The Murder of Christine Schultz

For today’s case, I watched an episode of Vanity Fair Confidential, it’s season 4 episode 3, titled ‘Was Bambi Framed?’ I decided to pick this case because it took place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and I was born and raised in Wisconsin. Wisconsin is one of the those states that is not often talked about in true crime or pop culture, so whenever it’s mentioned I have to research the event.

Background

There are many people involved in today’s case, but the two most important people are Christine Schultz, the victim and Laurie Bembenek, and you will see why she’s important as this case is discussed.

Christine Schultz was a 3o year old mother of two young boys when she was killed. She had recently gotten divorced from Elfred ‘Fred’ Schultz, who was a Milwaukee police officer. Fred would go on to marry Laurie.

Lawrencia ‘Laurie’ Bambenek was a 22 year old at the time of the murder. She was a former police officer herself, but only worked for about 4 months until she was fired. It was alleged that Laurie was caught smoking marijuana while being out with a friend, which she denied. She then got a job as a waitress as the Playboy Club in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, which is where she met Fred.

Fred was ten years older than Laurie, but they got married in January 1981, only 2 months after meeting. However, their marriage would not last long at all.

The Murder of Christine

On May 28, 1981, around 2am, Christine’s eleven year old son, Sean, called a family friend. He said “mommy’s been shot,” and went on to describe the killer. He said the killer was wearing a green suit, black shoes and had a reddish colored ponytail.

*The home in Milwaukee, WI where Christine Schultz was killed*

Christine was found dead on her bed, laying on her back. She was shot in the back that went into her heart, and had been shot with a .38 caliber pistol. She was also bound with rope and gaged with a handkerchief.

Fred Schultz was the police’s first suspect. Fred, being a police officer himself, said he was on duty that night. He was on duty, but at a bar drinking on the job with his partner. The police also took his service weapon and off duty weapon to be tested.

His off duty weapon came back as being the murder weapon. Fred said he wasn’t the only one who had access to that gun, and that his wife Laurie also could have taken it.

Laurie was arrested on June 24, 1981. The police claimed she did have access to it, and had somehow gotten a spare key that Fred had to get into Christine’s house.

Trial and Conviction

Laurie’s trial was a media sensation. Laurie was given the nickname ‘Bambi,’ and her looks were constantly the talk of the media. She was also called a ‘femme fatale’ and was also criticized for being icy and showing no emotion at trial.

The prosecution said that her motive was money, and that she killed Christine so that Fred didn’t have to pay half of his paycheck for alimony.

There was also evidence found at the scene, blonde hairs found in the handkerchief and blood on the gun.

However, Christine’s son, Sean, testified that Laurie was not the killer. He knew Laurie, and the person he described was much taller and more muscular.

Despite their being an eyewitness that said it was not Laurie, the prosecution also said the reddish wig was found in Laurie’s toilet, like she tried getting rid of the evidence and that Laurie owned the clothing items matching the killer’s disguise.

On March 9, 1982, Laurie was found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.

Was Laurie Framed?

After Laurie was convicted, Fred filed for divorce and now claimed she was “guilty as sin.” He also wrote her a note saying goodbye and good luck. Ouch.

Laurie claimed that Fred and the Milwaukee police department framed her for this murder. She claimed Fred hired another man named Fred Horenberger to kill Christine, and to frame her.

In a weird coincidence, Fred broke into Laurie’s friend, Judy’s house 35 days after Christine’s murder, wearing the same disguise as Christine’s killer did. He was convicted and sentenced to 10 years for this crime.

Horenberger committed suicide in 1991, and claimed he didn't kill Christine. After this some stranger things about this case came to light. The original medical examiner wrote in her original notes that she found no blonde hairs at the scene, despite it being in the evidence at trial. She stated in a letter that was published in 1991 by the Toronto Star:

“I recovered no blonde or red hairs of any length or texture ... [A]ll of the hairs I recovered from the body were brown and were grossly identical to the hair of the victim ... [I] do not like to suggest that evidence was altered in any way, but I can find no logical explanation for what amounted to the appearance of blonde hair in an envelope that contained no such hair at the time it was sealed by me.”

A witness, a neighbor of Laurie’s, came forward and said that Laurie’s friend, Judy, had used Laurie’s bathroom the day before the wig was found. I think the neighbor was suggesting that Judy could also have tried to frame Laurie.

Laurie just wanted to be free, and soon she’d get her wish.

Laurie’s Escape

Laurie met a man named Dominic Guglietti, who was the brother of her cellmate. Laurie and Dominic hit it off right away, and started exchanging letters and calls. Dominic was interviewed in this episode, and he stated that day Laurie asked if he would help her escape and he agreed.

On July 15, 1990, Laurie went through a window in the basement laundry room. While she was going over the fence, she cut her leg, but was able to run to Dominic’s car. They first went to Wauwautosa, Wisconsin and then went to Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.

Laurie was able to find work while on the run, by going by the name ‘Jennifer Gazzana,’ she worked as a waitress and fitness instructor.

Their freedom wouldn’t last too long. They were both arrested on October 17, 1990, after a witness recognized Laurie from America’s Most Wanted.

Laurie stopped talking to Dominic, and he said that she had used him and appeared to be really sad about it. Laurie was kept in Canada, and claimed that she was being persecuted by a conspiracy theory between the police and judicial system in Wisconsin. She won a new trial because the police had made several mistakes.

Laurie’s Release and Life After Prison

Laurie was taken back to the U.S. on April 22, 1991. On December 9, 1992, a hearing was held and Laurie was able to plead no contest on second degree murder charges and was released after serving 10 years.

Laurie struggled after prison. She was arrested again for possession of marijuana and admitted to being an alcoholic.

She was also unable to clear her name. In April 2008, Laurie filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse her murder conviction. Her attorney said that they had missed evidence at her trial that showed the killer was male. There was semen found, showing that Christine had been sexually assaulted, and Christine’s sons said that it was a man who killed Christine, not Laurie. Her appeal was denied in June 2008.

Laurie would never clear her name, because she died on November 20, 2010 from a liver and kidney failure. She was 52 years old.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I think if Laurie was framed, then it was her husband and someone he hired who plotted it. I do think she’s innocent, and shouldn’t have been convicted for Christine’s murder. The Milwaukee police still refuse to this day to try to find the real killer. They said and this is information from the episode that they still think Laurie was the killer, and should have spent more time in prison.

Christine is the real victim in all of this. I was able to find one picture of her online, and everything was about Laurie. Christine should not be forgotten about. The police should be testing the male DNA evidence, especially when the DNA testing has improved since the 80’s. That’s my personal opinion, but it seems like they just don’t care about Christine’s case anymore. Christine’s sons are also victims, they deserve answers if that’s what they want today.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurie_Bembenek

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/laurie-bembenek-ex-bunny-and-convict-dies/

http://murderpedia.org/female.B/b/bembenek-laurie.htm

http://archive.jsonline.com/news/obituaries/109696054.html