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Published On: Tue, Jan 21st, 2014

This Day in History: 20 years ago Lorena Bobbitt found clinically insane

Twenty years ago today, the jury put and end to the Bobbitt case finding Lorena not guilty by reason of temporary insanity and sentenced to 45 days in a psychiatric hospital for cutting off her husband’s penis.

Even Weird Al Yankovic poked fun at the Bobbitts, here in the video 'Headline News'  YouTube screenshot

Even Weird Al Yankovic poked fun at the Bobbitts, here in the video ‘Headline News’ YouTube screenshot

The jokes were widespread as the John Wayne Bobbitt returned home after partying, demanded sex and when his wife refused, he raped her. Lorena then went into the kitchen where she saw a butcher knife on the counter. She replayed the incident in her mind as she picked up the knife.

Lorena went into the bedroom, cut off half of her husband’s penis, and fled the scene.

She threw the top of the penis in a field and then called 911.

“If someone had heard her scream, or if there had been some sort of bruising, that would have made more substantive evidence,” stated an unnamed juror on the rape case against John. Those charges were dismissed.

During Lorena’s trial, John had multiple versions of what had happened that evening in question, relating at various times to police and to the court that “they had not had sex, that Lorena had tried to initiate sex but he had been too tired, that they had had sex but he had slept through it, and that the sex had been consensual.”

Lorena was charged with malicious wounding. At trial defense psychiatrists claimed she was a battered wife suffering from depression and post traumatic stress disorder.

Doctor’s were able to reattach John’s penis.

Media attention surrounding the case resulted in national debate and also sparked a flurry of jokes, limericks, T-shirt slogans, and advertising gimmicks.

Today marks twenty years of those jokes.

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