Lawrencia Bembenek (born 1958) is a woman convicted of murdering her husband's ex-wife, Christine Schultz , on May 28, 1981. She has maintained her innocence.

Bembenek had been a police officer on the Milwaukee, Wisconsin police force who had been dismissed after she had testified against other officers for various illegal activities. Bembenek had also been a Playboy model. Schultz was the ex-wife of the man she was married to at the time and Lawrencia immediately came under suspicion after refusing to take a lie detector examination. Schultz was murdered by gunfire in her home. Her young son described the assailant as a masked figure in a green jogging suit. Bembenek's trial generated tremendous publicity due to her beauty and seductive wardrobe. The prosecution portrayed her as a loose woman addicted to expensive living who wanted Schultz dead. They claimed only she had the motive, means and opportunity to carry out the crime. They pointed out Laurie had serious financial problems. Witnesses testified Bembenek had spoke of killing Schultz. They even produced a witness who said Bembenek offered to pay him to carry out the murder! Bembenek owned a green jogging suit similar to the one described by Schultz's son. Police also found clothesline in her apartment that matched what was used to tie up the victims. Witnesses at the trial also said Laurie owned a blue bandanna, the kind used to gag the victim. The strongest evidence, however, were two human hairs found at the murder scene. These matched hairs that were taken from the hairbrush of the defendant. A wig found in the plumbing system of Bembenek's apartment matched fibers found at the murder scene. A boutique employee testifed that shortly before the murder, Laurie purchased such a wig. The gun used to kill Schultz was Bembeneck's husband's revolver. He was on duty the night of the murder and only she had access to this weapon. Laurie also had access to a key to Christine's house (there were no signs of a break-in, no valuables taken and Schultz had not been raped. This would seem to rule out a burglar). Bembeneck could not account for her whereabouts at this crucial time. She could provide no alibi at all. Many have said Bembeneck's cold attitude on the witness stand convinced many that her story was a lie. She did not seem to take the charges seriously. Her seductive dress and makeup also put off many on the jury. Bembenek was found guilty in March 1982 and sentenced to life in prison. She launched a massive campaign to convince the public of her innocence. In all fairness, Laurie was a model inmate highly respected by her fellow prisoners. She became one of the few convicted killers to ever earn a college degree.

In 1990, Bembenek escaped from prison with the help of a man she had been a "pen pal" with. She was apprehended in Canada after being shown on America's Most Wanted and returned to prison. Bembenek became something of a folk hero to many after her escape and there were even songs written about her. People went so far as to call her a modern day Joan of Arc. There was so much sympathy on the public's part, law enforcement officers reminded that harboring an escaped fugitive is also a crime. Perhaps due to massive public sympathy, Bembenek plead no contest and her sentence was commuted to time served. She was released from prison in November 1992 having only served a little over ten years.

Many have claimed that the massive amount of publicity prevented this woman from getting a fair trial, however others have said this does not mean she wasn't guilty. Bembenek has had various legal and personal problems since her release. She was arrested again on drug charges, filed for bankruptcy, developed hepatitis and other health problems and suffered the death of her parents. She also admits to being an alcoholic.

In a bizarre episode in 2002, Bembenek fell or jumped from a second story window breaking her leg so badly it had to be amputated. Bembenek claimed that she had been confined by handlers on the Dr. Phil show. Like so many other killers, Bembenek has continued to insist she is innocent and in recent years she and her supporters have called for DNA tests on evidence. The results, however, were inconclusive. This case was the inspiration for two television movies and various books and articles portraying this woman as the victim of a miscarriage of justice involving a sinister Oliver Stone-like conspiracy within the Milwaukee police department. It should be noted, however, that no court has ever formally cleared her of the charges and even her staunchest supporters have never come up with a "one-armed man" who could have been the real killer. The guilty verdict at trial still stands.

External links

"Bambi" Bembenek story on Court TV's Crime Library Article from Fox News about her 2002 fall and leg amputation