Woman on Trial: Bambi's Story by Lawrencia Bembenek

by Lawrencia Bembenek

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Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Tanya T · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was only 11 or 12 yrs old when the hype of this case hit all over the news. So when I found this book at my favorite used book store I grabbed it. Lawrencia Bembenek was a young woman who was a Milwaukee police officer for a short time but after complaining too much about the sexual harassment and discrimination against female officers she was fired from her job. She fought back with a lawsuit but shortly after met and married an older Milwaukee Police officer who had an ex wife and 2 children. I think Lawrencia "Laurie" was young and naive when she married Fred Schultz, he seemed to manipulate her and quite honestly I believe he married Laurie for the sole purpose of using her to get to his exwife. Fred hated his ex, was very angry about her getting the house he built in their divorce settlement, was angry about child support and alimony payments, her getting half his pension and that she was dating a fellow officer that he worked with. So it goes that Fred's ex winds up murdered in her home with her children present. Laurie ends up getting the blame after Fred makes sure he has a rock solid alibi and evidence is planted. Others gave false statements, Laurie still believed her attorneys and Fred were fighting for her. She was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Fred left her within 2 months of the trial and divorced her. Laurie did her best to survive prison and wait out her appeals.When all hope was exhausted she escaped with the help of her boyfriend ( a fellow inmates brother) to Canada. She was apprehended within 3 mths and that is where the book ends. I had to google the rest of her story....she was extradited back to Wisconsin after many months of trying to fight to stay in Canada. She ended up pleading " guilty" to the crime of murder only so that she could finally be free and to be able to be with her aging and ailing parents before their deaths.Laurie died in 2010 of liver failure. Her last years sounded very sad, with an amputated foot from an injury, diabetes, PTSD,anxiety and depression and drinking. I find it sad that she died still trying to prove her innocence. I've always thought her husband Fred Schultz hired someone to commit the murder and he's been free all these years.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It never ceases to amaze me to read books about things that happened during my lifetime. Maybe my education failed me, maybe I'm just naïve, but I'm always shocked to see how bad things were for women during my lifetime. I was about 11 years old when Lawrencia's trip through the justice system was happening. It shocks me how she was treated in the police academy. It shocks me to think that she was given the ultimate punishment, just for standing up for fair treatment. And it horrifies me that her then husband (who was probably the actual shooter, or had hired one) got off scot-free.

You can find Lawrencia's story everywhere...especially if you live in Wisconsin where it took place, but this is the first book I've seen written by her. I feel so badly for her, but yet, so proud of her for taking on the boys club (if you will) in an effort to make things better for women on the force. She didn't deserve the awful treatment she was given, but she refused to let it beat her.

Get a look inside the twisted justice system of the 80s in Milwaukee...and probably many places around the country. After you read it, there's no way you could still believe that "Bambi" was the killer.

[Laura Salopek · Rating 4 out of 5]

I searched for this book after seeing the musical of her story at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater. The oldest son Sean told everyone the murderer was a man in a green army jacket. Unimaginable how there could be so much corruption and deceit surrounding this murder. Laurie just couldn't catch a break. The police chief and judge at her trail were first class assholes. My husband Larry confirms that there was a ton of corruption in the Milwaukee Police Department at this time. (He grew up in Milwaukee)

[Craig Blois · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unfortunately this is a true story of a woman who faced a massive injustice. Falsely imprisoned for murder, the media had a field day with this former police officer, and (very short term) Playboy Bunny.
From pre-arrest life, to arrest, to her escape, re-capture, and eventual release this is a gripping book that is hard to set down.

RIP Lawrencia Bembenek

[Steve Pemberton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, I couldn't put it down.