The story of Lawrencia Lori Bembenek, often known by her nickname Bambi, remains one of the most polarizing criminal cases in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Born in 1958 to a religious family, she grew up listening to her father Joseph’s stories about police work and the corruption that eventually led him to leave the force. Lori was a charismatic and bold young woman who initially pursued a career in fashion management and worked as a model. She also spent a few weeks working as a waitress at a Playboy club, a detail that would later be used against her in the court of public opinion.
In 1980, Lori realized her dream of joining the Milwaukee Police Department. However, her time there was short and troubled. She reported witnessing harassment and corruption within the ranks. Only a month after being officially hired, she was fired. The official reason was an allegation by her friend Judy Zess that Lori had used marijuana at a concert. Lori believed her dismissal was actually an act of revenge by the department because she possessed photographs showing several officers partying naked.
By December 1980, Lori met Alfred Schultz, a police officer who was ten years older and separated from his wife, Christine. Their relationship moved incredibly fast, and they married in January 1981. The couple faced significant financial pressure because Alfred was paying alimony and the mortgage for the home where Christine lived with their two sons. Lori was reportedly frustrated by these expenses, which drained their income.
On May 28, 1981, tragedy occurred when an intruder broke into Christine Schultz’s home and shot her dead in front of her children. The boys described the killer as a man wearing a ski mask, a camouflage jacket, and sneakers. While Alfred was the first person suspected, he had an alibi for the night of the murder. The focus soon shifted to Lori. Investigators found Alfred’s off-duty pistol in their apartment, which matched the bullet that killed Christine. A red wig was also found in the building’s plumbing. Although some hair analysis appeared to link Lori to the scene, these methods were later criticized as unscientific and unreliable.
At her trial in 1982, the prosecution painted Lori as a cold materialist who wanted Christine dead to secure Alfred’s finances. Judy Zess gave damaging testimony, claiming Lori had planned the murder. Despite the children’s description of a male intruder, Lori was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
Lori never stopped fighting for her innocence. In July 1990, she famously escaped from prison through a laundry room window. Her escape sparked the slogan Run Bambi Run, and she became a folk hero to many who believed she was a victim of a corrupt police system. People wore masks with her face and t-shirts to show support. She was eventually captured in Canada three months later, but her case had gained international attention. Canadian authorities pressured the United States to review the evidence. In 1992, Lori was released under a plea agreement. While she was no longer in prison, her conviction was never fully overturned.
Later information suggested the real killer might have been Freddy Harenda, who was Judy Zess’s former boyfriend. Fellow inmates claimed Harenda confessed to killing Christine on Alfred Schultz’s orders for ten thousand dollars. It was also noted that Harenda had previously broken into Judy's home using a similar method and wearing a wig. Lori Bembenek spent her remaining years trying to clear her name completely while struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder and deteriorating health. She famously lost a leg after an injury sustained while trying to escape a room during a television appearance for the Dr. Phil show. She died in November 2010 from liver and kidney failure, still maintaining her innocence. Her life remains a tragic symbol of the complexities and potential flaws of the justice system.
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