> How very dare you? >> To Lucky. >> Get out of here. >> Done. >> Yeah, I won't hear it. So, while men. nervously covered their groins and. grimaced at the thought of the. mutilation, many women and feminists. around the country celebrated Lena's. crime as an act of liberation. One woman. told the New York Times, "Usually the.

woman is the victim." This was the woman. striking back. Every woman I've talked. to about this says, "Way to go.". [laughter]. Said, "Damn girl." Not long after John. started making the rounds on the radio. and the TV news shows, Lena just. released a simple statement through a. spokesperson saying, "I was the victim. of repeated emotional, physical, and. sexual abuse. Everyone has a limit, and. this was beyond mine.". >> So, there it is. Yeah. >> The combination of John's relentless. victimhood, feminist cheers, and Lena's. simple statement acted as a spark in the.

powder keg that was becoming known as. back then the battle of the sexes. Oh my. god, that that term like that phrase is. >> Oh, it was used everywhere. >> Oh, I remember that being a thing. Yep. >> That was like. >> every competition reality show. Battle. of the sexes. >> This was a battle of the sexes. It's. like. >> such an overused term. >> Also, we can't chalk this like assault. and demise of a marriage because of like. so many different kinds of assault. >> Yeah. >> Down to a battle of the sex.

>> Well, that's And this isn't men versus. women. No, this is just two individuals. and you look at it as an individual. thing, right? And you look at it as a. case by case thing and you look at it. and say, "What happened here? What led. to this?" Obviously, that was an extreme. reaction. What led to that reaction, >> right? >> What's going on? Why Why would that. reaction have occurred? What do we do. about this reaction? >> Like you're saying, this is something. you need to look at in a very clinical. setting, >> not not battle of the sex. It didn't.

need to be in the tabloids, but it of. course it was. >> Of course it was. >> Before either of them had even seen the. inside of a courtroom or made the. details of the case known, like all of. them, they were national figures. >> Yeah, of course. >> But in the case of Lena, she became a. target. One man told a reporter she. ought to be executed. >> Oh, shut the [ __ ] up. >> Like, that's crazy. >> Like, really? Are you saying the same. thing about like, you know, serial. killers and like child predators? Are. you saying the exact same thing? >> No, you're not. >> Come on. In the eyes of mostly men, Lena.

had tried to rob her husband of that. which is most precious and she hadn't. done it. >> Is that is this is this real? >> Yes. >> Like that which is most precious. >> That's how they felt back then. Um and. again, we're generalizing here. Not. there are men who were feminists back. then that [laughter] felt the opposite. way. But there were men who felt that. she had tried to rob him of that is that. which is most precious. >> as well. >> Yeah. And they didn't think that she had. done it in an act of self-defense. Well, and it's also like you're skipping over. any kind of argument you actually have.

here, which is like un I mean, the. reality of the situation is that's. assault and it's like. >> the end period. So, it's like you don't. need to link it to like. >> that which is most precious. No, it's. >> it's just at the end of the day. If you. just chalk it to that, that's your. that's your answer right there. You don't need to attach it to some. mythological [ __ ] penis mascot. >> Yeah, you don't need to make your penis. a mascot. That's for sure. Now, John's.

lawyer, Greg Murphy, said this was all. contrived to strike back at him after he. said he was going to leave her. She was. acting out a fantasy that's in the. psyche of many women. >> Who said that? >> Because you would know, Greg Murphy, John's lawyer. >> Okay. John Murphy, >> you would know what I fantasize. [laughter] about. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Oh, babe. You wish. >> Period. Get the [ __ ] out of here. >> Like, shut up. Then that's the thing. that I It's. >> That's the kind of [ __ ] that pisses me. off. >> They make the argument very trivial in. something that is not trivial at all.

>> No, this is a very serious case, but it. just became man. >> Very serious allegations on both sides. of the the situation. And it ended in a. very serious thing happening. >> that should be not taken lightly at all. the events leading up to it and the act. itself, none of it should be taken. lightly, >> but everybody's just like women are. crazy in it. >> Well, and to generalize and be like even. like them talking about like the what. men like find most precious and man.

feels that way like don't generalize. like that. And then it's like and all. women have this crazy like part of their. fantasy in their psych like [ __ ] you. >> or even many like. >> we're just generalizing like entire. groups of people now. >> The '9s love to generalize. Honestly, I. feel like we're back at it again. >> Back at it again with the. generalizations. >> It's true. >> Now, while the relentless news coverage. of the story fueled the increasingly. aggressive debate, there was still the. matter of the potential legal. consequences for not only Lena, but for. John, too.

>> Yeah. >> Although marital rape was a criminal act. in Virginia at the time, the charge did. require that the husband and wife be. living apart when the assault occurred. >> What? So, if you guys live together, raping your wife isn't a crime. That's. stupid as hell because also one of the. hardest things is to end up moving apart. at the end. Like why they didn't live. apart yet? >> You have owned assets. It's like a whole. thing. You're not just leaving. >> I mean look at the in their case they're.

both financially struggling. They. couldn't live apart yet. They very much. wanted to it seems but they couldn't. That's like saying, and that's so stupid. because that's like saying if two people. are roommates and one of them rapes the. other one that because they live in the. same house, that's okay. >> That's not rape. Like, >> but if they lived in two separate. places, then they'd be a rapist. It's. like what? >> I don't understand the thought process. at all. >> Yeah. >> But instead, at that time, the district. attorney charge uh charged John Bobbit. with marital sexual assault.

>> So to to move rape down to sexual. assault is wild. >> Yeah. That carried a penalty though of. up to 20 years in prison if convicted. and John went on trial on November 8th, 1993. In his opening statement, Prince. William County Attorney Paul Eert laid. out the case as he understood it. Lena. Bobbit had been victimized by her. husband for several years, including. twice on the week of the attack, and she. finally snapped and retaliated against. him, cutting off his penis. >> And that was the argument, right? >> That was the argument. This, the.

prosecutor claimed, was supported by the. statements provided by Lena's family and. friends, who would also testify that. they had some knowledge of the abuse and. had even seen bruises after previous. beatings. This was testimony. >> Yeah, this is all like part of the. trial. So, among the more interesting. testimony given during John's brief. trial came from Lena, who described. their relationship leading up to the. attack, saying she was quote distraught. after he choked and raped her for the. second time in 5 days. That was her. testimony. The evidence against Jon was. circumstantial but significant. In.

addition to Lena's testimony, one of the. officers who interviewed her on the. evening of the assault testified that he. was convinced that she was telling the. truth and he was quote unquote concerned. for her safety because of what she told. me. >> Oh man. >> There were also contradictory statements. given by John as to whether or not he. and Lena had engaged in sex that night. >> At first, he said they had, but then. later he said he he didn't remember. He. wasn't sure. Despite all the evidence, John's lawyer, Greg Murphy, laid out a. surprisingly simple defense. He said.

Lena was a quote social climber who. wanted to spite her husband for being a. selfish lover. >> Huh. >> Yeah. Uh he said she had only concocted. the rape allegations to support her. self-defense claim. Oh, >> okay. >> After just 3 days of trial, the jury ret. uh retired for deliberation and returned. less than 4 hours later to acquit John. Bobbit on aggravated sexual assault. charges. Or this it was a single charge. When the verdict was announced, his. mother shrieked with joy in the back of. the courtroom, and Jon [clears throat]. pumped his fist with enthusiasm. "Cool.".

>> The jury actually had been moved by. Lena's testimony, and they claimed they. were sympathetic, but they ultimately. felt that there was not enough evidence. to prove the sexual assault charge. Juror William Voit told a reporter, "If. someone had heard her scream or if there. had been some sort of bruising, that. would have been more substantiative. evidence.". >> Okay. [snorts] Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I. have it's How is she supposed to prove. it? >> How are you supposed to prove that you. were right? >> That's Yeah. Just a few weeks after.

calling Lena Bob as a witness in the. case against her husband, District. Attorney Paul Ebert found himself on the. other end of the argument, at the start. of Lena's trial for malicious wounding. That had to have been wild. >> Yeah. >> Unlike the previous case where he. expressed implicit sympathy for the. accused, this time he made no secret of. how he felt for Lena this time or felt. about her. He told a reporter she. belonged behind bars. In a highly. emotionally charged replay of Jon's. trial, Lena took the stand for a second. time in her own trial to describe her.

marriage with Jon and her state of mind. On the night of the attack, she. described in graphic terms how he had. choked and violently raped her. And she. told the prosecutor through sobs, "It. was hurting me. Maybe you don't. understand because you're a man. He. didn't understand because he's a man.". >> Oh, that's really sad. >> It is sad. In addition to the emotional, verbal, and physical abuse that she. claimed, she also told of Jon's various. affairs and their effect on her psyche. As for the attack itself, she didn't. deny that she had done it, but she. claimed she had been in fear for her. life and genuinely believed that Jon. would kill her, but also claimed that.

she wasn't in her right mind at the. time. Now, while the claim may have made. sense to most people, it was a different. matter when it came to the law. Speaking on behalf of Lena, one. psychiatrist supported the self-defense. and temporary insanity defense, saying. that Lena quote struck at the instrument. of her torture and she was suffering. from post-traumatic stress disorder, which. >> that seems. >> I can understand that as an argument. I'm not saying one way or the other how. I would feel on the jury, but like.

>> yeah, you can see that that that's. logical. >> Yeah. Like Yeah. However, though, a. psychiatrist testifying on behalf of the. prosecution rejected the defense, saying, "The severing of the penis is. goal oriented behavior, and a truly. impulsive act would have been random and. indiscriminate.". >> Okay. >> And I can see that side of the argument, too. That's tough. >> Yeah. >> In the end, the jury was left exactly. where the American people were on the. matter. A story of he said, she said, >> with only circumstantial evidence and.

their instincts to guide them toward a. verdict. On January 21st, they came down. the middle, finding Lena not guilty by. reason of temporary insanity, but. recommending that she be committed to a. psychiatric facility for evaluation. >> Okay. >> She was sent to a mental health facility. and she underwent treatment uh and. observation for more than a month before. a Prince William County judge accepted. the hospital's report that she was no. longer a danger to herself or others and. she was discharged, effectively bringing. the case to an end. >> It makes when you're saying like.

temporary insanity. Yeah, it does make. sense that that's an act of complete. like blackout, you know. >> Yeah. I think the thing, and I'm not. arguing this, I'm just saying like I'm. telling both sides of the story. I think. the thing that people don't understand. and like why they fight against the. temporary insanity is because she went. to the kitchen and had a glass of water. and like. >> people see that as a moment to. >> Yeah. And I can see that. >> to come to your senses, I guess, >> for sure. >> But I don't know. >> That's the thing. It's not a black and.

white case in my opinion. At least. >> it's not. I don't think so either. >> Among the more frustrating and. disappointing aspects of the Bobbit case. though is that by the time Lena was. released from the mental health. facility, her story had gone from a. tragic account of domestic violence to a. national joke. >> Yeah. Well, that's the thing. It becomes. a joke. >> And same thing for John Bobbit at the. end of the day. Like he he was acquitted. of that rape charge. So, >> you know, who knows at the end of the. day? But it's like they both became. jokes. >> Yeah. And this is not a joke. >> When no matter what, he even admitted.

that their relationship got physically. violent. >> And it's like no matter what, this is a. tragic thing. Marriage was toxic and. >> abusive and horrible by all accounts, by. their own accounts. >> And it's like to for it to become a joke. after that when it ended in such a. volcanic eruption. >> Yeah. >> that ruined a lot of lives. >> Mhm. That's wild. That we're just like, "Haha, lol. Isn't that funny?" Yeah.

Once both trials concluded, the. mutilation of John Bobbit was a source. of humor in everything from late night. talk shows and Saturday night uh. Saturday Night Live to men's magazines. like Playboy and even supposedly. highbrow publications like New York. Magazine. It was like everybody forgot. about the abuse and the sexual assault. that led to the act and just wanted to. joke about it. And I think it's easy to. look at it with such a a narrow lens of. being like, "Wow, that was crazy." Like, you know, she cut off his penis and. threw it in a field. Like, that's.

>> it's a crazy that is like crazy and like. so like. >> slapstick wild. Like, you can't even. conceive of that happening. >> But go deeper. >> But then when you actually think about. what led to that, >> why did that happen? What [ __ ] was going. on that led to that that nobody is. saying made it right or like you know I. mean it's just it's not right or wrong. >> What is the stuff that happened behind. closed doors that drove somebody to. that? >> Exactly. In a 2019 interview, Lena told. a reporter they always just focused on. it and it's like they all missed or.

didn't care why I did what I did. >> Yeah. >> John, meanwhile did everything that he. could to cash in on his newfound. stardom. In addition to making the. rounds on cable and daytime talk shows, he sold t-shirts for $25 that said love. hurts. By the end of the year, John was. featured in a pay-per-view New Year's. Eve special. And then in 1994, he. starred in his first porno, John Wayne. Bobbit Uncut, which was followed two. years later by a second porn film titled. John Wayne Bobbit's Franken Penis. Moving on from that, wow. Throughout the. '9s, and the 2000, John used his status.

to his financial benefit. And while that. might have helped with his legal and. hospital bills, his stardom did not keep. him out of trouble. In the years since. the trial, he's been arrested several. times for various crimes, including. serving jail sentences for assaulting. two different women he was romantically. involved with. >> Wow. >> The last time he was in the news, it was. due to his um he had to have several. toes amputated because of toxic. peripheral polyurop neuropathy, which he. claimed he contracted from severely.

contaminated water that he was exposed. to during his time in the military. >> Huh. Yeah. Okay, Lena, she took a. different track after her trial. She. chose to kind of try her best to blend. back into her community and avoid the. spotlight, only occasionally giving. interviews. Like John, she was flooded. with offers from countless news outlets. and a lot of companies, including a $1. million offer to pose for Playboy, which. she turned down. She returned to her job. at the nail salon, and a few months.

later, she met a man named uh Dave. Bellinger, and they quickly fell in. love. They were married, and today they. have a daughter. Lena said, "Before when. I was young, when I was married, I was. really uh naive and young. I didn't know. what I wanted. He's my best friend and. he's a good father." Referring to her. new husband. >> As for the different approach to her uh. to life her ex-husband took after this. and after the trials, Lena said that she. was disappointed and frustrated with. John. She said 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, he's. wrong. >> Yeah. Over the years, she says that. she's learned to make peace with the. past, and she accepts that there will. always be people who recognize her for. this one moment in her life. But she. does continue to speak out on behalf of. domestic violence survivors. And she. says she hopes to open a shelter for. women in need someday, like she was. three decades ago. >> When she was asked about how she feels. about everything that happened in. general, she was surprisingly pragmatic.

She said, "I'll put myself through the. jokes and everything as long as I can. shine a light on domestic violence and. sexual assault and marital rape." Damn. And that [snorts] is the story of Lena. and John Bobbit. Wow. It's a wild case. Like when you really break it down, what. happened is tragic. It's tragic that she. was abused in her marriage, that things. got physically aggressive, quote. unquote, or. >> yeah, >> physical in any way. And it's tragic. that she got to the point where she felt.

the need to sever her husband's penis. It's just so tragic. Their whole. marriage stories and what happened is so. tragic. >> What happened before, what happened. during, what happened after is all. bizarre and tragic. >> cuz that affects you for the rest of. your life. I mean, >> absolutely. >> People are going to talk about this. story until the end of time. >> Yeah. Exactly. >> But what a case. >> I'm glad she is turning it into. something positive. >> Yeah. by like advocating. >> for domestic survivors. Yeah,

absolutely. >> So like good for good for Lena for. turning it around. >> You want to see like you know reform I. guess to some degree and she served her. time in the hospital and then she turned. her life around. So. >> and now she's paying it forward. >> and she's not ever been violent again. with anybody else. So obviously. >> Yeah, >> she's doing a good job. Yeah, it's like, hey, advocating for people who are going. through domestic violence and rape. survivors is a honorable thing. >> Absolutely.

>> Fun fact. >> Yes. >> Fun fact, >> please. >> Mine or yours? >> Lord, I'll find a fun fact. >> Okay. >> So, this is a scary fun fact. >> Oh, you love that. >> I do. Have you ever heard of Point Nemo? >> Point Nemo? I feel like I have heard of. that. Point Nemo in the Pacific Ocean is. the farthest place from land that we. have on Earth. >> Okay? >> It is closer, if you are there, you are. closer to the astronauts on the. International Space Station than you are.

to any human on land. I hate that. >> Yeah. Do people like sail to Point Nemo? I don't know what people do with Point. Nemo. >> Do people go to Point Have Have you been. to there, listener? >> Let's look. >> That's [ __ ]. >> Yeah, >> it's very rare that people go to Point. Nemo, I would imagine. >> But like they must know like somebody's. been there cuz they know what extreme. explorers, like scientists, like all.

those people. Oh, >> that's so. terrifying. Point Nemo is the scariest. place on Earth. >> Apparently, it's used as a spacecraft. cemetery. Oh yeah, that makes sense. >> Defunct satellites, cargo vessels, and. retired space stations are deliberately. steered into the atmosphere above this. region so that any surviving debris. harmlessly crashes it into the deep. ocean well away from human populations. >> That makes sense. >> I want to learn everything about now.

>> It's going to become a new. hyperfixation. So, >> I don't know how fun that was, but. >> yeah, it's cool though. >> You know what? I should do fun facts and. you should do [ __ ] facts. >> Scary facts. Yeah, [laughter]. >> maybe we'll do that. >> So, we'll say fun facts and then I'll. say [ __ ] facts. >> [ __ ] facts. [laughter]. >> I think that's a good. >> You have to be You have to make sure you. pronounce the ed. >> [ __ ] facts. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Well, we hope you keep listening for. that. >> Yeah. And we hope you. >> keep it weird, but not so weird that you. go to Point Nemo. I don't I don't I.

don't know. But someone go there. >> Somebody keep it that weird, but like. not too many people cuz it sounds scary. [music]. Bye. Heat. Heat. [music]. [music]. [music].

Heat. Heat. [music]. [music]. [music]. Hey, hey, hey. [music].

[music]. [music]. >> [music]. [music].