Ep 4. Laurie 'Bambi' Bembenek

Murder Made Me Famous season 5 episode 4 delves into the fascinating case of Laurie 'Bambi' Bembenek, a former Playboy model turned police officer who was convicted of murdering her husband's ex-wife in the city of Milwaukee. The episode explores the events leading up to the crime, the sensational trial that ensued, and the controversies surrounding Bembenek's guilt or innocence.

Bembenek's story begins with her rise to fame as a model and actress, which eventually led her to pursue a career in law enforcement. After joining the Milwaukee Police Department, Bembenek quickly made a name for herself as a tough and ambitious officer who wasn't afraid to go after criminals. However, her career was cut short when she was accused of stealing a fellow officer's gun and, after a tumultuous hearing, fired from the force.

Shortly thereafter, Bembenek's husband, a fellow police officer named Fred Schultz, became embroiled in a bitter custody battle with his ex-wife, Christine Schultz. Bembenek had reportedly grown resentful of Christine, whom she believed was keeping her husband from spending enough time with their children. On the night of June 29, 1981, Christine was found dead in her home, and Bembenek became the prime suspect in the investigation.

The trial that followed was a media frenzy, with Bembenek becoming known as the 'Bambi Killer' in the headlines. The prosecution argued that Bembenek had staged a break-in at Christine's home in order to kill her and that she had fled the scene wearing a wig and carrying a bag of incriminating evidence. Meanwhile, Bembenek's defense team argued that the evidence against her was flimsy and circumstantial, and that she had been framed by police who held a grudge against her.

Despite the doubts surrounding her guilt, Bembenek was ultimately convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. Her case became a cause célèbre, with supporters arguing that she had been railroaded by a biased system and that her conviction had been based on nothing more than conjecture and hearsay.

As the years went on, Bembenek's case continued to make headlines, with several appeals and even a made-for-TV movie further fueling the controversy. In 1990, Bembenek escaped from prison and fled to Canada, where she lived for several months before being captured and extradited back to the U.S. She was eventually released from prison in 1992, after striking a deal with prosecutors that allowed her to plead no contest to second-degree murder in exchange for a reduced sentence.

Despite her release, Bembenek's case continued to be a source of fascination for many, with debates about her guilt or innocence continuing to this day. Murder Made Me Famous season 5 episode 4 provides a thought-provoking look at this complex and controversial case, exploring the many factors that contributed to Bembenek's rise to fame, her fall from grace, and the ongoing debates about her role in one of Milwaukee's most notorious crimes.