1 00:00:00,805 --> 00:00:04,646 Laurie was the kind of beautiful woman that doesn't need makeup. 2 00:00:06,006 --> 00:00:08,085 She was tall and thin. 3 00:00:08,205 --> 00:00:11,765 Someone said that it resembles a deer. 4 00:00:13,045 --> 00:00:15,925 The Playboy bunnies were the unofficial Playboy mascot. 5 00:00:16,045 --> 00:00:18,045 She was absolutely perfect. 6 00:00:18,326 --> 00:00:22,165 Beauty was for Laurie a blessing but also a curse, 7 00:00:22,286 --> 00:00:25,445 which opened many doors, but he closed it. 8 00:00:27,125 --> 00:00:30,326 The Playboy Club seems like a safe place thanks to the security system, 9 00:00:30,525 --> 00:00:34,725 but outside the club, the Bunnies they are no longer protected by anyone. 10 00:00:37,366 --> 00:00:41,125 The policemen said that it was self-inflicted an altercation and the gun was fired. 11 00:00:42,565 --> 00:00:46,165 The crime made a big fuss. 12 00:00:46,286 --> 00:00:50,326 Like many others, I think it's a terrible mistake. 13 00:00:50,445 --> 00:00:54,286 A lot of people think it was a massive cover-up. 14 00:00:55,605 --> 00:00:59,125 The question is who is the perpetrator? 15 00:01:02,205 --> 00:01:05,646 MURDER IN THE WORLD OF PLAYBOY 16 00:01:12,085 --> 00:01:13,525 28 MAY 1981 MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN 17 00:01:13,646 --> 00:01:18,085 It was spring, one night common in Milwaukee. 18 00:01:18,286 --> 00:01:20,405 The weather was beginning to change. 19 00:01:21,605 --> 00:01:24,605 Back then, Milwaukee was a very quiet city. 20 00:01:34,686 --> 00:01:39,245 I know someone broke into the house. 21 00:01:46,966 --> 00:01:52,245 The intruder went into the bedroom, where an altercation took place. 22 00:01:54,805 --> 00:01:56,205 A shot was fired. 23 00:02:05,045 --> 00:02:08,165 Police came from all over and they littered the house. 24 00:02:11,245 --> 00:02:13,686 The crime scene was raided. 25 00:02:17,125 --> 00:02:20,845 The crime quickly caused a stir. 26 00:02:23,006 --> 00:02:26,006 Laurie Bembenek was Playboy Bunny. 27 00:02:26,725 --> 00:02:28,565 She was a police officer, 28 00:02:29,045 --> 00:02:31,725 she was young, tall, beautiful, 29 00:02:31,805 --> 00:02:34,805 and this is sometimes dangerous. 30 00:02:35,085 --> 00:02:37,805 Beauty can be dangerous. 31 00:02:37,925 --> 00:02:42,445 On the one hand, it attracts you, but on the other hand, it arouses jealousy. 32 00:02:43,606 --> 00:02:47,845 Being a Rabbit, you work alongside of many women, the competition appears, 33 00:02:47,966 --> 00:02:51,326 especially in an environment where beauty is appreciated. 34 00:02:51,445 --> 00:02:54,205 It's like in the movies, isn't it? 35 00:03:01,405 --> 00:03:03,125 My name is Joanne Shields. 36 00:03:03,205 --> 00:03:05,445 I was the best friend by Laurie Bembenek. 37 00:03:06,405 --> 00:03:10,006 Laurie and I grew up together in a working-class neighborhood. 38 00:03:10,085 --> 00:03:12,525 fathers worked and many mothers stayed at home. 39 00:03:12,606 --> 00:03:14,445 She was a very pretty girl. 40 00:03:15,286 --> 00:03:17,925 She was kind, generous, loving. 41 00:03:18,205 --> 00:03:22,366 He liked to hug you, to give hand with you, to pat you on the back. 42 00:03:22,885 --> 00:03:25,405 He helped you as he could. 43 00:03:26,326 --> 00:03:30,485 He always jumps in to help. She was a good friend. 44 00:03:32,205 --> 00:03:34,565 She was beautiful. 45 00:03:34,686 --> 00:03:36,686 Everyone turned their heads to Laurie. 46 00:03:36,765 --> 00:03:38,485 She was very tall. 47 00:03:39,686 --> 00:03:42,925 He had a lock of blond hair. 48 00:03:43,286 --> 00:03:45,045 She was thin, athletic. 49 00:03:45,245 --> 00:03:48,646 She was the kind of beautiful woman that doesn't need makeup. 50 00:03:49,205 --> 00:03:53,245 When I was in high school, Laurie used to go at modeling school. 51 00:03:54,006 --> 00:03:57,085 i remember that it appeared in the local paper. 52 00:03:57,165 --> 00:03:59,286 I was glad to open it the Milwaukee paper 53 00:03:59,366 --> 00:04:02,885 and see her in an advertisement. 54 00:04:08,405 --> 00:04:11,765 He posed for the calendar the Schlitz brewery. 55 00:04:12,326 --> 00:04:17,885 They made her sit on a couch and they took some pictures of him. 56 00:04:21,445 --> 00:04:24,045 He appeared in a beautiful picture, 57 00:04:24,606 --> 00:04:27,485 lying on stomach leaning on hands, 58 00:04:27,606 --> 00:04:30,165 with pearls around the neck and something low-cut. 59 00:04:31,006 --> 00:04:35,245 She had a white satin dress, she was lying on the couch. 60 00:04:35,405 --> 00:04:38,245 It was a great picture. like old Hollywood. 61 00:04:38,326 --> 00:04:40,525 Playboy's they would like this picture. 62 00:04:42,245 --> 00:04:45,286 He worked a lot. He did a bit of a fashion show. 63 00:04:45,405 --> 00:04:49,245 But he didn't like to appear on the podium, prefer commercials. 64 00:04:52,565 --> 00:04:55,326 Although Laurie was earning well from modelling, 65 00:04:55,405 --> 00:04:57,165 he wanted more from life. 66 00:04:58,366 --> 00:05:01,926 Laurie was aware of her beauty. 67 00:05:02,085 --> 00:05:06,805 He used it or not, depending on the position why did he get something like that. 68 00:05:06,926 --> 00:05:10,805 When you choose whether to model or appear in Playboy, 69 00:05:10,926 --> 00:05:16,165 means you are aware of how you look and how you are appreciated. 70 00:05:16,805 --> 00:05:21,006 Laurie liked to see and be seen. 71 00:05:24,445 --> 00:05:26,165 Laurie saw an ad 72 00:05:26,245 --> 00:05:29,805 in which women were encouraged to become police officers. 73 00:05:30,085 --> 00:05:32,085 Her father was a policeman. 74 00:05:32,405 --> 00:05:35,885 At that time, few women chose this job. 75 00:05:36,045 --> 00:05:40,245 She wanted to be among the first women who assumes this role. 76 00:05:40,366 --> 00:05:44,085 I think her whole story it is related to feminism. 77 00:05:46,405 --> 00:05:49,205 Laurie was very close by her father. 78 00:05:49,686 --> 00:05:53,885 He had left the police because of this big corruption, according to him. 79 00:05:54,245 --> 00:05:57,165 She wanted to be a police officer, to make her father proud of her. 80 00:05:57,245 --> 00:05:59,286 "I'm going to show her that she's not totally corrupt." 81 00:05:59,366 --> 00:06:02,686 "I will strive to be a good cop" 82 00:06:02,765 --> 00:06:04,966 "and I'm going to show him that not everyone is like that." 83 00:06:06,045 --> 00:06:07,606 The police department from Milwaukee 84 00:06:07,765 --> 00:06:10,326 it consisted mainly of men. 85 00:06:10,485 --> 00:06:15,765 The first woman went to the police in 1976, then others entered. 86 00:06:15,885 --> 00:06:20,286 But women were only 1 or 2% from the employees of the department. 87 00:06:20,765 --> 00:06:24,765 Laurie decided to go inside in the police in 1979. 88 00:06:25,045 --> 00:06:26,926 I was 20 or so years old. 89 00:06:27,006 --> 00:06:29,926 She was very proud to go at the police academy. 90 00:06:34,525 --> 00:06:40,125 I noticed it the first time when he came to sports class. 91 00:06:41,765 --> 00:06:44,165 She was a very attractive woman. 92 00:06:44,525 --> 00:06:46,606 She seemed confident to me. 93 00:06:46,805 --> 00:06:49,085 That was my first impression about her. 94 00:06:49,646 --> 00:06:51,606 It was an impressive career. 95 00:06:51,725 --> 00:06:53,966 When you're young, you always hear: 96 00:06:54,045 --> 00:06:57,286 "If you have problems, call the police." 97 00:06:58,165 --> 00:07:01,205 Laurie wanted to help rape victims, 98 00:07:01,366 --> 00:07:04,966 which were not treated with condescension, in her opinion. 99 00:07:09,085 --> 00:07:12,006 In the police department from Milwaukee there were only men. 100 00:07:13,085 --> 00:07:17,326 But when Laurie made the request to join the police 101 00:07:17,485 --> 00:07:20,765 they were obliged to hire more women. 102 00:07:22,765 --> 00:07:27,085 When Laurie enrolled in the academy, there were other women in her group. 103 00:07:29,286 --> 00:07:34,045 Judy Zess was also a colleague with Laurie at the academy. 104 00:07:34,485 --> 00:07:38,606 Judy Zess was a party girl, he wanted to have fun. 105 00:07:38,725 --> 00:07:41,725 She was a dynamic woman and charismatic. 106 00:07:42,485 --> 00:07:44,485 They became friends. 107 00:07:45,006 --> 00:07:49,966 I remember that in sports class they were sitting next to each other. 108 00:07:50,286 --> 00:07:55,326 They were talking. They seemed to understand each other very well. 109 00:07:55,725 --> 00:07:57,885 I think Judy liked it to stay with Laurie, 110 00:07:58,006 --> 00:08:00,045 because Laurie was getting a lot of attention. 111 00:08:00,326 --> 00:08:04,045 Who doesn't like to sit next to a woman beautiful that attracts men? 112 00:08:04,165 --> 00:08:07,725 Maybe a man will escape unconquered and she took him. 113 00:08:10,405 --> 00:08:13,165 In the police academy the life of women was very hard. 114 00:08:13,366 --> 00:08:16,926 They had to make an effort much larger than men. 115 00:08:18,125 --> 00:08:23,125 The men felt threatened by her. She was tall, muscular and fit. 116 00:08:23,525 --> 00:08:27,286 He could compare with men from a physical point of view. 117 00:08:27,405 --> 00:08:30,926 He could do everything they did, maybe even better than them. 118 00:08:32,326 --> 00:08:35,405 Imagine Laurie, who was in very good physical shape, 119 00:08:35,646 --> 00:08:39,686 how to run faster and more than all. 120 00:08:40,165 --> 00:08:41,565 She was a very good runner, 121 00:08:41,686 --> 00:08:44,445 but he ran like a deer with long legs. 122 00:08:45,405 --> 00:08:48,606 Someone said, "Look at her, as if she were a beautiful deer," 123 00:08:48,725 --> 00:08:50,765 "caught in the headlights." 124 00:08:50,885 --> 00:08:53,165 They nicknamed her Bambi. 125 00:08:53,765 --> 00:08:55,725 He didn't like that nickname at all. 126 00:08:56,205 --> 00:08:59,085 I think beauty can be dangerous. 127 00:08:59,205 --> 00:09:03,006 no matter what you say because you look a certain way. 128 00:09:03,686 --> 00:09:07,845 The world considers beauty it prevents you from advancing in your career. 129 00:09:10,765 --> 00:09:14,925 He studied very well, she finished sixth in her graduation. 130 00:09:15,045 --> 00:09:17,845 I remember him showing me graduation picture. 131 00:09:17,966 --> 00:09:20,565 It was nice. She was very proud of herself. 132 00:09:23,646 --> 00:09:29,045 After Laurie graduated from the academy of the police and began his apprenticeship, 133 00:09:29,165 --> 00:09:33,245 when you accompany another agent to learn how to handle the field, 134 00:09:33,366 --> 00:09:35,885 men didn't want to work with her, it was their "club". 135 00:09:37,125 --> 00:09:39,326 At that time, in the Milwaukee Police Department, 136 00:09:39,485 --> 00:09:42,366 if you were a woman, you were degraded. 137 00:09:43,045 --> 00:09:46,805 The men felt threatened not just by her presence, 138 00:09:47,045 --> 00:09:50,565 but also of intelligence, of strength and her personality. 139 00:09:51,445 --> 00:09:54,165 Laurie was young, tall and beautiful 140 00:09:54,286 --> 00:09:56,125 She was among the few women from the police, 141 00:09:56,606 --> 00:09:59,485 and this can be dangerous. 142 00:10:01,845 --> 00:10:04,565 MAY 1980 143 00:10:05,885 --> 00:10:08,926 Laurie told me that he went with Judy to a concert 144 00:10:09,045 --> 00:10:11,045 at the stadium in Milwaukee. 145 00:10:11,885 --> 00:10:13,885 Laurie went to the bathroom. 146 00:10:14,405 --> 00:10:18,885 When he returned, Judy was under arrest because he had smoked "weed". 147 00:10:20,725 --> 00:10:24,366 Some plainclothes policemen they arrested Judy. 148 00:10:28,326 --> 00:10:31,405 Two days later, Laurie reported for duty. 149 00:10:32,525 --> 00:10:37,926 As we all know, life it doesn't always go the way we want it to. 150 00:10:39,286 --> 00:10:43,006 When she asked where she was assigned, he was told 151 00:10:43,885 --> 00:10:46,125 that she was fired. 152 00:10:52,286 --> 00:10:55,125 MAY 1980 153 00:10:56,445 --> 00:10:58,525 After the Judy Zess incident, 154 00:11:00,286 --> 00:11:04,966 Laurie was kicked out of the police force. 155 00:11:07,006 --> 00:11:10,885 The police said that Laurie didn't report Judy 156 00:11:11,006 --> 00:11:15,726 that he smoked marijuana Go to the concert, therefore, he violated the regulation. 157 00:11:17,646 --> 00:11:20,606 It's hard to get kicked out from any service, 158 00:11:21,205 --> 00:11:26,366 especially when you're in your 20s and you are at the beginning of the road. 159 00:11:28,086 --> 00:11:32,326 He worked a lot to finish the academy 160 00:11:32,805 --> 00:11:36,845 and work in a field dominated by men. 161 00:11:37,565 --> 00:11:41,445 But it was enough for him to escape by a woman from the police. 162 00:11:42,406 --> 00:11:45,086 The police department of Milwaukee was an exclusive "club", 163 00:11:45,205 --> 00:11:47,165 driven only by men. 164 00:11:48,165 --> 00:11:51,046 In the 70s, men couldn't stand it 165 00:11:51,445 --> 00:11:54,445 for a woman to work in this field. 166 00:11:54,565 --> 00:11:55,966 They didn't like it. 167 00:11:56,966 --> 00:11:59,726 I think their wives they felt threatened 168 00:11:59,845 --> 00:12:03,766 because their men would have commented about how beautiful Laurie was. 169 00:12:06,646 --> 00:12:09,565 When he lost his job, Laurie suffered, 170 00:12:09,686 --> 00:12:13,006 because he believed that he will do this all his life. 171 00:12:13,646 --> 00:12:17,525 I think it was very frustrating to Laurie for going through so much 172 00:12:17,606 --> 00:12:23,006 to become a police officer, at such a young age 173 00:12:23,286 --> 00:12:27,445 and give up, because her friend he did something bad. 174 00:12:28,485 --> 00:12:31,086 Laurie needed money 175 00:12:31,165 --> 00:12:33,885 back then being in a difficult situation. 176 00:12:34,525 --> 00:12:38,326 He was going out with Judy and they were talking about how to get money, 177 00:12:38,445 --> 00:12:40,885 as they had both been fired from the police. 178 00:12:41,926 --> 00:12:47,445 They went to the Playboy club and wanted to work as Bunnies. 179 00:12:58,245 --> 00:13:01,165 Playboy bunnies were the mascot unofficial name of the Playboy Club. 180 00:13:01,286 --> 00:13:03,885 It was a special service. 181 00:13:04,006 --> 00:13:07,406 It was a big deal in pop culture. to be a Playboy Bunny. 182 00:13:10,006 --> 00:13:13,606 In the 1970s, Playboy magazine had an enormous cultural impact. 183 00:13:14,006 --> 00:13:17,245 Playboy magazine had monthly about six million readers. 184 00:13:17,366 --> 00:13:20,006 It was interesting to work within this brand. 185 00:13:20,766 --> 00:13:23,845 There were even Playboy resorts, on Lake Geneva in Wisconsin. 186 00:13:25,245 --> 00:13:27,205 The first headquarters of the Playboy company it was in chicago. 187 00:13:27,326 --> 00:13:30,125 Lake Geneva in Wisconsin it was very close 188 00:13:30,245 --> 00:13:32,885 you would arrive immediately by plane, on its own runway. 189 00:13:33,046 --> 00:13:36,125 It was a common thing in the world of Playboy. 190 00:13:37,646 --> 00:13:39,245 My name is Sherry Goodman. 191 00:13:39,485 --> 00:13:44,366 I was a Rabbit at the club from Lake Geneva between 1971 and 1981. 192 00:13:45,046 --> 00:13:47,966 I was lucky that I was Bunny for ten years, 193 00:13:48,565 --> 00:13:51,726 she was the most beautiful my experience. 194 00:13:55,086 --> 00:13:57,485 After passing a curve, 195 00:13:57,606 --> 00:14:01,845 a property appeared in front of you beautiful, enormous, 196 00:14:01,966 --> 00:14:05,726 with a huge Playboy logo at the entrance. 197 00:14:06,766 --> 00:14:11,125 The bunnies were working at the roadside cafe, 198 00:14:12,205 --> 00:14:15,646 and the Pool Bunnies wore suits with tails 199 00:14:15,845 --> 00:14:17,845 and they served the world. 200 00:14:18,606 --> 00:14:21,125 Playmate and Playboy Bunny they were two different things. 201 00:14:22,046 --> 00:14:24,125 Playmates were the girls which appeared in magazines, 202 00:14:24,286 --> 00:14:26,606 and the Playboy Bunnies were working in Playboy clubs. 203 00:14:26,726 --> 00:14:29,046 They served food, cocktails, 204 00:14:29,205 --> 00:14:32,485 and they wore the familiar costume by Playboy Bunny. 205 00:14:33,646 --> 00:14:37,445 Hugh Hefner wanted this club his to have a particular image, 206 00:14:37,525 --> 00:14:42,686 so the Bunnies they were always young girls. 207 00:14:42,845 --> 00:14:47,805 The qualities of a Playboy Bunny were similar to that of a Playmate. 208 00:14:47,926 --> 00:14:51,125 Girls were supposed to have beautiful bodies, to be beautiful in the face, 209 00:14:51,245 --> 00:14:54,686 to have a special personality and be a worker. 210 00:14:54,845 --> 00:14:57,966 The face had to be proportional with the rest of the body 211 00:14:58,686 --> 00:15:00,606 to be feminine 212 00:15:00,686 --> 00:15:03,125 and to know how to behave. 213 00:15:03,606 --> 00:15:05,805 The Playboy bunnies had no business with nudity. 214 00:15:05,885 --> 00:15:09,326 They could pose in the magazine, if they had the opportunity and if they wanted to, 215 00:15:09,445 --> 00:15:12,565 but to a Playboy Bunny he was not required to undress. 216 00:15:12,726 --> 00:15:16,125 I had a bow tie, collar and cuffs. 217 00:15:16,245 --> 00:15:22,406 I had buttons on my cuffs, with the rabbit logo on them. 218 00:15:22,525 --> 00:15:26,606 We put them in such a way that the rabbits to "kiss", that's what we used to say. 219 00:15:27,125 --> 00:15:29,125 I looked perfect. 220 00:15:32,245 --> 00:15:34,366 All kinds of women worked like Playboy bunnies. 221 00:15:34,606 --> 00:15:39,686 Students, women about to start a career real estate investors 222 00:15:39,805 --> 00:15:42,245 aspiring models or actresses. 223 00:15:42,926 --> 00:15:46,286 For women who worked like the Playboy Bunnies in the 70s 224 00:15:47,046 --> 00:15:48,966 it was a profitable job. 225 00:15:50,445 --> 00:15:54,406 Playboy claimed emancipation of women. 226 00:15:54,885 --> 00:15:57,885 Bunny's job it gave you strength 227 00:15:58,165 --> 00:16:00,286 and learn to use it. 228 00:16:00,766 --> 00:16:02,606 Even though he had worked in the police, 229 00:16:03,726 --> 00:16:06,205 it suited Laurie the role of Bunny, 230 00:16:06,326 --> 00:16:11,445 because every Rabbit had a plan to take another path in life. 231 00:16:12,366 --> 00:16:18,245 As I recall, Judy was not hired, but Laurie was. 232 00:16:22,125 --> 00:16:24,885 Laurie was classically dressed Playboy bunny. 233 00:16:25,006 --> 00:16:29,525 She was very tall, she swayed on heels, although she was very tall, 234 00:16:29,646 --> 00:16:31,366 she had long blond hair. 235 00:16:31,485 --> 00:16:33,686 You were a kind of waitress. 236 00:16:33,885 --> 00:16:37,606 She walked like a mannequin, she was very good. 237 00:16:37,726 --> 00:16:39,805 Laurie was the perfect Bunny. 238 00:16:40,606 --> 00:16:44,366 Bunnies had a certain image, which we were obliged to respect. 239 00:16:46,206 --> 00:16:48,566 It was a certain movement, called the descent of the Bunny, 240 00:16:48,686 --> 00:16:52,606 by which you put the drink on the table without something coming out of your suit. 241 00:16:53,286 --> 00:16:58,326 You sat with your tail towards the customer, you didn't avoid the whole table. 242 00:16:59,126 --> 00:17:02,526 That way you didn't have to bend down. 243 00:17:02,646 --> 00:17:07,246 You served the customers nicely, elegant, like a bunny. 244 00:17:09,406 --> 00:17:14,046 It's hard to serve customers at the table when you expose your body a lot. 245 00:17:15,086 --> 00:17:17,406 But Laurie liked money. 246 00:17:17,486 --> 00:17:21,206 He told me he brought them coffee some men at the table 247 00:17:21,286 --> 00:17:23,726 and received a hundred dollar tip. 248 00:17:27,926 --> 00:17:30,686 Laurie liked to have fun. 249 00:17:30,806 --> 00:17:32,886 He had hired himself as a Playboy Bunny. 250 00:17:33,646 --> 00:17:36,126 He liked to go out to go to bars 251 00:17:36,246 --> 00:17:39,406 and have fun with the cops whom he still knew. 252 00:17:39,806 --> 00:17:42,406 There was a bar in Milwaukee which was called Tracks, 253 00:17:42,486 --> 00:17:44,686 where many policemen were coming. 254 00:17:45,046 --> 00:17:47,166 They went on a picnic once a year. 255 00:17:47,246 --> 00:17:49,126 In that public park... 256 00:17:49,966 --> 00:17:55,566 At that picnic, some policemen were there stripped and began to dance 257 00:17:55,646 --> 00:17:57,286 and drink a lot. 258 00:17:57,366 --> 00:17:59,286 Someone took pictures. 259 00:18:03,326 --> 00:18:07,926 There were some young people in the pictures 20-30 years old, 260 00:18:08,366 --> 00:18:10,246 screaming and benching. 261 00:18:10,326 --> 00:18:12,326 Some of them were naked. 262 00:18:12,606 --> 00:18:15,326 Even now it seems ridiculous. 263 00:18:15,766 --> 00:18:19,926 You think those people were police officers and appeared in the pictures 264 00:18:20,486 --> 00:18:22,806 dancing naked on tables. 265 00:18:23,046 --> 00:18:25,006 Laurie saw the pictures and thought: 266 00:18:25,086 --> 00:18:29,246 "They dance naked on the tables, and I didn't report Judy?" 267 00:18:30,526 --> 00:18:33,446 "I'm suing them for discrimination." 268 00:18:35,566 --> 00:18:37,286 In the complaint it was written: 269 00:18:37,366 --> 00:18:41,446 "These policemen were not punished for this crime," 270 00:18:41,526 --> 00:18:42,966 "but I was fired" 271 00:18:43,046 --> 00:18:46,166 "that I didn't report Judy Zess that he smoked marijuana." 272 00:18:47,046 --> 00:18:50,126 She thought she was kicked out on grounds of sexual discrimination. 273 00:18:50,246 --> 00:18:54,006 He tried to raise awareness the police department. 274 00:18:54,486 --> 00:18:56,726 He was receiving messages and threatening letters. 275 00:18:56,846 --> 00:19:02,206 He was always looking behind her and wondered if someone would attack her. 276 00:19:02,806 --> 00:19:04,766 Someone put a dead rat in it in the car 277 00:19:04,886 --> 00:19:07,846 because he had poured in the connection with the Tracks picnics. 278 00:19:08,646 --> 00:19:11,206 She told me she was very scared. 279 00:19:12,486 --> 00:19:16,126 The Playboy Club seemed like a safe place thanks to the security system, 280 00:19:16,246 --> 00:19:19,846 but the Bunnies were not protected at all outside the club. 281 00:19:20,806 --> 00:19:23,086 It was dangerous. 282 00:19:27,566 --> 00:19:28,766 MAY 1980 283 00:19:28,926 --> 00:19:33,126 Laurie worked as a Playboy Bunny, but he was also seen with policemen. 284 00:19:35,446 --> 00:19:38,846 He met Fred Schultz at a friend's house. 285 00:19:39,966 --> 00:19:43,206 He was a detective and courting her. 286 00:19:45,126 --> 00:19:47,086 Fred looked very good. 287 00:19:47,206 --> 00:19:51,686 He was blond, handsome, with blue eyes. 288 00:19:52,686 --> 00:19:55,926 I knew Fred from the administrative building, 289 00:19:56,006 --> 00:19:57,966 when he was a detective. 290 00:19:59,086 --> 00:20:03,286 Fred always dressed smartly, with vest, suit and tie. 291 00:20:03,926 --> 00:20:07,846 He was very casual, always sure of him. 292 00:20:09,246 --> 00:20:11,646 He was kind to Laurie, behaved nicely 293 00:20:11,726 --> 00:20:13,606 they were jogging together. 294 00:20:14,686 --> 00:20:18,486 He invited her to town, at an elegant restaurant. 295 00:20:19,886 --> 00:20:23,326 I wondered how quickly their relationship evolved. 296 00:20:23,806 --> 00:20:28,926 I think Laurie was enjoying the attention which Fred was giving him. 297 00:20:31,606 --> 00:20:37,566 Schultz and Bembenek got married three months after his divorce. 298 00:20:37,686 --> 00:20:42,486 Fred Schultz divorced his first wife wife, Christine Schultz. 299 00:20:43,806 --> 00:20:46,726 Christine Schultz was a woman beautiful, very pleasant. 300 00:20:47,566 --> 00:20:50,246 she was attractive take care of her. 301 00:20:50,446 --> 00:20:53,766 Their marriage had failed before he met Laurie, 302 00:20:54,046 --> 00:20:56,326 when she found out of his love affairs. 303 00:20:57,206 --> 00:20:59,846 Christine got it sole custody of the children. 304 00:20:59,926 --> 00:21:03,246 They had countless arguments. 305 00:21:04,166 --> 00:21:07,006 In the end, she got the house. 306 00:21:14,726 --> 00:21:17,006 When she moved in with Fred, 307 00:21:17,486 --> 00:21:19,406 Laurie had left the Playboy Club 308 00:21:19,526 --> 00:21:22,246 and stopped working as a Rabbit. 309 00:21:22,486 --> 00:21:25,246 Although Laurie was earning well as the Bunny, 310 00:21:25,326 --> 00:21:28,006 he wanted to work again as a policeman. 311 00:21:28,086 --> 00:21:30,886 She was not happy at the Playboy Club. 312 00:21:31,926 --> 00:21:35,086 Laurie sued the police department 313 00:21:35,166 --> 00:21:38,406 for sexual discrimination, because she was fired. 314 00:21:38,486 --> 00:21:42,286 He hoped to get his job back. 315 00:21:43,046 --> 00:21:45,366 They were not good with money. 316 00:21:46,686 --> 00:21:50,766 Laurie and Fred were sitting in a poor apartment 317 00:21:50,886 --> 00:21:55,686 with her friend from the academy, Judy Zess. 318 00:21:57,166 --> 00:22:00,206 The situation was not very pleasant. 319 00:22:00,846 --> 00:22:05,606 Judy wasn't earning very well, nor Laurie. 320 00:22:05,686 --> 00:22:07,446 None of them worked. 321 00:22:08,966 --> 00:22:12,366 Fred was giving $300 or so for the maintenance of the child. 322 00:22:14,046 --> 00:22:16,646 They lived in an apartment poor 323 00:22:17,406 --> 00:22:21,446 On top of that, he was paying $367 home mortgage. 324 00:22:21,766 --> 00:22:23,966 This thing irritated him. 325 00:22:26,006 --> 00:22:29,206 Because he had built a house where his ex-wife was now staying. 326 00:22:44,806 --> 00:22:49,126 28 MAY 1980 327 00:23:08,606 --> 00:23:10,566 It was in the early hours of the morning. 328 00:23:12,046 --> 00:23:13,806 Around 2:00, I think. 329 00:23:13,926 --> 00:23:16,246 I remember being woken up by the phone. 330 00:23:16,646 --> 00:23:21,606 He said to me: "I am." She was very scared. 331 00:23:21,886 --> 00:23:26,966 half asleep I asked her what happened. 332 00:23:28,166 --> 00:23:29,926 It was Laurie, 333 00:23:30,686 --> 00:23:34,366 who told me that the ex-wife Fred's Christine 334 00:23:34,446 --> 00:23:37,846 she had been shot and died. 335 00:23:44,886 --> 00:23:48,566 Cops came from all over, they littered the house. 336 00:23:50,126 --> 00:23:52,526 The crime scene was crowded with people, 337 00:23:53,766 --> 00:23:57,126 because it was about by the ex-wife of a policeman. 338 00:23:58,966 --> 00:24:01,846 The victim's son told the detective that a man came 339 00:24:01,926 --> 00:24:05,926 wearing a green tracksuit and a wig on his head. 340 00:24:07,886 --> 00:24:10,566 The neighborhood was searched, but nothing was found. 341 00:24:11,726 --> 00:24:13,366 There was no break-in. 342 00:24:13,446 --> 00:24:18,126 Whoever entered either had a key, either the door had been left unlocked. 343 00:24:21,526 --> 00:24:25,686 When he found out about the murder, Fred he knew it happened at his house. 344 00:24:25,806 --> 00:24:27,846 He was on duty that night. 345 00:24:29,046 --> 00:24:33,406 He called Laurie and told her that Christine had been killed. 346 00:24:33,726 --> 00:24:35,606 He told her that he was coming home for a while. 347 00:24:37,166 --> 00:24:40,926 He appeared with his colleague with whom he was on duty. 348 00:24:41,806 --> 00:24:43,966 Fred said to him: "I have an unregistered gun at home." 349 00:24:44,406 --> 00:24:48,006 "Of course they will ask me about her and I want to to check if he made out with her." 350 00:24:49,526 --> 00:24:52,566 His colleague looked at the gun and said: 351 00:24:52,726 --> 00:24:56,926 "This gun has not been used, it cannot be the murder weapon." 352 00:24:58,966 --> 00:25:02,126 During the investigation, 353 00:25:02,566 --> 00:25:05,126 Fred said he didn't kill her, he was on duty. 354 00:25:07,966 --> 00:25:10,286 The investigation ended here, 355 00:25:10,406 --> 00:25:14,526 no one has checked yet, because they were members of the "club". 356 00:25:16,126 --> 00:25:19,126 Then came the question who killed her 357 00:25:21,966 --> 00:25:25,486 Some more testimonies appeared, as far as I remember. 358 00:25:25,566 --> 00:25:32,366 Some confusion arose regarding the initial investigation. 359 00:25:33,166 --> 00:25:35,206 There was no break-in. 360 00:25:35,646 --> 00:25:38,606 Fred had a key from Christina's house. 361 00:25:40,886 --> 00:25:42,406 It wasn't normal 362 00:25:42,486 --> 00:25:45,486 but he wanted to have a key, because he had built the house. 363 00:25:47,606 --> 00:25:50,886 It's interesting that they took them Fred's personal gun, 364 00:25:51,206 --> 00:25:54,526 although he and his partner had established that he had not fired that gun. 365 00:25:55,326 --> 00:25:58,486 The weapon was once again tested personal of Fred Schultz. 366 00:25:58,966 --> 00:26:03,806 The bullet recovered from the corpse Christina at the autopsy 367 00:26:03,886 --> 00:26:05,606 he had been shot with that gun. 368 00:26:08,246 --> 00:26:11,086 There is no explanation for what happened 369 00:26:11,246 --> 00:26:14,846 how was it possible that two policemen to say that he did not fire that gun, 370 00:26:14,926 --> 00:26:17,406 then let it be said that is the weapon of murder. 371 00:26:17,766 --> 00:26:20,246 Fred was with a colleague on the night of the crime. 372 00:26:20,326 --> 00:26:23,966 He worked that night. We know he was not the perpetrator. 373 00:26:25,006 --> 00:26:27,926 After they quickly removed him counting on Fred, 374 00:26:28,526 --> 00:26:31,406 they turned their attention on Laurie Bembenek. 375 00:26:34,446 --> 00:26:37,766 The reason they found was that she was jealous 376 00:26:37,926 --> 00:26:41,886 that he didn't like that Fred was paying 700 alimony dollars per month 377 00:26:42,046 --> 00:26:44,806 and that they lived in an apartment poor 378 00:26:45,606 --> 00:26:49,086 On the night of the murder, Laurie had to to go out with a friend, 379 00:26:49,246 --> 00:26:52,686 but he didn't go out, he went to bed. 380 00:26:54,006 --> 00:26:57,326 He always said: "I had better go." at the bar that night." 381 00:26:57,446 --> 00:27:03,246 Hairs were found on the body from a wig, at autopsy. 382 00:27:03,926 --> 00:27:07,646 Those at the department thought that the perpetrator put on a wig 383 00:27:08,726 --> 00:27:11,086 to disguise himself as a woman. 384 00:27:11,166 --> 00:27:13,766 No one knew for sure, so the question arose: 385 00:27:13,846 --> 00:27:16,846 "If the perpetrator wore a wig, where's the wig?" 386 00:27:19,126 --> 00:27:22,846 Let's not forget that Laurie and Fred they lived with Judy Zess. 387 00:27:22,966 --> 00:27:28,126 Shortly after the murder, their neighbor came to them 388 00:27:28,606 --> 00:27:31,006 and told them he found a wig in the toilet. 389 00:27:33,046 --> 00:27:36,446 The question was asked who could do such a thing. 390 00:27:36,606 --> 00:27:41,846 Only Laurie could throw the wig to the toilet, to get rid of the evidence. 391 00:27:43,406 --> 00:27:45,606 At the same time, he had a green tracksuit, 392 00:27:45,726 --> 00:27:50,126 similar to the one worn by the perpetrator, according to Christina's son. 393 00:27:52,366 --> 00:27:54,766 at that moment, I think he thought it was totally absurd. 394 00:27:54,886 --> 00:27:56,846 He said she didn't kill anyone. 395 00:28:02,686 --> 00:28:04,846 Laurie refused to take the polygraph test 396 00:28:05,086 --> 00:28:09,726 because he thought that he will be asked many questions 397 00:28:09,806 --> 00:28:13,086 about the accusations of sexual discrimination. 398 00:28:13,286 --> 00:28:17,566 Here he was wrong, because they used this against her. 399 00:28:19,766 --> 00:28:21,566 In the 80s, when they happened events, 400 00:28:21,686 --> 00:28:23,646 lie detectors they were very popular. 401 00:28:23,806 --> 00:28:28,206 They were used in trials and many other things. 402 00:28:28,526 --> 00:28:30,966 They were a last-minute find. 403 00:28:31,086 --> 00:28:33,166 Now, I'm not so in vogue anymore, 404 00:28:33,246 --> 00:28:37,606 because the polygraph measures anxiety more than anything else. 405 00:28:37,926 --> 00:28:42,246 If you're in the police and you are being investigated for murder, 406 00:28:42,446 --> 00:28:45,566 how not to be on the threshold a nervous breakdown? 407 00:28:45,966 --> 00:28:48,006 Many tests were done with the polygraph back then. 408 00:28:48,126 --> 00:28:50,486 They still do now, to some extent. 409 00:28:50,566 --> 00:28:52,086 The polygraph was a tool, 410 00:28:52,166 --> 00:28:54,846 and like any tool used by a policeman, 411 00:28:54,926 --> 00:28:58,526 it shows you which direction to take. 412 00:28:58,766 --> 00:29:02,566 polygraph, depending on how it is used, 413 00:29:03,006 --> 00:29:07,206 can act to the advantage or to one's disadvantage. 414 00:29:07,566 --> 00:29:09,646 You become suspicious when someone tells you 415 00:29:09,726 --> 00:29:12,846 that he does not trust such a thing or when he comes with another argument. 416 00:29:13,286 --> 00:29:17,326 The polygraph test is not allowed in court, it's a tool in the investigation. 417 00:29:17,606 --> 00:29:19,366 I think Laurie was scared. 418 00:29:19,446 --> 00:29:24,446 She knew she was going to be tested polygraph by the police. 419 00:29:26,686 --> 00:29:30,366 According to the cops, Fred was on duty that night, 420 00:29:30,446 --> 00:29:34,246 investigate a robbery, so he didn't kill her. 421 00:29:34,766 --> 00:29:38,006 Laurie was alone who had access to the weapon. 422 00:29:38,526 --> 00:29:40,966 She was also alone who had access to the key 423 00:29:41,046 --> 00:29:43,806 with which he could have entered the house Christina, if it was locked. 424 00:29:50,566 --> 00:29:51,606 Finally, 425 00:29:52,086 --> 00:29:55,886 Laurie was arrested for killing Christina Schultz. 426 00:30:01,926 --> 00:30:04,526 JUNE 24, 1981 MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN 427 00:30:04,646 --> 00:30:09,726 Laurie worked as a security guard at Marquette University. 428 00:30:11,326 --> 00:30:14,646 She was arrested at the end of her shift. 429 00:30:15,606 --> 00:30:18,886 He called me and told me that the news has already appeared in the newspaper, 430 00:30:19,166 --> 00:30:21,126 before you told me. 431 00:30:22,406 --> 00:30:25,646 Laurie's case attracted the attention of the media. 432 00:30:25,726 --> 00:30:28,166 The world was talking about how beautiful she is 433 00:30:28,246 --> 00:30:30,486 and that he had worked at the Playboy Club. 434 00:30:30,566 --> 00:30:34,966 Laurie's arrest for murder quickly made a big fuss. 435 00:30:35,326 --> 00:30:39,806 Laurie Bembenek's case shocked Wisconsin and the whole country. 436 00:30:40,526 --> 00:30:43,886 It's gone from killing a woman, 437 00:30:43,966 --> 00:30:45,566 ex-wife of a policeman, 438 00:30:45,646 --> 00:30:48,966 to: "My God, this beautiful woman she was arrested for murder!" 439 00:30:49,046 --> 00:30:51,046 "Of course she's guilty, because she's beautiful." 440 00:30:55,286 --> 00:31:00,086 People label anyway a woman who worked at Playboy. 441 00:31:00,446 --> 00:31:03,286 Laurie worked at Playboy just three weeks 442 00:31:03,366 --> 00:31:07,126 but according to the media, it had become something defining for her. 443 00:31:09,286 --> 00:31:11,646 It was called the Killer Bunny. 444 00:31:11,806 --> 00:31:14,046 It was considered kind of femme fatale. 445 00:31:18,806 --> 00:31:21,326 The trial began on February 22. 446 00:31:22,086 --> 00:31:24,726 i will never forget because then it's my birthday. 447 00:31:26,446 --> 00:31:30,606 Journalists mentioned how it was dressed as she was. 448 00:31:32,246 --> 00:31:35,166 "Look, she's seductive, he's a Playboy Bunny." 449 00:31:35,246 --> 00:31:38,246 Only the pictures were shown to Laurie from the calendar, 450 00:31:38,326 --> 00:31:40,006 or in a Playboy Bunny costume. 451 00:31:40,086 --> 00:31:42,926 No one submitted a picture of her in police uniform. 452 00:31:45,046 --> 00:31:47,966 The trial, which took place in downtown Milwaukee, 453 00:31:48,046 --> 00:31:50,286 it was a media circus. 454 00:31:50,446 --> 00:31:55,486 There were a lot of people. Mere spectators, mouth-to-mouth. 455 00:31:56,086 --> 00:32:00,366 Let a woman be killed innocent in her own bed 456 00:32:00,726 --> 00:32:03,166 it was nonsense to the community. 457 00:32:03,286 --> 00:32:05,766 The community was divided, 458 00:32:05,846 --> 00:32:10,206 some said she was guilty others that she is innocent. 459 00:32:10,686 --> 00:32:14,606 But those who knew her knew that Laurie was innocent. 460 00:32:16,046 --> 00:32:20,726 Although it was a case with circumstantial evidence, it was a very well-instrumented case. 461 00:32:22,846 --> 00:32:26,046 Then, even though they were friends, 462 00:32:26,326 --> 00:32:29,326 Judy Zess testified against Laurie. 463 00:32:30,726 --> 00:32:35,286 I think she was jealous of Laurie. 464 00:32:35,966 --> 00:32:42,766 Judy used friendship with Laurie to attract men. 465 00:32:43,926 --> 00:32:46,686 Judy testified and said 466 00:32:46,766 --> 00:32:49,966 that Laurie was as the press had portrayed her, 467 00:32:50,086 --> 00:32:54,766 a jealous woman who wanted to get Christine out of the house, 468 00:32:54,846 --> 00:32:57,206 that it was mercantile 469 00:32:57,286 --> 00:33:02,326 and that she had thrown the wig in the toilet. 470 00:33:10,246 --> 00:33:12,926 ON MARCH 9, 1982, LAURIE BEMBENEK HAS BEEN FOUND 471 00:33:13,006 --> 00:33:16,246 GUILTY OF MURDER WITH PREMEDITATION AND SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR LIFE. 472 00:33:17,286 --> 00:33:21,366 I couldn't believe it was found guilty, first of all, 473 00:33:22,686 --> 00:33:24,606 then that he received the maximum sentence, 474 00:33:24,686 --> 00:33:26,846 between 25 years and life imprisonment. 475 00:33:28,286 --> 00:33:33,966 Like many others, I thought it was a big mistake. 476 00:33:36,006 --> 00:33:38,566 She was taken to jail Taycheedah, 477 00:33:38,646 --> 00:33:43,286 a women's prison from Fond du Lac, on the shore of the lake. 478 00:33:43,646 --> 00:33:47,566 Public opinion was not on the side to Laurie when she was sentenced. 479 00:33:48,686 --> 00:33:52,366 no one protested no one said she was innocent. 480 00:33:52,486 --> 00:33:55,446 The portrait taken by the press he achieved his goal. 481 00:33:55,526 --> 00:33:58,446 The world considered it kind of femme fatale. 482 00:34:03,446 --> 00:34:06,046 Laurie and I stayed very good friends. 483 00:34:08,606 --> 00:34:12,326 We were in touch as often as we could. I was on the visitors list. 484 00:34:13,046 --> 00:34:15,726 It was 160 km from me, I was driving for an hour. 485 00:34:15,846 --> 00:34:18,606 When I went to her once every two months, 486 00:34:18,726 --> 00:34:20,966 I was taking a day off and I was passing by to see her. 487 00:34:21,486 --> 00:34:25,526 It was hard at first, after they took her there. 488 00:34:26,406 --> 00:34:30,926 Fred supported it and organized it a fundraiser. 489 00:34:31,086 --> 00:34:35,526 I know he ran for miles to raise money for the lawsuit. 490 00:34:35,846 --> 00:34:40,126 Unfortunately, one day, he gave up supporting her. 491 00:34:40,806 --> 00:34:44,046 Laurie told me that he filed for divorce. 492 00:34:45,166 --> 00:34:47,446 I don't know what the reason was. 493 00:34:53,966 --> 00:34:57,246 He appealed, it was rejected, a done again, it was rejected again. 494 00:34:57,526 --> 00:34:59,526 He told everyone who wanted to to listen to her 495 00:34:59,606 --> 00:35:03,286 that it's dementia, that she's not guilty, that he had no reason to kill her. 496 00:35:03,366 --> 00:35:05,366 He was not hiding from anyone. 497 00:35:05,566 --> 00:35:10,446 Of course 99% of those arrested claim that they are innocent, 498 00:35:10,806 --> 00:35:13,446 and 99% of the convicts support that they did nothing. 499 00:35:13,566 --> 00:35:15,446 Now we know that some of those people don't lie 500 00:35:15,526 --> 00:35:17,526 because someone is paid daily. 501 00:35:18,766 --> 00:35:23,246 Like many prisoners, at first, Laurie was completely shocked. 502 00:35:23,446 --> 00:35:26,886 He did not understand why he had arrived, so young 503 00:35:26,966 --> 00:35:29,686 in a women's prison for the whole life. 504 00:35:30,046 --> 00:35:34,166 Then, gradually, when he understood that he has no choice 505 00:35:34,366 --> 00:35:38,046 became a model inmate, he was self-educated. 506 00:35:38,126 --> 00:35:40,126 She worked alongside other women. 507 00:35:40,206 --> 00:35:43,486 He tried to inspire others. 508 00:35:44,126 --> 00:35:48,046 He obtained a diploma of studies for two years, he was making art objects, 509 00:35:48,126 --> 00:35:51,246 work in prison but she was very lonely. 510 00:35:54,166 --> 00:35:56,686 Laurie had a good friend at Taycheedah, 511 00:35:57,286 --> 00:35:59,486 whose brother was coming to visit her. 512 00:36:00,446 --> 00:36:03,766 When he saw him, to Laurie he found it very attractive. 513 00:36:04,246 --> 00:36:07,326 Her friend said she was divorced recently. "Do you want me to introduce him to you?" 514 00:36:07,446 --> 00:36:09,446 The two began to correspond, 515 00:36:09,526 --> 00:36:12,126 and Laurie made a boyfriend from prison... 516 00:36:12,766 --> 00:36:14,366 Dominic. 517 00:36:14,446 --> 00:36:18,526 No one listened to her anymore and they had to to do something to save himself, 518 00:36:18,646 --> 00:36:21,606 I think he was in a deep depression. 519 00:36:24,126 --> 00:36:26,606 He knew what he had to do. 520 00:36:29,206 --> 00:36:30,246 JULY 15, 1990 521 00:36:30,326 --> 00:36:34,806 One day, he was at the laundry and saw an open window. 522 00:36:35,526 --> 00:36:39,046 Then he thought that he can go out there. 523 00:36:42,206 --> 00:36:44,446 It was not a prison maximum security. 524 00:36:44,606 --> 00:36:48,406 He ran across the field 525 00:36:48,806 --> 00:36:51,406 and climbed the fence of barbed wire. 526 00:36:51,486 --> 00:36:57,926 He jumped over it and met with Dominic, in a car. 527 00:37:00,206 --> 00:37:03,926 They sped off to Canada. 528 00:37:05,366 --> 00:37:07,566 They pretended to be newlyweds. 529 00:37:07,726 --> 00:37:11,806 They easily crossed the border, they said they just got married. 530 00:37:12,406 --> 00:37:16,486 I found out from the press, too like everyone, that he escaped, 531 00:37:16,886 --> 00:37:20,206 and the prison management was very embarrassed by what happened. 532 00:37:20,366 --> 00:37:22,566 I didn't know beforehand 533 00:37:22,686 --> 00:37:26,686 Laurie he would never have put me in danger. 534 00:37:27,246 --> 00:37:30,606 At first, I thought it was something typical of Laurie, he found a solution. 535 00:37:30,726 --> 00:37:34,766 He did so many scripts because she was innocent 536 00:37:34,886 --> 00:37:36,286 she knew she was innocent. 537 00:37:36,406 --> 00:37:39,766 Bembenek has the ability to change his appearance. 538 00:37:40,246 --> 00:37:43,286 This is her latest picture, according to the prison guard. 539 00:37:43,366 --> 00:37:47,286 At first, I said to myself: "God, Laurie, what's gotten into you?" 540 00:37:48,406 --> 00:37:51,686 Then I understood that he had no choice. 541 00:37:53,366 --> 00:37:55,526 Society had arrived at the end of the 80s, 542 00:37:55,646 --> 00:37:57,926 she was no longer so conservative, 543 00:37:58,046 --> 00:38:01,566 the world began to accept the idea that she was wrongfully convicted. 544 00:38:01,726 --> 00:38:04,806 It was a completely different situation compared to the moment she was judged. 545 00:38:05,046 --> 00:38:07,206 The process was not fair. 546 00:38:07,326 --> 00:38:08,686 I think she's innocent. 547 00:38:08,766 --> 00:38:11,726 Laurie was quickly arrested at three weeks and a half after the murder. 548 00:38:11,886 --> 00:38:13,966 You asked yourself: "How so fast?" 549 00:38:14,446 --> 00:38:17,486 After finding her guilty, 550 00:38:17,566 --> 00:38:19,086 that they will escape the process for discrimination, 551 00:38:19,166 --> 00:38:23,126 and maybe other women too, it seemed to them an easy option. 552 00:38:23,606 --> 00:38:28,046 Some people found it dubious, they did thought she was innocent, though. 553 00:38:28,166 --> 00:38:31,326 There is no proof of a criminal behavior. 554 00:38:31,446 --> 00:38:36,886 It's interesting how opinion has changed public after Laurie's escape. 555 00:38:37,286 --> 00:38:39,366 Suddenly, everyone was on her side. 556 00:38:43,486 --> 00:38:46,806 To most of them they had taken pity on her. 557 00:38:47,726 --> 00:38:49,966 The world said: "Run, Bambi, run!" 558 00:38:50,086 --> 00:38:55,326 She and her partner looked alike with the fugitives Bonnie and Clyde. 559 00:38:55,406 --> 00:38:57,406 The world supported her. 560 00:39:03,566 --> 00:39:07,566 A large part of the population believed that she is innocent 561 00:39:07,806 --> 00:39:09,806 and that the case was covered up. 562 00:39:09,886 --> 00:39:13,886 When he escaped from prison, many people were happy. 563 00:39:14,766 --> 00:39:16,806 RUN, BAMBI, RUN! 564 00:39:18,926 --> 00:39:21,726 THE ESCAPE OF THE BEAUTIFUL KILLER CAPTIVATE THE AUDIENCE'S IMAGINATION 565 00:39:22,006 --> 00:39:26,206 Laurie and Dominic went to Canada, in a little town called Thunder Bay, 566 00:39:26,606 --> 00:39:29,006 where Laurie worked as a waitress. 567 00:39:29,566 --> 00:39:34,526 They stayed there for three months or so and everything was fine until... 568 00:39:37,286 --> 00:39:40,006 On the show "America's Most Wanted" the Bembenek case arose. 569 00:39:40,086 --> 00:39:42,806 Someone who had come recognized her there on vacation. 570 00:39:44,126 --> 00:39:50,486 She told me someone saw her from Oregon when he was serving at the restaurant 571 00:39:50,846 --> 00:39:52,766 and that they were arrested. 572 00:39:55,086 --> 00:39:58,206 The conditions of her return from Canada were negotiated 573 00:39:58,286 --> 00:40:00,726 by a Chicago lawyer. 574 00:40:01,966 --> 00:40:07,526 The escaped Playboy Bunny is back and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. 575 00:40:08,686 --> 00:40:13,406 The Playboy Club would stay away of such a case. 576 00:40:14,406 --> 00:40:17,966 They didn't want to draw attention to themselves with something like that. 577 00:40:18,846 --> 00:40:23,086 I think the world has realized like a Playboy Bunny 578 00:40:23,286 --> 00:40:26,726 and was created around him and more mystery. 579 00:40:29,206 --> 00:40:31,526 DECEMBER 9, 1992 580 00:40:32,366 --> 00:40:36,646 They took Laurie straight away from the airport to the courtroom 581 00:40:38,086 --> 00:40:39,926 and accepted the deal. 582 00:40:43,446 --> 00:40:45,486 I didn't have to anymore to return to prison. 583 00:40:45,606 --> 00:40:50,086 As I recall, the conviction it was second degree murder 584 00:40:50,446 --> 00:40:52,446 with serving the sentence, because her parents were sick. 585 00:40:52,526 --> 00:40:55,766 He wanted to be with his parents, who were elderly. 586 00:40:56,286 --> 00:40:58,926 Laurie never married with Dominic. 587 00:40:59,046 --> 00:41:02,606 He received several fines and convictions because he was an accomplice in the escape. 588 00:41:02,846 --> 00:41:05,526 In the end, she stayed for ten years and something in prison. 589 00:41:07,406 --> 00:41:12,086 Laurie claimed they were human who did not tell the truth in court. 590 00:41:12,166 --> 00:41:14,046 That's what he always said. 591 00:41:14,406 --> 00:41:18,286 Laurie was still considered a felon because of the verdict. 592 00:41:19,246 --> 00:41:22,126 The world celebrated when Laurie was released. 593 00:41:22,246 --> 00:41:26,566 Everyone supported her, the story seemed have a happy ending. 594 00:41:30,286 --> 00:41:33,526 Everyone expected it to end Laurie's nightmare. 595 00:41:34,966 --> 00:41:39,566 Let's not forget that he went to prison at 21 years old, 596 00:41:39,686 --> 00:41:43,606 when she was young and very naive. 597 00:41:43,806 --> 00:41:46,806 He stayed until he was 30 years old in prison. 598 00:41:46,966 --> 00:41:52,486 When it came out, it looked very good and she was also famous. 599 00:41:53,526 --> 00:41:56,286 It's the most beautiful day of my life, 600 00:41:56,686 --> 00:41:59,806 that's all I can say. Thank you all. 601 00:42:04,126 --> 00:42:10,926 Because she was still a young woman, the notoriety kind of got to his head. 602 00:42:11,646 --> 00:42:14,966 It was hard for him to move on from the star from Oprah's couch 603 00:42:15,046 --> 00:42:17,326 to the usual Laurie Bembenek before. 604 00:42:17,446 --> 00:42:19,086 He couldn't do that. 605 00:42:19,286 --> 00:42:25,566 All the while, he tried to rehabilitate, but failed. 606 00:42:29,166 --> 00:42:31,246 I think he could not overcome the moment. 607 00:42:34,086 --> 00:42:37,126 Unfortunately, suffering that he was in prison 608 00:42:37,206 --> 00:42:40,846 and consolation with alcohol and drugs they killed her. 609 00:42:48,246 --> 00:42:51,806 He died at 50 years old. 610 00:42:52,766 --> 00:42:58,366 The story is over, but who has killed Christine Schultz? 611 00:42:58,486 --> 00:43:01,086 Many want to know this matter. 612 00:43:01,726 --> 00:43:03,406 It's very complicated. 613 00:43:04,246 --> 00:43:07,446 There are still people who believe and now that she is guilty. 614 00:43:10,566 --> 00:43:13,286 I think Laurie was killed. 615 00:43:15,326 --> 00:43:20,086 I am left without this man who was beautiful not only physically, 616 00:43:20,166 --> 00:43:22,526 but which had so much to offer. 617 00:43:25,406 --> 00:43:27,846 Laurie has wanted it all her life to be a policeman 618 00:43:27,926 --> 00:43:29,966 but for the kind as presented by the press, 619 00:43:30,046 --> 00:43:33,286 Laurie will remain known right the killer Playboy Bunny. 620 00:43:33,926 --> 00:43:36,086 The world believes that when someone has an advantage 621 00:43:36,246 --> 00:43:38,286 whether it's fame or money or beauty, 622 00:43:38,366 --> 00:43:40,286 that man's life is perfect. 623 00:43:40,366 --> 00:43:45,206 But Laurie is the epitome of a man whose life had many facets, 624 00:43:45,286 --> 00:43:47,846 was full of events. 625 00:43:49,366 --> 00:43:52,686 The conclusion of Laurie's story is that a man's life is much more complex 626 00:43:52,766 --> 00:43:54,766 than what is written in the newspapers.