RUN, BAMBI, RUN. The Beautiful Ex-Cop and Convicted Murderer Who Escaped to Freedom and Wom America's Heart

A portrait of a woman who spent more than ten years fighting for her freedom tells how the ex-cop, feminist, and former Playboy bunny was wrongly convicted for the murder of her husband's ex-wife. 35,000 first printing.

A meticulous but flat case is made here for a wrongful first- degree murder conviction. On her 21st birthday, in 1979, Laurencia ``Bambi'' Bembenek entered the Milwaukee police academy. Thus began the chain of events that, according to Radish (Journalism/Univ. of Wisconsin- Milwaukee), ended with Bembenek being framed for murder and receiving a life sentence. Dismissed from the force in her first year, Bembenek filed a discrimination suit against the MPD and married a detective--Elfred Schultz--after a two-month courtship. Soon, she began to suspect Schultz of continuing a relationship with his first wife, Christine--despite the detective's apparent bitter obsession with his having to pay the mortgage on the house that Christine now lived in without him. Within five months of Schultz's marriage to Bembenek, a disguised intruder murdered Christine with a single gunshot while she slept. Although Schultz had means (his off-duty gun was determined to be the murder weapon); motivation (he claimed that alimony and tax support were ruining him); and access (a key to the house), Bembenek was charged and convicted of Christine's murder. Radish details the incompetent defense Bembenek was given by an acquisitive (and later disbarred) attorney. After Bembenek's conviction, many came forth to protest, including a private detective who, working without pay for five years, unearthed evidence of an MPD cover-up. To date, however, Bembenek has been unable to receive a new trial. In 1990, she escaped to Canada, where (although imprisoned) she is petitioning for refugee status from the US. Paper-thin characterizations and minimal backgrounds dull Radish's narrative. Still, the author excels at factual accounts, and this could be grist for a TV movie. (Sixteen pages of photographs--not seen.) -- Copyright ©1992, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

This is the fascinating story of Lawrencia Ann Bembenek. "Bambi," as she became known, was a gorgeous ex-cop who married a cop. A few months later she was charged with the murder of his ex-wife. Though all of the evidence was circumstantial and there was never a motive given for her crime, she was convicted of first-degree murder and sent to prison. Trusting in the judicial system, Bambi submitted appeal after appeal only to see each one struck down for very flimsy reasons. After spending ten years fighting the system, she escaped through an 8-inch hole in the laundry room. With the help of her lover, she fled to Canada. Profiled on America's Most Wanted , she was soon captured. She is presently seeking refugee status in Canada, claiming she cannot find justice in America. Run, Bambi, Run makes it plain that what happened to Bambi could happen to anyone. Recommended for true-crime collections.
- Belinda J. Pugh, Kings Bay Base Lib., Ga .
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.