Lawrencia Bembenek

Lawrencia (Laurie, "Bambi") Bembenek, 52, one of Bay View High School's most famous/infamous graduates, died last night.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel provides a summary of her life.

Milwaukee's longest running legal saga may have ended with the death last night of Lawrencia Bembenek.

Bembenek died about 7 p.m. Milwaukee time in Portland, Ore., where she was in hospice care, her sister, Colette Bembenek of South Milwaukee, said Sunday.

Bembenek, 52, who later changed her first name to Laurie, had been admitted to a hospital in recent days and then was transferred to a hospice, her sister said. Her health problems included hepatitis C and liver and kidney failure, Colette Bembenek said.

"It went real fast. I'm glad she didn't linger," Colette Bembenek said. "I knew it was inevitable that she probably would be expiring early in life."

Laurie Bembenek was the former Milwaukee police officer charged with killing her then-husband's ex-wife, Christine Schultz. She was convicted in 1982 and sentenced to life in prison, but that was far, far from the end of the story.

In 1990, with the help of fiancé Dominic Gugliatto, the brother of another inmate, she escaped from Taycheedah Correctional Institution. They were captured three months later in Thunder Bay, Ontario. More legal proceedings resulted in her pleading guilty to second-degree murder and being released on parole for time served.

...Laurie Bembenek continued to maintain her innocence for the rest of her life, repeatedly trying to clear her name. In recent developments, Bembenek applied for a pardon from the governor's office. That application was not complete, and no immediate review was planned, a spokesman for Gov. Jim Doyle said last week.

...Suddenly out of prison, she rode a new wave of celebrity. There were offers of limos and an expensive makeover. Her life became the stuff of movie and television versions. She appeared on talk shows, including a visit with Oprah Winfrey. Bembenek wrote a book - "Woman on Trial" published by HarperCollins - and tried to sell her paintings and give speeches.

...Her legal battle continued, with questions regarding ballistics and DNA, withheld evidence and who else might have done it. She won the right to have murder scene evidence tested for her DNA., but even that testing took a bizarre and unexpected twist in 2002. The "Dr. Phil" show agreed to conduct the expensive testing, with the results to be revealed on air.

The show's producers kept Bembenek in an apartment - with a body guard and videotaping - apparently to shield her from media reports about her case, said her attorney Mary L. Woehrer. Bembenek suffered a panic attack and flashback to prison confinement, and tried to climb out of window, Woehrer said.

She fell and badly injured her right foot, which later had to be amputated.

Her appeal efforts were not successful. Ira B. Robins, who worked as an investigator on her case and remained her friend, pursued the case for more than 20 years.

"We promised her dad on his deathbed that the family name would be cleared," Robins said in 2008. "We've got to do it."

Milwaukee's NBC affiliate, TMJ4, has devoted a significant portion of its recent 10:00 PM newscasts to the Bembenek story, campaigning for a pardon. It's been TMJ4's lead story.

Here's video from TMJ4.

More Video:

Mike Jacobs' recent interview with Laurie Bembenek

Part 1
Part 2
Raw Video

Video from WISN:

Laurie Bembenek Dies After Battle With Cancer
Battle To Prove Bembenek's Innocence After Her Death

This is a sad, sad story.

If justice evaded Bembenek in this life, it will be done in the next.

Rest in peace.
_________________

Ira Robins has set up a blog dedicated to proving that Laurie Bembenek was not guilty. On Tuesday, Robins plans to "begin releasing documents that show Bembenek was innocent."

The first post, 1:07 PM, November 21, 2010:

Out of respect to Laurie Bembenek, I will wait 48 hours before posting anything on this site.

Ira Robins
IraRobins@gmail.com

That was followed by this post, 6:54 PM, November 21, 2010:

This Blog is dedicated to Laurie Bembenek who passed on November 20, 2010. In her name, evidence of the corruption that permeates the Wisconsin Criminal Justice System and caused her false conviction and imprisonment will be exposed. It is hoped that the injustices she suffered will never again be endured by anyone else in the State of Wisconsin.

This Blog is also dedicated to Attorney Mary L. Woehrer who has worked tiredlessly in Laurie's behalf for over 2 decades.

_________________

Here are links to previous stories about Laurie Bembenek by WISN:

November 18, 2010: Bembenek Supporters Hope For Pardon
November 18, 2010: Laurie Bembenek In Hospice Care With Liver Cancer
June 15, 2004: Judge Delivers Major Blow To Laurie Bembenek
May 17, 2004: Milwaukee County Judge Cited For Drunken Driving
April 7, 2004: Bembenek Wants State To Pay For DNA Tests
March 30, 2004: Bembenek Wants Convicted Hit Man's DNA Tested
December 9, 2003: Bembenek Wins Courtroom Decision
October 23, 2003: Laurie Bembenek Asks Public For Help
August 28, 2003: More DNA Results Released In Bembenek Case
August 6, 2003: Laurie Bembenek Speaks To 12 News About Men, Mistakes
June 30, 2003: Bembenek's DNA Results Not Expected Until August
May 27, 2003: Bembenek's Legal Team Celebrates Ballistics Results
February 3, 2003: Laurie Bembenek's Father Dies
January 31, 2003: 12 News' Colleen Henry Tracks Down Bambi's Ex, Fred Schultz
December 17, 2002: Bembenek's Lawyer Files Motion For More Ballistic Tests
December 5, 2002: Supporters To Hold Rally For Laurie Bembenek
November 21, 2002: Bembenek Released From L.A. Hospital
November 18, 2002: Bembenek Tries To Escape From L.A. Hotel Room
November 11, 2002: The 'Secret Bembenek Files' Reveal New Details About Fred Schultz
November 8, 2002: The 'Secret Bembenek Files:' 12 News Finds 'Startling' Allegations
November 7, 2002: 12 News Reveals The 'Secret Bembenek Files'
October 21, 2002: Judge Allows Bembenek's Request For DNA Testing
October 4, 2002: Laurie Bembenek Returns To Milwaukee To Clear Her Name