Evanka Franjko is best known as the wife of Joey Buttafuoco, a former auto body shop owner who became a major media figure after the Amy Fisher case in the early 1990s.
Evanka has Croatian roots and met Joey through his auto body business in Southern California. They married on March 5, 2005. She filed for divorce in 2007 but later withdrew the filing. As of 2026, they remain married and live in the Los Angeles area.
Unlike her husband, Evanka has kept most details about her early life, career, and family private.
Evanka Franjko’s Profile Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Evanka Franjko |
| Married name | Evanka Franjko Buttafuoco |
| Date of birth | Not reliably confirmed |
| Age | Not reliably confirmed |
| Origin | Croatian |
| Current residence | Los Angeles area, California |
| Known for | Being Joey Buttafuoco’s wife |
| Husband | Joey Buttafuoco |
| Marriage date | March 5, 2005 |
| Children with Joey | None |
| Stepchildren | Jessica and Paul |
| Profession | Not publicly confirmed |
| Net worth | Not reliably known |
| Social media | No widely verified active public account |
Where Is Evanka Franjko From?
Evanka has Croatian roots.
One secondary source reports that she was born in Croatia. However, the newer available source only confirms her Croatian background and does not give an exact birthplace.
Her exact hometown has not been publicly confirmed.
How Old Is Evanka Franjko?
Evanka’s exact age and date of birth are not reliably confirmed.
One secondary source reports that she was born on March 24, 1962. If correct, she would be 64 years old in 2026.
However, a newer biography says Evanka has kept her age and birthday private. The March 24, 1962 date should therefore be treated as an unconfirmed report.
Evanka Franjko’s Early Life and Family
Very little is publicly known about Evanka’s early life.
The names of her parents have not been reliably reported.
One secondary biography says she has a brother named Frank Franjko, but this detail is not confirmed by the newer available source.
There is also little reliable information about her childhood in Croatia.
Evanka Franjko’s Education
Evanka’s education is not firmly established.
One secondary source claims she attended high school in Croatia and later graduated from California State University, Northridge.
However, it does not provide her degree, major, or graduation year. The newer source does not mention this education history.
Her reported attendance at California State University, Northridge should therefore be treated as unconfirmed.
What Does Evanka Franjko Do for a Living?
Evanka’s profession has not been publicly confirmed.
One source describes her simply as employed but does not name her job, employer, or industry.
There is no reliable public information showing that she has a career in acting, television, business, or another specific field.
How Did Evanka Franjko Meet Joey Buttafuoco?
Evanka reportedly met Joey Buttafuoco when she took her car to his auto body shop in Southern California for repairs.
The exact year they met is unclear. One report says they began dating in the early 2000s.
During a 2015 appearance on Crime Watch Daily, Joey said Evanka had a major positive influence on his life.
Evanka also explained that Joey had been honest with her about his controversial past. She said she listened to his story and understood that his life had been affected by pain and difficult events.
When Did Evanka Franjko and Joey Buttafuoco Get Married?
Evanka and Joey married on March 5, 2005.
Joey had previously been married to Mary Jo Buttafuoco. Their divorce was finalized in 2003.
Evanka became Joey’s second wife about two years later.
As of March 2026, Evanka and Joey had been married for 21 years.
Evanka Franjko Filed for Divorce in 2007
Evanka and Joey nearly ended their marriage after about two years.
In May 2007, Evanka filed for divorce at Los Angeles Superior Court.
She reportedly cited irreconcilable differences.
Media reports speculated that Joey’s renewed communication with Amy Fisher may have contributed to problems in the marriage. However, that claim was speculation and was not established as the official reason for the divorce filing.
Why Did Evanka Withdraw the Divorce?
Evanka withdrew her divorce filing a little more than a month later.
The marriage therefore continued.
The available information does not provide a detailed public explanation from Evanka about exactly why she decided to withdraw the filing.
She and Joey remained together for the years that followed.
Are Evanka Franjko and Joey Buttafuoco Still Together?
Yes, according to the latest available information.
The couple celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary in March 2026.
They are reported to be long-term residents of the Los Angeles area.
Both now maintain a much quieter public life than during Joey’s years of heavy media attention.
Was Evanka Franjko Married Before Joey?
One secondary source claims Evanka was previously married to a man named Andrew Torchon during the 1990s.
It reports that the marriage ended in 1998.
However, the newer detailed biography of Evanka does not mention this marriage.
There is not enough reliable information to present Andrew Torchon as her confirmed former husband.
Does Evanka Franjko Have a Son Named Nick Torchon?
One source claims Evanka had a son named Nick Torchon, reportedly born on April 28, 1994.
However, the same source contains conflicting information about whether Evanka had a child from that reported marriage.
The newer source does not mention Nick.
Because of these conflicts, Nick Torchon should not be described as Evanka’s confirmed son without stronger evidence.
Does Evanka Franjko Have Children With Joey?
Evanka and Joey do not have children together, according to the newer available source.
Joey has two children from his first marriage to Mary Jo:
- Jessica “Jessie” Buttafuoco
- Paul
Evanka became their stepmother through her marriage to Joey.
Who Is Joey Buttafuoco?
Joey Buttafuoco is a former auto body shop owner from Massapequa, Long Island, New York.
He became nationally known during the early 1990s because of his relationship with teenager Amy Fisher while he was married to Mary Jo Buttafuoco.
Joey later moved to California and made appearances in film and television.
Productions associated with him include Celebrity, Finding Forrester, The Underground Comedy Movie, The Godson, Mafia Movie Madness, and Operation Repo.
He also made television and radio appearances.
Joey Buttafuoco’s Auto Body Business
Joey worked in the auto body business for many years.
He previously worked alongside his father.
His auto repair business also played an important part in how he met both Amy Fisher and, years later, Evanka.
According to the supplied information, Joey left the auto body trade after pleading guilty to insurance fraud in March 2004.
Joey Buttafuoco and Amy Fisher
Joey’s name became widely known because of Amy Fisher.
According to published reports, Joey began a sexual relationship with Fisher in 1991 when she was a teenager and he was a married adult.
Fisher had reportedly met Joey through his auto body shop on Long Island.
On May 19, 1992, Fisher went to the Buttafuoco family home in Massapequa and confronted Joey’s wife, Mary Jo.
Fisher then shot Mary Jo in the head.
Mary Jo survived but was left with serious long-term injuries, including partial facial paralysis and hearing loss in one ear.
What Happened to Amy Fisher?
Amy Fisher faced criminal charges after the shooting.
She eventually pleaded guilty to first-degree aggravated assault and was sentenced to 5 to 15 years in prison in December 1992.
She was released on parole in May 1999 after serving nearly seven years.
The case received extensive national media coverage.
It also inspired the 1993 television movie The Amy Fisher Story, starring Drew Barrymore.
Joey Buttafuoco’s Legal Case
Joey also faced criminal consequences connected with his relationship with Fisher.
The supplied source says he served about four months in jail and received five years of probation.
His legal history remained an important part of his public image when he later met Evanka.
Who Is Mary Jo Buttafuoco?
Mary Jo Buttafuoco, also known as Mary Jo Connery, is Joey’s first wife.
She survived Amy Fisher’s 1992 shooting.
Mary Jo remained married to Joey for years after the attack. Their marriage eventually ended, with their divorce finalized in 2003.
She later became an author and motivational speaker.
In 2009, she published the memoir Getting It Through My Thick Skull: Why I Stayed, What I Learned, and What Millions of People Involved with Sociopaths Need to Know.
She has also spoken publicly about trauma and her experiences.
Evanka’s Stepdaughter Jessica Buttafuoco
Jessica “Jessie” Buttafuoco is Joey and Mary Jo’s daughter.
She was born on March 29, 1983.
Jessica graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology.
She later worked in entertainment as a stage performer and children’s theatre producer.
She was also a co-host of the Shane & Friends podcast from 2016 to 2017.
Jessica later moved into the mental health field.
As of 2026, she was reported to be working as a registered associate marriage and family therapist while pursuing a doctorate in Media Psychology at Fielding Graduate University.
Evanka’s Stepson Paul
Paul is Joey and Mary Jo’s son.
According to published reports, he later stopped using the Buttafuoco surname.
He has generally avoided media attention.
Paul reportedly works in the auto body business.
A 2026 report said he continued to have contact with his father.
Where Does Evanka Franjko Live?
Evanka and Joey are reported to live in the Los Angeles area of California.
They have been long-term residents of the area.
Their exact current home is not publicly documented.
What Is Evanka Franjko Doing Now?
Evanka continues to maintain a private life.
As of 2026, she was still reported to be married to Joey and living in the Los Angeles area.
Her current profession, employer, and other daily activities are not publicly known.
Is Evanka Franjko on Instagram?
Evanka does not appear to have a widely verified, active public Instagram account.
One older secondary source mentions a Facebook presence but says the account had been inactive for years.
There is not enough reliable information to identify an official current social media profile for her.
Evanka Franjko’s Net Worth
Evanka Franjko’s personal net worth is not reliably known.
Her profession and income are not publicly documented, so there is no strong basis for estimating her wealth.
Some websites give financial estimates for Joey, but those figures should not be treated as Evanka’s personal net worth.
Things to Know About Evanka Franjko
- She is best known as Joey Buttafuoco’s second wife.
- Evanka reportedly met Joey through his auto body shop in Southern California.
- They married on March 5, 2005.
- Evanka filed for divorce in May 2007.
- She cited irreconcilable differences.
- She withdrew the divorce filing a little more than a month later.
- Evanka and Joey remained married as of 2026.
- They celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary in March 2026.
- The couple live in the Los Angeles area.
- Evanka and Joey do not have children together.
- Jessica and Paul are her stepchildren through Joey.
- She appeared with Joey on Crime Watch Daily in 2015.
- Evanka attended the Lingerie Bowl with Joey in 2006.
- She attended FilmOn Celebrity Fight Night with him in 2011.
- Her profession has not been publicly confirmed.
- Her personal net worth is not reliably known.
- Her education is not firmly established.
- Reports about a previous marriage to Andrew Torchon remain unconfirmed.
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