Soon after, Lorena was taken into custody and charged with malicious wounding. Her trial played out for weeks on television.

Lorena's defense team argued temporary insanity and claimed she was the victim of long-term physical and emotional abuse. "In her mind, it was his penis from which she could not escape which caused her the most pain. The most fear. The most humiliation," Lorena's lawyer said.

During the trial, Lorena also testified that she didn't remember cutting off John's penis. Eventually, the jury found Lorena not guilty by reason of insanity.