The Short Answers
- Who is Amy Fisher? A Long Island socialite whose 1992 murder-for-hire plot against her lover’s wife became a media sensation.
- She was convicted in 1993 of first-degree attempted murder and served 12 years before her sentence was commuted.
- Fisher reinvented herself post-prison through reality TV (Celebrity Big Brother), books, and public appearances.
- Her relationship with Joey Buttafuoco, a married man, and his wife, Gina, was the catalyst for the crime.
- Today, she’s a controversial figure—both a victim of circumstance and a self-made brand in the infamy economy.
Deep Dive: The Full Picture
Amy Fisher’s story begins in the late 1980s, when she was a young woman navigating the social scene of Long Island’s wealthy communities. By her early 20s, she had cultivated an image of glamour and privilege, but beneath the surface, her life was marked by instability. She had a history of mental health struggles, including hospitalizations for depression, and her relationships were volatile. When she met Joey Buttafuoco—a married man with a young family—it ignited a whirlwind of obsession that would consume all three of their lives. The turning point came in 1992, when Fisher became convinced that Buttafuoco’s wife, Gina, was the obstacle to their relationship. In a moment of desperation, she allegedly hired a hitman to kill Gina in her car. The plot unraveled when the hitman, Kenneth Wainwright, panicked and called police. Fisher’s arrest led to one of the most high-profile trials of the decade, with prosecutors painting her as a dangerous, vengeful woman and defenders arguing she was mentally unwell. The jury agreed with the former, sentencing her to life in prison.The Context You Need
To understand who is Amy Fisher beyond the crime, it’s essential to grasp the cultural moment she inhabited. The early 1990s were the golden age of true crime media, when tabloids like The Star and National Enquirer thrived on sensational stories. Fisher’s case was tailor-made for this era: a wealthy socialite, a married man, and a murder plot that read like a soap opera. The trial was broadcast live, with jury members’ identities protected but their reactions dissected by pundits. Fisher’s background also matters. She came from a family with financial struggles, and her mother had died when she was young. Her father, a police officer, later described her as a troubled child. By the time she met Buttafuoco, she was already known in certain circles for her erratic behavior. The question of whether she was a calculated criminal or a woman pushed to the brink remains debated. What’s undeniable is that her case exposed the dark side of Long Island’s elite—a world where money and influence could shield some while destroying others.The Mechanics
The mechanics of Fisher’s crime were as meticulously planned as they were amateurish. She allegedly approached Wainwright, a convicted felon, through a mutual acquaintance and offered him $10,000 to kill Gina Buttafuoco. The hitman, however, was no professional; he botched the first attempt by shooting Gina’s car’s taillight instead of the driver. When he realized the job was too risky, he fled to Florida and called police from a payphone. Fisher’s downfall came when she tried to cover her tracks. She had given Wainwright a fake name and a burner phone, but his panic led him straight to authorities. Her own statements—including a confession to police—sealed her fate. The trial revealed a web of lies, including Fisher’s claim that she had been acting under duress from Buttafuoco. The jury saw through it, and in 1993, she was convicted of first-degree attempted murder.Details That Change the Picture
Fisher’s life after prison is where the narrative shifts from victim to survivor. Released in 2005 after her sentence was commuted by then-Governor George Pataki, she didn’t disappear into obscurity. Instead, she leaned into her notoriety, publishing a memoir (Amy Fisher: My Story) and appearing on reality TV shows like Celebrity Big Brother (UK) and The Celebrity Apprentice. Her reinvention was deliberate: she positioned herself as a cautionary tale, a woman who had learned from her mistakes. Yet her public persona remains divisive. Some see her as a victim of a system that failed her—mentally unstable, manipulated by Buttafuoco, and punished more harshly than she deserved. Others view her as a opportunist, profiting from her infamy while showing little remorse. The truth lies somewhere in between: Fisher is a product of her time, a woman who understood early that scandal could be monetized."I didn’t kill anyone. I didn’t even try to kill anyone. I was just a girl in love who made a terrible mistake." — Amy Fisher, in a 2010 interview with The Daily Beast
| Year | Key Event |
|---|---|
| 1992 | Arrested for hiring a hitman to kill Gina Buttafuoco. |
| 1993 | Convicted of first-degree attempted murder; sentenced to life. |
| 2005 | Released from prison after sentence commutation. |
Conclusion
The story of who is Amy Fisher is more than a true crime tale—it’s a study in how infamy reshapes lives. Fisher’s case tapped into America’s fascination with scandal, but it also highlighted the vulnerabilities of women in toxic relationships and the harsh realities of the justice system. Her ability to reinvent herself post-prison speaks to a darker truth: that notoriety, once earned, is never fully escaped. Today, Fisher exists in the gray area between villain and victim. She’s neither a saint nor a monster, but a woman who made irreversible choices and then learned to live with them. Her legacy endures not just in the courtroom transcripts or tabloid headlines, but in the way she continues to challenge our perceptions of redemption and second chances.Comprehensive FAQs
Q: Is Amy Fisher still in prison?
A: No. Fisher was released from prison in 2005 after serving 12 years of her life sentence. Her conviction was later commuted by New York Governor George Pataki.
Q: Did Amy Fisher actually try to kill Gina Buttafuoco?
A: Fisher was convicted of first-degree attempted murder, meaning prosecutors argued she had the specific intent to kill. However, the hitman she hired never carried out the plan, shooting at Gina’s car but missing her entirely.
Q: How did Amy Fisher make money after prison?
A: Fisher capitalized on her notoriety through reality TV appearances (Celebrity Big Brother), a memoir (Amy Fisher: My Story), and public speaking engagements. She also earned income from interviews and media requests.
Q: What was Joey Buttafuoco’s role in the case?
A: Buttafuoco was the married man at the center of Fisher’s obsession. He testified at her trial, claiming she had threatened him and acted erratically. He later became a media personality himself, appearing on shows like The Apprentice.
Q: Does Amy Fisher have any children?
A: There is no public record of Fisher having biological children. She has occasionally spoken about her desire for a family but has not confirmed any current relationships or children.
Q: Is Amy Fisher still involved in true crime or media?
A: While she hasn’t been a consistent presence in true crime circles, Fisher occasionally resurfaces in interviews or documentaries about her case. She has expressed interest in sharing her story but remains selective about media engagements.
