The Murder of Laurie Show
This case is going to be a little bit shorter today, I have some amazing things coming up next week on my new podcast!!!
Laurie Show was only 16 years old when she was brutally murdered, all because of a past relationship and jealousy. I’ve also seen the USA channel movie, The Stalking of Laurie Show. It’s terrible acting, but if you want to see a made for TV movie about the case, then I recommend it.
Background
I couldn’t find too much information of Laurie’s background, but she was 16 years old and a sophomore at Conestoga Valley High School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Laurie also lived with her mom, Hazel, and unfortunately, Hazel had to be the one to find her daughter dead. I can’t even imagine what that was like for her, and how it has affected her today.
Laurie
Stalking
Michelle Lambert, one of the perpetrators, stalked Laurie before her murder. Michelle and Laurie had both dated a boy named Lawrence “Butch” Yunkin, who was 20 years old “bad boy.” Actually, Laurie only went on a few dates with Butch, because he went back to Michelle. Michelle was pregnant with Butch’s child.
Michelle
Butch Yunkin
Michelle would even go to where Laurie worked, and threaten her. (Sound familiar, just like my case from yesterday). A witness would eventually come forward and say that they even heard Michelle say that she wanted to “scare” Laurie, “hurt her and slit her throat.”
Murder
On December 20, 1991, Hazel, found her daughter close to death in their home. Laurie died from a 5 inch gash in her throat, a stab wound that punctured her lung, a wound that just grazed her spine and several wounds to her head. Laurie also had defense wounds, so she tried to fight back.
Laurie was able to tell her mom who did before she died, and that it was Michelle. Michelle and the others also made a fake phone call to Hazel to get her out of the house.
Arrests and Trial
Michelle Lambert, Butch Yunkin and a friend of Michelle’s named Tabitha Buck were all arrested the same day at a bowling alley.
Yunkin said he had dropped off the girls at Laurie’s, and wasn’t involved in the murder. He did admit to helping the girls dispose of evidence, but said Laurie wasn’t supposed to die. He had thought that the girls were going to just cut Laurie’s hair.
Michelle said that Yunkin was abusive, and wanted her to kill Laurie. Laurie also told her mom once that Yunkin raped her, so it’s believable that he was an abusive asshole. However, I 100% believe Michelle was the mastermind.
The trial began in 1992. Yunkin testified against Michelle for a sentence of 7 years. However, he lied on the stand and was found guilty of third degree murder and sentenced to 10-20 years.
On July 20, 1992, Michelle Lambert was found guilty of first degree murder and criminal conspiracy.
Tabitha Buck testified that she got Laurie to open up the door that day and that she sat on Laurie’s legs, while Michelle slit her throat. She was found guilty of second degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Michelle Lambert’s Claims
Michelle would later try to claim her innocence by putting the blame on several people.
In 1997, Michelle filed a habeas corpus letter claiming prosecutorial abuse. She also said she was framed by the Lancaster police, in order to silence her for coming forward with charges on gang rape.
In 1998, she said that she wasn't the one that slit Laurie’s throat and that it was actually Yunkin. She said Yunkin wanted Laurie dead after she accused him of rape.
In August 1998, Michelle’s verdict was upheld in her re-trial. It was stated that “she would still be found guilty of first degree murder,” even if the judge “believed her story.”
Other
Hazel Show started campaigning for stronger anti-stalking laws in Pennsylvania. New laws were in effect in 1993.
In 2007, Michelle was again in court after accusing a guard of rape. She said she was assaulted in 1996. The guard was sentenced to 1.5-3 years in prison and Michelle received a settlement of $35,000.
Tabitha Buck was granted parole on December 21, 2019.
Tabitha, then and now
Michelle strikes again! She wrote a book in prison, called Love, Murder and Corruption in Lancaster County: My Story, it was published in February 2016. It has mixed reviews on Amazon, one review saying that Michelle lied throughout her whole book, which I find credible.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I think Michelle is a liar. She blames everyone under the sun for murdering Laurie and raping her. I do think Michelle was abused by Yunkin, HOWEVER, I think that Michelle was also obsessed with him and didn’t want to let go.
I hope Hazel has some peace now, but I can’t even imagine what that day was like for her and even years later, how it has affected her. She has fought for her daughter’s legacy and for that she is so brave. I hope Michelle never gets out of prison, because I think she would kill and manipulate again.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Laurie_Show
