Laurie Bembenek

A former Playboy Club bunny who gained national notoriety after she was convicted of murder and then escaped from prison has died at the age of 52.

Laurie Bembenek, known as 'Bambi', was convicted of fatally shooting her police detective husband's ex-wife in 1982 and was sentenced to life in prison.

She maintained her innocence, and in 1990 escaped Taycheedah Correctional Institution in Fond du Lac and fled to Canada.


Supporters cheered her escape and sold T-shirts and bumper stickers with the slogan 'Run Bambi Run' and her story went on to become the TV film starring Tatum O'Neal.

Bembenek worked as a Playboy Club waitress in Lake Geneva, before becoming a police officer in Milwaukee where she married detective Fred Schultz.
Support: Her escape spawned the 'Run Bambi Run' campaign in the U.S. and lead to the TV film based on her exploits starring Tatum O'Neal

Support: Her escape spawned the 'Run Bambi Run' campaign in the U.S. and lead to the TV film based on her exploits starring Tatum O'Neal

She was convicted of shooting his ex-wife, Christine Schultz, after allegedly complaining about the alimony he had to pay.

She escaped prison with then-fiance Dominic Gugliatto - the brother of another inmate - but was captured in Thunder Bay, Ontario, three months later after she was publicised on 'America's Most Wanted'.
For Details: USA News

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Lawrencia Bembenek

Lawrencia Bembenek: 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.
Read Full Story: The USA News

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Laurie Bambi Bembenek

Laurie " Bambie" Bembenek died today of complications of numerous health problems last night in Portland, OR., at the age of 52.
From jsonline: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.
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