Mary Kay Letourneau was an American teacher who became infamous for having a sexual relationship with her 12-year-old student, Vili Fualaau, in the 1990s.
She was convicted of child rape and sentenced to seven and a half years in prison. She later married Fualaau and had two daughters with him, but they separated in 2019. She died of cancer in 2020.
File
- Full Name: Mary Katherine Schmitz Letourneau
- Nickname: Mary Kay
- Date of birth: January 30, 1962
- Age: Deceased (died at age 58)
- Gender: Female
- Place of birth: Tustin, California, United States
- Nationality: American
- Occupation: Former teacher, paralegal, hostess, DJ, artist
- Height: 5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
- Parents: John G. Schmitz and Mary E. Suehr
- Siblings: John P. Schmitz, Joseph E. Schmitz, Jerome T. Schmitz, Theresa Manion, Elizabeth Crnkovich, Philip Schmitz
- Spouse: Steve Letourneau (m. 1984, div. 1999), Vili Fualaau (m. 2005, 9/2019)
- Children: Steven Jr. Letourneau, Mary Claire Letourneau, Jacqueline Letourneau, Nicholas Letourneau (with Steve Letourneau), Audrey Fualaau and Georgia Fualaau (with Vili Fualaau)
- Relationship status: Divorced
- Net worth: $400,000
Early life and education
Mary Kay Letourneau was born on January 30, 1962, in Tustin, California, to John G. Schmitz and Mary E. Suehr.
She is the fourth of seven children. Her father is a former politician and member of the John Birch Society, a far-right organization. Her mother is a former chemist.
She grew up in a conservative Catholic family. She attended Cornelia Connelly High School, an all-girls Catholic school in Anaheim, California, where she was a cheerleader. In 1984, she graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in education.
Personal life
Mary Kay Letourneau married Steve Letourneau, a school friend, in 1984. They have four children: Steven Jr., Mary Claire, Jacqueline, and Nicholas.
However, their marriage was troubled by financial problems and infidelity, and they moved to Seattle, Washington, in 1989, hoping for a fresh start.
Mary Kay Letourneau began teaching at Shorewood Elementary School in Burien, Washington, in 1989.
She met Vili Fualaau, a Samoan-American boy, in her second-grade class. She later taught him in sixth grade, when their sexual relationship began. She was 34, and the boy was 12 at the time.
She was arrested in 1997 after her husband discovered love letters between her and Fualaau. She pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree child rape and was sentenced to six months in prison, with three months suspended, and was banned from contacting Fualaau for life.
However, she violated the no-contact order and was caught with Fualaau in the car. She was sent back to prison for seven years.
She gave birth to Fualaau’s first daughter, Audrey, in 1997 while awaiting sentencing. She gave birth to his second daughter, Georgia, in 1998 while in prison. Fualaau’s mother gained custody of her daughter.
She was released from prison in 2004. Fualaau, then 21, petitioned the court to lift the no-contact order, which was granted. They married in 2005 in a ceremony attended by 200 guests and covered by the media.
She worked as a paralegal, a waitress, a DJ, and a painter after her release. She also co-wrote a book with Fualaau, titled Only One Crime, Love, which was published in France in 2006.
She has appeared in several documentaries and interviews about her case, such as Barbara Walters Presents American Scandals in 2015 and A&E’s Autobiography in 2018.
She and Fualaau separated in 2017, citing irreconcilable differences. They finalized their divorce in 2019 but remain friends and co-parents.
Career
Mary Kay Letourneau is a former teacher who taught at Shorewood Elementary School in Burien, Washington, from 1989 to 1997.
She is well-liked by students and colleagues and is known for her enthusiasm and creativity. She also volunteers with the school’s PTSA and coaches girls’ soccer.
However, her career was ruined by an illegal and immoral relationship with her student, Vili Fualaau, which led to her arrest, conviction, and imprisonment.
She lost her teaching license and registered as a sex offender. The Fualaau family also sued her for emotional distress and for negligence on the part of the Highline School District for breach of contract.
After her release from prison, she worked as a paralegal for her lawyer, Anne Bremner, who defended her in court. She also worked as a restaurant hostess, nightclub DJ, and painter.
She sold some of her paintings online and exhibited them at a local gallery. She also wrote a book with Fualaau, titled Only One Crime, Love, which was published in France in 2006.
Net worth
Mary Kay Letourneau’s net worth is estimated to be $400,000.
She earns most of her income from book sales, art sales, and media appearances.
Death
Mary Kay Letourneau died on July 6, 2020, at the age of 58, after months of battling stage 4 colon cancer.
She was surrounded by her children and her ex-husband, Vili Fualaau, who cared for her in her final days. She was cremated and her ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean.
Argumentative
Mary Kay Letourneau’s relationship with Vili Fualaau is one of the most controversial and scandalous teacher-student relationships in American history.
The public, the media, the legal system and the educational community have all strongly condemned and criticized her actions.
She was accused of abuse of power and authority, exploitation of vulnerable children and breach of trust and professional ethics. She was also found to be a threat to the safety and well-being of other children and students.
She faced legal consequences for her crime, such as prison time, probation, sex offender registration, and lawsuits. She also faced social consequences, such as ostracism, stigma, and harassment.
She lost her reputation, career, marriage, and freedom. She also faced psychological consequences, such as depression, anxiety, and guilt.
She defended her relationship with Fualaau, claiming that it was based on love and mutual consent. She said that she did not harm him but helped him overcome difficult circumstances and achieve his goals.
She said they were soul mates and would sacrifice everything for him. She also said she was not a pedophile but a victim of double standards and a biased system.
She and Fualaau tried to normalize their relationship after getting married but faced many challenges and difficulties. They struggled with financial problems, media scrutiny, family issues and personal differences.
They also faced criticism and skepticism from the public, who doubted the sincerity and longevity of their marriage. They eventually separated and divorced but remained friends and co-parents.
Social media
- Instagram: None
- Twitter: None
List of movies played
Mary Kay Letourneau has appeared in several documentaries and interviews about the case and her life, such as:
- American Scandals (1998) – Television Documentary
- All-American Girl: The Mary Kay Letourneau Story (2000) – TV Series
- Forbidden Love: Unashamed Stories of Lesbian Lives (2003) – Documentary
- Aftermath: The Mary Kay Letourneau Story (2005) – Television Documentary
- The Oprah Winfrey Show (2006) – Television talk show
