1 00:00:03,819 --> 00:00:05,729 - FEMALE NARRATOR: When a loving mother 2 00:00:05,731 --> 00:00:08,582 is brutally murdered, accusations fly. 3 00:00:08,658 --> 00:00:12,845 - There were many different scenarios going around. 4 00:00:12,921 --> 00:00:14,588 - Could the murder have something to do 5 00:00:14,664 --> 00:00:16,849 with her love life? 6 00:00:16,925 --> 00:00:19,009 - NARRATOR: As the investigation heats up, 7 00:00:19,020 --> 00:00:22,512 police wonder if they're dealing with a greedy killer 8 00:00:22,523 --> 00:00:24,690 or a sinister setup. 9 00:00:24,767 --> 00:00:27,860 - He recognized they had black shoes on 10 00:00:27,936 --> 00:00:30,020 like a lot of the policemen wore. 11 00:00:30,031 --> 00:00:32,197 - I think that they were afraid of her, 12 00:00:32,274 --> 00:00:35,200 afraid of the information that she had. 13 00:00:35,277 --> 00:00:38,111 - NARRATOR: At the center of this building media storm 14 00:00:38,188 --> 00:00:42,041 is a blonde bombshell no camera could resist. 15 00:00:42,117 --> 00:00:44,043 - Everyone thought she was a knockout. 16 00:00:44,119 --> 00:00:46,712 - ERIK: The press portrayed her as this beautiful, 17 00:00:46,789 --> 00:00:49,498 perhaps conniving femme fatale. 18 00:00:49,574 --> 00:00:51,708 - NARRATOR: When the gavel finally falls, 19 00:00:51,719 --> 00:00:56,463 it doesn't mark the end of this high-profile case. 20 00:00:56,540 --> 00:00:59,224 - MARTIN: They hatched a plan for her escape. 21 00:00:59,301 --> 00:01:01,894 The clock is ticking, everybody's getting older. 22 00:01:01,970 --> 00:01:06,890 And the truth is out there. 23 00:01:06,901 --> 00:01:10,486 - ♪ 24 00:01:12,931 --> 00:01:18,068 ♪♪ 25 00:01:18,079 --> 00:01:20,654 - NARRATOR: May 28, 1981. 26 00:01:20,730 --> 00:01:23,082 Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 27 00:01:23,158 --> 00:01:26,159 It's the dead of night at 2:15 a.m. when 28 00:01:26,236 --> 00:01:31,256 11-year-old Sean Schultz is abruptly awoken from his sleep. 29 00:01:31,333 --> 00:01:35,928 - KEVIN: Sean feels a wired rope placed around his neck, 30 00:01:36,004 --> 00:01:39,256 and he sees an adult figure, 31 00:01:39,266 --> 00:01:44,177 who then places around Sean's mouth and face 32 00:01:44,254 --> 00:01:46,605 a heavy, strong, glove. 33 00:01:46,682 --> 00:01:48,849 Sean screams. 34 00:01:48,925 --> 00:01:50,851 - SHANNON: Sean's terrified scream awakens his 35 00:01:50,927 --> 00:01:53,603 seven-year-old brother, Shannon, who's also sleeping 36 00:01:53,614 --> 00:01:55,114 in the room in a separate bed. 37 00:01:55,190 --> 00:01:57,732 At that point, the person standing over Sean 38 00:01:57,809 --> 00:02:02,195 leaves the room, and Sean gets a brief glimpse of the intruder. 39 00:02:02,272 --> 00:02:05,866 - KATHERINE: He heard his mother say, "No! Don't do that!" 40 00:02:05,942 --> 00:02:10,129 And then heard what sounded like a firecracker in the room. 41 00:02:10,205 --> 00:02:12,873 - NARRATOR: Sean removes the rope from around his neck 42 00:02:12,949 --> 00:02:15,584 and races into the hallway with his younger brother 43 00:02:15,660 --> 00:02:19,972 and again catches a glimpse of the late-night intruder. 44 00:02:20,048 --> 00:02:22,299 - SHANNON: He sees the person at the foot of the stairs 45 00:02:22,309 --> 00:02:23,976 heading towards the back door. 46 00:02:24,052 --> 00:02:27,554 He immediately runs to his mother's bedroom. 47 00:02:27,631 --> 00:02:29,723 - NARRATOR: As they reach their mother, 30-year-old 48 00:02:29,799 --> 00:02:34,311 Christine Schultz's door, a frightening scene awaits them. 49 00:02:34,321 --> 00:02:38,315 - She had a clothesline tied around her left hand, 50 00:02:38,325 --> 00:02:41,610 uh, a bandana was tied over her face. 51 00:02:41,686 --> 00:02:43,904 She wasn't moving. 52 00:02:43,980 --> 00:02:46,832 - NARRATOR: Sean and his brother barricade their mother's room, 53 00:02:46,909 --> 00:02:49,951 and then call her boyfriend, Milwaukee police officer 54 00:02:50,028 --> 00:02:54,331 Stewart Honeck, who just left the home hours earlier. 55 00:02:54,341 --> 00:02:56,958 - Stew called the Milwaukee police department, 56 00:02:57,035 --> 00:02:59,586 and he immediately rushed over. 57 00:02:59,663 --> 00:03:01,162 - [siren wails] 58 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:03,673 - NARRATOR: Within minutes, Stewart and responding officers 59 00:03:03,684 --> 00:03:05,342 arrive at the scene. 60 00:03:05,352 --> 00:03:07,686 They're soon joined by another colleague, 61 00:03:07,763 --> 00:03:11,848 Christine's ex-husband, Detective Fred Schultz. 62 00:03:11,859 --> 00:03:15,360 - When they called it in, somebody called her ex-husband, 63 00:03:15,437 --> 00:03:19,606 and he ends up going to the scene. 64 00:03:19,683 --> 00:03:24,319 - When Fred learns about this shooting, he goes to the house. 65 00:03:24,396 --> 00:03:27,948 He wants to make sure his sons are alright. 66 00:03:28,024 --> 00:03:30,116 - NARRATOR: Responding officers quickly make their way 67 00:03:30,193 --> 00:03:33,119 up to Christine's room. 68 00:03:33,196 --> 00:03:37,049 - She was face down on the bed dressed in a T-shirt 69 00:03:37,125 --> 00:03:42,629 and underwear, but there was no sign of life. 70 00:03:42,706 --> 00:03:44,723 - She had a bullet hole in her back that was fired 71 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:47,726 so close that she had burns around the wound. 72 00:03:47,803 --> 00:03:52,305 - ♪ 73 00:03:52,382 --> 00:03:55,308 - NARRATOR: Downstairs, young Sean Schultz tells police 74 00:03:55,385 --> 00:03:59,229 what he remembers about the assailant's appearance. 75 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:00,906 - BILL: He thought it was a man. 76 00:04:00,983 --> 00:04:03,075 He described the appearance of the subject: 77 00:04:03,151 --> 00:04:07,904 shoulders were supposedly broad, and he was wearing a mask. 78 00:04:07,915 --> 00:04:10,657 - NARRATOR: But it's another detail that Sean remembers 79 00:04:10,734 --> 00:04:13,743 that has the potential to rock this investigation 80 00:04:13,754 --> 00:04:16,705 before it even begins. 81 00:04:16,781 --> 00:04:20,875 - He recognized the shoes, which were low-cut black shoes, 82 00:04:20,952 --> 00:04:23,753 similar to what police officers wore. 83 00:04:23,764 --> 00:04:26,214 - ♪ 84 00:04:26,291 --> 00:04:29,268 - NARRATOR: Responding officers immediately look to the two men 85 00:04:29,344 --> 00:04:30,585 at the scene: 86 00:04:30,662 --> 00:04:33,939 Christine's ex-husband, Detective Fred Schultz, 87 00:04:34,016 --> 00:04:38,777 and her current boyfriend, Officer Stewart Honeck. 88 00:04:38,854 --> 00:04:41,446 - Police are wondering what is going on here. 89 00:04:41,523 --> 00:04:43,231 Could the murder have something to do 90 00:04:43,308 --> 00:04:44,941 with Christine's love life? 91 00:04:44,952 --> 00:04:50,030 - ♪ 92 00:04:50,106 --> 00:04:51,515 - NARRATOR: Christine Jean Pennings 93 00:04:51,517 --> 00:04:56,953 was born on November 15, 1950, in Menominee, Michigan. 94 00:04:56,964 --> 00:05:00,957 - Christine was a very sweet, 95 00:05:00,968 --> 00:05:05,128 wonderful, kind person. 96 00:05:05,139 --> 00:05:07,464 She did grow up with a big family, 97 00:05:07,474 --> 00:05:11,310 so it was very important for her to be involved 98 00:05:11,386 --> 00:05:15,147 with all the family activities. 99 00:05:15,223 --> 00:05:16,473 - NARRATOR: At 18, Christine 100 00:05:16,483 --> 00:05:20,485 married 19-year-old Elfred "Fred" Schultz. 101 00:05:20,562 --> 00:05:24,489 Shortly after, two became four with the birth of their sons, 102 00:05:24,566 --> 00:05:26,733 Sean and Shannon. 103 00:05:26,810 --> 00:05:30,487 - Fred joined the Milwaukee Police Department, 104 00:05:30,497 --> 00:05:34,991 and he actually built the home that they lived in. 105 00:05:35,002 --> 00:05:38,337 Christine was a stay-at-home mom. 106 00:05:38,413 --> 00:05:41,956 Christine's sons were very important to her. 107 00:05:42,033 --> 00:05:45,460 They were very polite children. 108 00:05:45,537 --> 00:05:48,347 - NARRATOR: While Christine kept the home fires burning, 109 00:05:48,423 --> 00:05:50,965 Fred worked his way up the ladder of the Milwaukee 110 00:05:51,042 --> 00:05:57,263 Police Department, eventually reaching the rank of detective. 111 00:05:57,340 --> 00:05:58,506 When he wasn't working, 112 00:05:58,584 --> 00:06:01,860 Fred was known to be the life of the party. 113 00:06:01,937 --> 00:06:04,145 - JOANNE: His nickname was Disco. 114 00:06:04,222 --> 00:06:06,031 He was a clubber, he liked to dance, 115 00:06:06,108 --> 00:06:07,816 that kind of thing. 116 00:06:07,892 --> 00:06:09,943 - NARRATOR: But all that partying took its toll 117 00:06:10,019 --> 00:06:13,038 on the couple's 12-year marriage. 118 00:06:13,115 --> 00:06:17,042 - We did find out that he was having 119 00:06:17,119 --> 00:06:19,953 affairs on the side, 120 00:06:20,029 --> 00:06:22,497 and it just--after a while, 121 00:06:22,574 --> 00:06:26,000 you just don't want to deal with that anymore. 122 00:06:26,077 --> 00:06:30,046 - They divorced in November 1980. 123 00:06:30,057 --> 00:06:33,466 In December, Fred met 124 00:06:33,543 --> 00:06:35,936 Laurie Bembenek at a bar. 125 00:06:39,090 --> 00:06:41,391 - JOANNE: He was, at that time, a very good-looking guy. 126 00:06:41,402 --> 00:06:43,852 She was beautiful-- stunningly beautiful. 127 00:06:43,928 --> 00:06:46,855 So there was an attraction. 128 00:06:46,931 --> 00:06:49,858 - Fred was about ten years older than Laurie. 129 00:06:49,934 --> 00:06:52,819 She completely fell head over heels for him 130 00:06:52,896 --> 00:06:54,913 and couldn't resist him. 131 00:06:54,990 --> 00:06:56,406 - JOANNE: It was very whirlwind. 132 00:06:56,417 --> 00:06:58,583 She was swept off her feet. 133 00:06:58,660 --> 00:07:04,256 - That ended up becoming a quick engagement. 134 00:07:04,332 --> 00:07:07,083 - NARRATOR: Within two months of the divorce, Fred was 135 00:07:07,094 --> 00:07:10,253 starting a fresh chapter with his new bride, while 136 00:07:10,264 --> 00:07:14,933 his ex-wife, Christine, also found her own love interest. 137 00:07:15,010 --> 00:07:17,936 - KATHERINE: Christine, in the meantime, was getting 138 00:07:18,013 --> 00:07:20,889 involved with an associate of Fred's, 139 00:07:20,965 --> 00:07:24,601 who had been a former good friend--Stew Honeck. 140 00:07:24,611 --> 00:07:27,279 - ERIK: Stewart Honeck was a Milwaukee police officer. 141 00:07:27,355 --> 00:07:31,399 She started dating him, looking for a fresh start. 142 00:07:31,476 --> 00:07:34,235 - ♪ 143 00:07:34,312 --> 00:07:36,112 - NARRATOR: As Christine and Fred settled into 144 00:07:36,123 --> 00:07:38,123 their respective relationships, 145 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:41,626 they worked together to care for their two sons. 146 00:07:41,703 --> 00:07:44,370 - They wanted to get through an amicable divorce. 147 00:07:44,447 --> 00:07:47,373 - ♪ 148 00:07:47,450 --> 00:07:51,878 - NARRATOR: But in the early morning hours of May 28, 1981, 149 00:07:51,955 --> 00:07:55,089 the discovery of Christine Schultz's dead body 150 00:07:55,166 --> 00:07:58,477 has rocked her loved ones. 151 00:07:58,553 --> 00:08:00,645 - MARY: I can't even imagine 152 00:08:00,722 --> 00:08:04,557 the trauma for those young boys. 153 00:08:04,634 --> 00:08:08,645 - ♪ 154 00:08:08,655 --> 00:08:11,064 - NARRATOR: As detectives arrive, they quickly have 155 00:08:11,140 --> 00:08:14,234 officers separate Christine's ex-husband, 156 00:08:14,310 --> 00:08:15,944 Detective Fred Schultz, 157 00:08:16,020 --> 00:08:19,322 and her boyfriend, Officer Stewart Honeck. 158 00:08:19,333 --> 00:08:21,666 - Big question surrounding Elfred Schultz 159 00:08:21,743 --> 00:08:23,952 and Stewart Honeck is: 160 00:08:24,028 --> 00:08:27,080 could they possibly have had anything 161 00:08:27,156 --> 00:08:29,424 to do with this murder? 162 00:08:30,994 --> 00:08:33,011 - NARRATOR: While Fred and Stewart wait outside, 163 00:08:33,088 --> 00:08:36,339 detectives focus on the crime scene. 164 00:08:36,350 --> 00:08:39,518 - KATHERINE: When you look at the way Christine was left, 165 00:08:39,594 --> 00:08:43,179 she had a clothesline tied around her left hand, 166 00:08:43,190 --> 00:08:46,015 a blue bandana was tied over her face. 167 00:08:46,026 --> 00:08:49,027 I mean, she had panties on, she had her T-shirt on. 168 00:08:49,104 --> 00:08:53,147 There wasn't any evidence that she had been sexually assaulted. 169 00:08:53,224 --> 00:08:55,534 - ERIK: Then you had the bullet wound. 170 00:08:55,610 --> 00:08:57,702 Christine Schultz had been shot in the back 171 00:08:57,779 --> 00:09:00,697 with a .38 caliber revolver. 172 00:09:00,707 --> 00:09:05,544 The bullet went through her heart and killed her. 173 00:09:05,620 --> 00:09:08,046 That was the cause of death. 174 00:09:08,123 --> 00:09:10,048 - BILL: She, uh, suffered that wound. 175 00:09:10,125 --> 00:09:12,384 Uh, it turned out to be deadly very quickly. 176 00:09:12,460 --> 00:09:15,378 - ♪ 177 00:09:15,389 --> 00:09:16,721 - NARRATOR: Coming up: 178 00:09:16,798 --> 00:09:20,725 a trio of potential suspects rises to the surface. 179 00:09:20,802 --> 00:09:24,304 - He thought Stewart had crossed the line and betrayed him. 180 00:09:24,380 --> 00:09:27,223 - KEVIN: Here's Stewart, his alibi, if you will, 181 00:09:27,234 --> 00:09:28,567 was almost nonexistent. 182 00:09:28,643 --> 00:09:31,519 It was extremely flimsy. 183 00:09:31,596 --> 00:09:34,072 - KATHERINE: They had seen a jogger in the neighborhood 184 00:09:34,149 --> 00:09:35,407 several times, 185 00:09:35,483 --> 00:09:37,984 sometimes standing in front of Christine's house. 186 00:09:38,061 --> 00:09:41,413 - ♪ 187 00:09:41,489 --> 00:09:53,833 - ♪ 188 00:09:53,910 --> 00:09:55,501 - NARRATOR: Detectives investigating 189 00:09:55,578 --> 00:09:59,172 the cold-blooded murder of 30-year-old Christine Schultz 190 00:09:59,248 --> 00:10:03,602 have reason to believe this was a targeted attack. 191 00:10:03,678 --> 00:10:07,180 - KEVIN: The intruder brought along the necessary tools-- 192 00:10:07,256 --> 00:10:13,186 the rope, the glove that could be used to subdue, scare, 193 00:10:13,262 --> 00:10:15,355 intimidate the two boys, 194 00:10:15,431 --> 00:10:19,609 and bind and gag Christine Schultz. 195 00:10:19,620 --> 00:10:22,195 - NARRATOR: Police search Christine's room for clues 196 00:10:22,271 --> 00:10:24,197 to the killer's identity. 197 00:10:24,273 --> 00:10:25,782 - The police went through the room 198 00:10:25,792 --> 00:10:27,700 dusting it for fingerprints. 199 00:10:27,777 --> 00:10:30,411 They found nothing. 200 00:10:30,488 --> 00:10:34,082 Then they found one potential clue. 201 00:10:34,158 --> 00:10:38,136 - KATHERINE: Officers collected some hairs. 202 00:10:38,213 --> 00:10:41,130 There were hair from the bandana 203 00:10:41,141 --> 00:10:44,809 and a hair strand off of the leg of Christine. 204 00:10:44,886 --> 00:10:48,813 It looked like a strand from a wig--reddish hair. 205 00:10:48,890 --> 00:10:51,724 - NARRATOR: As CSI continue collecting evidence, 206 00:10:51,801 --> 00:10:53,818 investigators turn back to the crime's 207 00:10:53,895 --> 00:10:56,145 surviving eyewitnesses-- 208 00:10:56,156 --> 00:10:59,315 Christine's 11-year-old son, Sean Schultz, 209 00:10:59,326 --> 00:11:02,276 and his 7-year-old brother, Shannon. 210 00:11:02,353 --> 00:11:05,488 - He recognized they had black shoes on, 211 00:11:05,499 --> 00:11:09,167 like a lot of the policeman wore. 212 00:11:09,244 --> 00:11:11,452 - KEVIN: Sean had to describe to authorities what he had 213 00:11:11,529 --> 00:11:13,663 witnessed that night. 214 00:11:13,674 --> 00:11:16,416 He told them he saw an assailant he thought to be 215 00:11:16,492 --> 00:11:20,679 an adult male wearing a green jacket. 216 00:11:20,755 --> 00:11:24,590 - KATHERINE: Sean also noticed that the man who was leaving 217 00:11:24,667 --> 00:11:27,343 had reddish hair in a ponytail. 218 00:11:27,354 --> 00:11:30,263 And the ponytail was about six inches long. 219 00:11:30,339 --> 00:11:32,524 - Christine's younger son describes the person 220 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:35,935 wearing a green jogging suit and carrying a gun. 221 00:11:36,012 --> 00:11:38,688 - ♪ 222 00:11:38,699 --> 00:11:40,699 - NARRATOR: The description from Christine's sons 223 00:11:40,775 --> 00:11:43,317 leaves detectives wondering 224 00:11:43,394 --> 00:11:46,487 could the assailant be one of their own. 225 00:11:46,564 --> 00:11:47,947 - SHANNON: At the time, Christine was dating 226 00:11:48,024 --> 00:11:50,450 a Milwaukee police officer, Stewart Honeck, 227 00:11:50,526 --> 00:11:52,869 but she'd also been married to another detective, 228 00:11:52,879 --> 00:11:54,954 Fred Schultz, for over ten years. 229 00:11:55,031 --> 00:11:57,716 So, she was someone officers knew and liked. 230 00:11:57,792 --> 00:12:00,334 Her death was a shock. 231 00:12:00,411 --> 00:12:02,795 - NARRATOR: Investigators immediately move to question 232 00:12:02,872 --> 00:12:06,382 the two men, starting with Christine's boyfriend, 233 00:12:06,393 --> 00:12:08,301 Officer Stewart Honeck. 234 00:12:08,377 --> 00:12:10,511 - Stewart tells investigators that he and Christine 235 00:12:10,588 --> 00:12:12,897 had spent the afternoon together, working in her garden 236 00:12:12,974 --> 00:12:14,399 and having dinner. 237 00:12:14,476 --> 00:12:17,518 He says the last time he saw Christine was at 10 o'clock, 238 00:12:17,595 --> 00:12:21,856 but the last time the two spoke on the phone was at 11:20. 239 00:12:21,933 --> 00:12:23,908 - ERIK: Stewart said he had fallen asleep. 240 00:12:23,985 --> 00:12:27,320 The next thing he remembered was waking up at 2:20 a.m. 241 00:12:27,396 --> 00:12:29,322 when Sean called him. 242 00:12:29,398 --> 00:12:30,807 He knew something was wrong, 243 00:12:30,809 --> 00:12:35,828 and he rushed over two blocks to Christine's house. 244 00:12:35,905 --> 00:12:38,581 - NARRATOR: Stewart insists he and Christine had a good 245 00:12:38,592 --> 00:12:42,594 relationship, and he envisioned a future with her. 246 00:12:42,670 --> 00:12:46,214 - He claims that they were talking about wedding plans. 247 00:12:46,290 --> 00:12:49,217 - SHANNON: Detectives ask Stewart if he knew of anyone 248 00:12:49,293 --> 00:12:50,843 who would want to hurt Christine, 249 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:52,929 and he told investigators no. 250 00:12:52,939 --> 00:12:54,439 - KEVIN: Well, here's Stewart Honeck. 251 00:12:54,516 --> 00:12:57,266 He's romantically involved with the victim. 252 00:12:57,277 --> 00:13:01,354 His alibi, if you will, was almost nonexistent. 253 00:13:01,430 --> 00:13:05,450 It was extremely flimsy. 254 00:13:05,527 --> 00:13:07,443 - NARRATOR: As investigators move to speak with 255 00:13:07,454 --> 00:13:10,947 Christine's ex-husband, Detective Fred Schultz, 256 00:13:10,957 --> 00:13:13,908 his partner pulls them aside. 257 00:13:13,985 --> 00:13:16,536 - ERIK: Michael Durfee had been Fred Schultz's partner 258 00:13:16,612 --> 00:13:17,945 that night. 259 00:13:18,023 --> 00:13:21,541 And he tells detectives that earlier that evening, 260 00:13:21,617 --> 00:13:24,794 Schultz had been making negative comments 261 00:13:24,805 --> 00:13:28,807 about his divorce from Christine. 262 00:13:28,883 --> 00:13:34,262 - Fred was tasked with paying her alimony, child support, 263 00:13:34,338 --> 00:13:36,764 and also the mortgage on the house, 264 00:13:36,841 --> 00:13:41,319 which made him furious, because he had built the house. 265 00:13:41,396 --> 00:13:45,940 About half of his police salary went into supporting her 266 00:13:46,017 --> 00:13:50,403 and supporting the house that he himself could not live in. 267 00:13:50,479 --> 00:13:53,656 Plus, he didn't have very much to do with the children, 268 00:13:53,667 --> 00:13:56,576 because Christine had full custody. 269 00:13:56,652 --> 00:13:57,651 - As far as motives go, 270 00:13:57,729 --> 00:14:00,505 Elfred Schultz had one of finances. 271 00:14:00,582 --> 00:14:03,291 And Stewart Honeck, Elfred Schultz's good friend 272 00:14:03,367 --> 00:14:05,418 on the Milwaukee Police Department, 273 00:14:05,494 --> 00:14:08,421 is dating Christine Schultz, 274 00:14:08,497 --> 00:14:12,016 and that didn't sit well with Elfred Schultz. 275 00:14:12,093 --> 00:14:15,928 He became upset, he became angry, he was very jealous. 276 00:14:16,005 --> 00:14:17,597 - ERIK: So here's the interesting thing. 277 00:14:17,673 --> 00:14:20,474 Fred Schultz, they find out, 278 00:14:20,551 --> 00:14:23,936 also had a key to Christine's property. 279 00:14:24,013 --> 00:14:26,364 - ♪ 280 00:14:26,441 --> 00:14:27,699 - NARRATOR: While the information creates 281 00:14:27,775 --> 00:14:31,777 an interesting lead, there is one problem. 282 00:14:31,854 --> 00:14:33,946 - KEVIN: Elfred Schultz had an alibi at the time. 283 00:14:34,023 --> 00:14:37,116 He was on duty along with fellow Milwaukee police officer, 284 00:14:37,193 --> 00:14:38,784 Michael Durfee. 285 00:14:38,861 --> 00:14:41,996 Durfee also said 286 00:14:42,073 --> 00:14:44,674 that the two were investigating elsewhere. 287 00:14:46,702 --> 00:14:48,887 - NARRATOR: Detectives ask Fred to come to the station 288 00:14:48,963 --> 00:14:51,631 for an interview, and they plan to follow up 289 00:14:51,707 --> 00:14:53,674 with Stewart afterwards. 290 00:14:53,751 --> 00:14:56,552 Meanwhile, officers fan out in search 291 00:14:56,563 --> 00:14:59,055 of other potential witnesses. 292 00:14:59,065 --> 00:15:00,973 - KATHERINE: While the investigation is going on, 293 00:15:01,050 --> 00:15:04,143 other police officers canvass the neighborhood to ask 294 00:15:04,220 --> 00:15:06,854 neighbors if they've seen anything. 295 00:15:06,931 --> 00:15:12,568 And a number of them mentioned that they had seen a jogger 296 00:15:12,579 --> 00:15:14,654 in the neighborhood several times, 297 00:15:14,730 --> 00:15:18,908 sometimes standing in front of Christine's house. 298 00:15:18,919 --> 00:15:21,085 - Multiple neighbors had seen someone running 299 00:15:21,162 --> 00:15:22,995 in a green tracksuit. 300 00:15:23,072 --> 00:15:25,665 So police ask around, and apparently, there is 301 00:15:25,741 --> 00:15:28,501 a man in the neighborhood who fits the description. 302 00:15:28,577 --> 00:15:32,380 - ♪ 303 00:15:32,456 --> 00:15:34,933 - NARRATOR: When detectives track down and interview the man 304 00:15:35,009 --> 00:15:38,678 later that morning, he doesn't deny owning an outfit like 305 00:15:38,754 --> 00:15:43,099 the one Christine's children said was worn by the killer. 306 00:15:43,109 --> 00:15:45,685 - KATHERINE: Christine's neighbor said that, the night 307 00:15:45,761 --> 00:15:48,938 of the murder, someone had taken a revolver from his house 308 00:15:48,949 --> 00:15:51,440 and a green jogging suit. 309 00:15:51,451 --> 00:15:54,860 - ♪ 310 00:15:54,937 --> 00:15:56,696 - NARRATOR: Was the killer trying to frame 311 00:15:56,772 --> 00:15:58,456 Christine's neighbor? 312 00:15:58,533 --> 00:16:00,908 Detectives immediately start looking for evidence 313 00:16:00,985 --> 00:16:03,953 to back up his concerning claim. 314 00:16:03,964 --> 00:16:05,871 - BILL: We couldn't find any record of him having 315 00:16:05,948 --> 00:16:07,915 bought a gun. 316 00:16:07,992 --> 00:16:13,421 We found out that he was lying about having a revolver. 317 00:16:13,497 --> 00:16:16,132 We believe that he had a soft spot for her 318 00:16:16,142 --> 00:16:20,636 and was an admirer of her, and I suppose he wanted to get 319 00:16:20,647 --> 00:16:24,649 next to her with his story of the gun being stolen. 320 00:16:27,562 --> 00:16:30,062 - NARRATOR: With the neighbor's story deemed as a desperate plea 321 00:16:30,139 --> 00:16:34,650 for attention, detectives find themselves at a dead end. 322 00:16:34,661 --> 00:16:35,901 - BILL: It was a made-up story. 323 00:16:35,978 --> 00:16:38,496 It just made the investigation more difficult. 324 00:16:38,573 --> 00:16:40,573 - ♪ 325 00:16:40,649 --> 00:16:42,058 - NARRATOR: Coming up: 326 00:16:42,060 --> 00:16:46,838 an unexpected discovery exposes a calculated cover-up. 327 00:16:46,914 --> 00:16:49,457 - BILL: When they start doing a background on where he was 328 00:16:49,533 --> 00:16:53,794 during the course of the night, it started getting holes in it. 329 00:16:53,871 --> 00:16:56,756 - It was clear that he was lying about some things. 330 00:16:56,832 --> 00:17:01,177 - The story was falling apart. 331 00:17:01,187 --> 00:17:13,522 - ♪ 332 00:17:13,533 --> 00:17:15,199 - NARRATOR: Detectives investigating the murder 333 00:17:15,276 --> 00:17:18,027 of mother of two, Christine Schultz, 334 00:17:18,038 --> 00:17:21,614 are once again exploring the possibility that one of 335 00:17:21,690 --> 00:17:25,877 the two men in her life may be responsible for her death-- 336 00:17:25,953 --> 00:17:30,664 police officer Stewart Honeck or Detective Fred Schultz. 337 00:17:30,741 --> 00:17:32,958 - KATHERINE: We have the man that she's involved with, 338 00:17:33,035 --> 00:17:35,878 and she has an ex-husband who's pretty angry about 339 00:17:35,889 --> 00:17:39,173 the fact that she has the house he built. 340 00:17:39,250 --> 00:17:41,726 - NARRATOR: With suspicion surrounding both men, 341 00:17:41,803 --> 00:17:45,221 detectives take a closer look at each of them. 342 00:17:45,231 --> 00:17:47,556 - KATHERINE: The detectives followed up on Stew. 343 00:17:47,567 --> 00:17:52,186 There wasn't any evidence that Stew Honeck had a motive, 344 00:17:52,263 --> 00:17:57,858 that he was angry, or had any reason to kill Christine. 345 00:17:57,935 --> 00:18:00,027 - NARRATOR: With Stewart Honeck seemingly cleared from 346 00:18:00,104 --> 00:18:02,822 the suspect list, detectives shift their focus 347 00:18:02,898 --> 00:18:05,866 back to Fred Schultz. 348 00:18:05,943 --> 00:18:09,203 - Fred Schultz's story is that he was investigating a burglary 349 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:11,038 the night of the murder. 350 00:18:11,115 --> 00:18:13,707 - BILL: When they start doing a background on where he was 351 00:18:13,784 --> 00:18:17,670 during the course of the night, it started getting holes in it. 352 00:18:17,746 --> 00:18:21,757 The story was falling apart. 353 00:18:21,768 --> 00:18:24,769 - KATHERINE: It was clear that he was lying about some things. 354 00:18:24,846 --> 00:18:28,347 It turned out that two other patrol officers had actually 355 00:18:28,424 --> 00:18:30,057 investigated that burglary. 356 00:18:30,134 --> 00:18:34,061 - ♪ 357 00:18:34,138 --> 00:18:36,021 - NARRATOR: Investigators confront Fred 358 00:18:36,098 --> 00:18:38,232 with their findings. 359 00:18:38,309 --> 00:18:41,119 - He said, "Well, actually, I was at such and such tavern." 360 00:18:41,195 --> 00:18:42,862 Which is out of his district. 361 00:18:42,938 --> 00:18:45,281 He wasn't supposed to be there. 362 00:18:45,291 --> 00:18:48,793 - They were in a bar drinking, and they didn't want to tell 363 00:18:48,870 --> 00:18:51,078 the truth initially because they were afraid that it would 364 00:18:51,155 --> 00:18:55,249 come out that they may have been drinking while on duty. 365 00:18:55,326 --> 00:18:58,252 - So they sit down and ask Detective Schultz straight out, 366 00:18:58,329 --> 00:18:59,920 "Did you kill your ex-wife?" 367 00:18:59,997 --> 00:19:02,140 He says, "No." 368 00:19:02,216 --> 00:19:04,642 - He maintains his innocence so strongly 369 00:19:04,719 --> 00:19:07,094 that he agrees to take a polygraph test. 370 00:19:07,171 --> 00:19:09,305 - ♪ 371 00:19:09,315 --> 00:19:12,391 - They typically use the polygraph, especially back 372 00:19:12,468 --> 00:19:13,800 in 1981, 373 00:19:13,878 --> 00:19:18,272 to scare people into thinking they'll get caught. 374 00:19:18,349 --> 00:19:22,818 He took a test... and he did pass. 375 00:19:22,829 --> 00:19:26,280 - ♪ 376 00:19:26,357 --> 00:19:28,741 - NARRATOR: But just before Fred is released, 377 00:19:28,817 --> 00:19:32,745 he makes an unexpected admission to detectives. 378 00:19:32,821 --> 00:19:34,997 - ERIK: It turns out Fred Schultz had two guns. 379 00:19:35,008 --> 00:19:36,916 One was his service revolver. 380 00:19:36,992 --> 00:19:39,677 The other was his off-duty revolver-- 381 00:19:39,754 --> 00:19:42,796 a .38 caliber--and the only other person that had access 382 00:19:42,873 --> 00:19:46,759 to that was his wife, Laurie Bembenek. 383 00:19:46,835 --> 00:19:49,803 - Police now suspected Laurie Bembenek 384 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:52,139 may have had a role in this killing. 385 00:19:52,216 --> 00:19:54,859 - ♪ 386 00:19:54,936 --> 00:19:58,696 - NARRATOR: Like Fred Schultz, Lawrencia "Laurie" Bembenek 387 00:19:58,773 --> 00:20:00,940 was also from Milwaukee. 388 00:20:01,016 --> 00:20:05,819 - Laurie and I met the first time in grade school. 389 00:20:05,896 --> 00:20:09,198 We always were together, almost always together. 390 00:20:09,209 --> 00:20:11,200 We were just best friends. 391 00:20:11,211 --> 00:20:13,827 - Laurie grew into a beautiful young woman. 392 00:20:13,904 --> 00:20:16,997 She was tall, had a beautiful smile, great style. 393 00:20:17,074 --> 00:20:20,709 Everyone thought she was a knockout. 394 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:25,005 - NARRATOR: In 1980, Laurie felt a calling to public service. 395 00:20:25,082 --> 00:20:27,341 - Laurie Bembenek's father was a police officer, 396 00:20:27,418 --> 00:20:29,393 so from a very young age, 397 00:20:29,470 --> 00:20:32,063 Laurie wanted to become a police officer. 398 00:20:32,139 --> 00:20:36,016 - Other than adoring her father and following in his footsteps, 399 00:20:36,093 --> 00:20:39,186 I think she also wanted to make a difference in society 400 00:20:39,263 --> 00:20:41,405 with her life and help people. 401 00:20:41,482 --> 00:20:44,358 - ♪ 402 00:20:44,435 --> 00:20:47,027 - NARRATOR: But in August of 1980, shortly after 403 00:20:47,104 --> 00:20:49,413 she graduated from the police academy, 404 00:20:49,490 --> 00:20:53,909 Laurie's dream came to an unexpected end. 405 00:20:53,920 --> 00:20:58,205 - There was an incident with marijuana at a concert 406 00:20:58,282 --> 00:21:00,165 at the Milwaukee Arena. 407 00:21:00,242 --> 00:21:04,428 Uh, she was with other people and someone was busted 408 00:21:04,505 --> 00:21:07,339 and prosecuted for marijuana. 409 00:21:07,416 --> 00:21:10,884 She had to file a report as an off-duty police officer. 410 00:21:10,961 --> 00:21:12,553 And from what I know, what she told me, 411 00:21:12,629 --> 00:21:16,774 is that she was let go and fired for filing a false report. 412 00:21:16,851 --> 00:21:20,352 I guess in my mind, she tried to not incriminate 413 00:21:20,429 --> 00:21:24,231 certain friends, and, ah, wanted to be a friend in return, 414 00:21:24,308 --> 00:21:29,069 but kind of backfired, I guess. 415 00:21:29,146 --> 00:21:33,240 - NARRATOR: For Laurie, it was a devastating turn of events. 416 00:21:33,317 --> 00:21:34,292 - KATHERINE: She was stunned. 417 00:21:34,368 --> 00:21:36,910 It was based on filing a false report. 418 00:21:36,987 --> 00:21:40,080 She thought it was a minor infraction. 419 00:21:40,157 --> 00:21:43,417 - MARY: After Laurie was fired, she took a security guard 420 00:21:43,494 --> 00:21:47,421 position at Marquette University, and she 421 00:21:47,498 --> 00:21:51,925 taught, uh, physical fitness on the side. 422 00:21:52,002 --> 00:21:56,388 - Laurie had also taken a three, four-week job 423 00:21:56,465 --> 00:21:58,098 as a waitress at the Playboy Club 424 00:21:58,175 --> 00:22:00,151 in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, 425 00:22:00,227 --> 00:22:03,112 where this nickname, Bambi, got associated with her. 426 00:22:04,991 --> 00:22:07,066 - NARRATOR: While Laurie struggled to stay afloat, 427 00:22:07,142 --> 00:22:09,068 she suspected her termination 428 00:22:09,144 --> 00:22:12,237 could be punishment for something else. 429 00:22:12,314 --> 00:22:15,449 - Before the concert, she was discovering that all the women 430 00:22:15,526 --> 00:22:19,161 and minorities were being discharged from the academy 431 00:22:19,172 --> 00:22:22,498 for, you know, stupid things, real small incidences, 432 00:22:22,508 --> 00:22:24,333 and that Milwaukee Police Department was keeping 433 00:22:24,344 --> 00:22:27,961 the Title 9 money they were entitled to recruit 434 00:22:28,038 --> 00:22:31,015 these people and run them through the academy. 435 00:22:31,092 --> 00:22:34,185 She was going to cooperate in a lawsuit against 436 00:22:34,261 --> 00:22:36,136 the Milwaukee Police Department. 437 00:22:36,213 --> 00:22:38,972 She suspects that that's why she was turned in for 438 00:22:39,049 --> 00:22:41,975 the marijuana at the concert. 439 00:22:42,052 --> 00:22:47,439 - I think she stood up for things and spoke up in ways 440 00:22:47,516 --> 00:22:50,651 that maybe offended some people. 441 00:22:50,727 --> 00:22:52,152 But from what I know of Laurie, 442 00:22:52,229 --> 00:22:55,155 it was for trying to do the right thing. 443 00:22:55,232 --> 00:22:57,541 - All of this was happening around the time Laurie 444 00:22:57,618 --> 00:23:01,370 met Fred Schultz and their whirlwind romance began. 445 00:23:01,381 --> 00:23:04,331 - ♪ 446 00:23:04,408 --> 00:23:06,625 - NARRATOR: The complicated past of Fred Schultz's 447 00:23:06,702 --> 00:23:11,463 22-year-old wife is no secret to investigators. 448 00:23:11,540 --> 00:23:13,966 - She became a natural suspect 449 00:23:14,042 --> 00:23:17,511 that the authorities were interested in talking to. 450 00:23:17,588 --> 00:23:19,346 - KATHERINE: When Laurie was asked to account for 451 00:23:19,423 --> 00:23:23,058 her movements that evening, she and Fred were moving to 452 00:23:23,069 --> 00:23:26,019 a smaller apartment that was more affordable. 453 00:23:26,096 --> 00:23:30,023 So, she and her mother spent till around 11:30 packing 454 00:23:30,100 --> 00:23:31,575 and then she went to bed. 455 00:23:31,652 --> 00:23:34,903 - She just, uh, denied any knowledge. 456 00:23:34,914 --> 00:23:38,073 She had no knowledge of what occurred. 457 00:23:38,084 --> 00:23:41,034 - JOANNE: Laurie had no animosity towards Christine. 458 00:23:41,111 --> 00:23:42,420 It was very amicable. 459 00:23:42,496 --> 00:23:45,914 Fred had some animosity because of the financial issues. 460 00:23:45,925 --> 00:23:48,667 - ♪ 461 00:23:48,744 --> 00:23:52,713 - NARRATOR: For the next two weeks, the case languishes. 462 00:23:52,789 --> 00:23:58,051 - Just a few short weeks after the murder of Christine Schultz, 463 00:23:58,128 --> 00:24:00,220 Laurie Bembenek and Elfred Schultz 464 00:24:00,297 --> 00:24:04,099 move into a different apartment building. 465 00:24:04,110 --> 00:24:06,727 - NARRATOR: But it's a development at their old complex 466 00:24:06,803 --> 00:24:11,440 that soon sparks investigators' interest. 467 00:24:11,451 --> 00:24:14,118 - KATHERINE: On June 10, 1981, 468 00:24:14,195 --> 00:24:19,957 a woman called a plumber because her toilet was stopped up. 469 00:24:20,034 --> 00:24:23,535 - When the plumber gets there, he checks the drain lines, 470 00:24:23,612 --> 00:24:26,038 and makes a strange discovery. 471 00:24:26,114 --> 00:24:30,584 - The plumber found a wig clogging the works. 472 00:24:30,661 --> 00:24:32,544 - NARRATOR: The woman has no knowledge of where 473 00:24:32,621 --> 00:24:38,425 this wig came from, but she says maybe her former neighbors do. 474 00:24:38,502 --> 00:24:41,553 - MARTIN: The apartment that Laurie and Fred were living in 475 00:24:41,630 --> 00:24:45,483 shared the plumbing with the apartment next door. 476 00:24:45,559 --> 00:24:48,143 - ♪ 477 00:24:48,154 --> 00:24:49,653 - KATHERINE: The police officers came 478 00:24:49,730 --> 00:24:53,440 since the neighbor said there was some question of a wig 479 00:24:53,517 --> 00:24:58,987 being used in the murder of Christine, worn by the killer. 480 00:24:58,998 --> 00:25:00,614 - BILL: The plumber fished the wig out. 481 00:25:00,691 --> 00:25:03,575 By that time, there was police at the apartment, 482 00:25:03,652 --> 00:25:08,622 so the wig was grabbed as potential evidence. 483 00:25:08,699 --> 00:25:10,749 As it turned out, it was evidence. 484 00:25:10,826 --> 00:25:13,460 - ♪ 485 00:25:13,537 --> 00:25:16,255 - ERIK: It was a reddish-brown wig, 486 00:25:16,331 --> 00:25:19,508 and that was important for two reasons. 487 00:25:19,519 --> 00:25:23,428 Her sons had described the intruder as having hair 488 00:25:23,505 --> 00:25:28,692 of that same color, and police found one strand 489 00:25:28,769 --> 00:25:33,689 of synthetic hair of that color on Christine's leg. 490 00:25:33,699 --> 00:25:36,108 - Although the wig was suspicious, they still 491 00:25:36,184 --> 00:25:39,036 couldn't prove who flushed it down the toilet. 492 00:25:39,113 --> 00:25:40,821 It's very circumstantial evidence. 493 00:25:40,897 --> 00:25:43,541 - ♪ 494 00:25:43,617 --> 00:25:46,368 - NARRATOR: As they continue to dig into Fred and Laurie's 495 00:25:46,379 --> 00:25:50,622 background, investigators learn the couple lived with a roommate 496 00:25:50,699 --> 00:25:54,209 named Judy Zess at their former apartment. 497 00:25:54,220 --> 00:25:56,712 - KEVIN: Judy Zess was a dear friend of Laurie Bembenek. 498 00:25:56,722 --> 00:25:59,214 They had actually met while the two were at 499 00:25:59,225 --> 00:26:01,466 the Milwaukee Police Academy. 500 00:26:01,543 --> 00:26:03,510 - NARRATOR: Detectives set up a meeting with Judy 501 00:26:03,587 --> 00:26:07,180 and her mother a few weeks after the murder. 502 00:26:07,257 --> 00:26:09,516 - SHANNON: Judy lived with Laurie and Fred for a while, 503 00:26:09,593 --> 00:26:13,687 and she claimed that Laurie owned some of the same items 504 00:26:13,764 --> 00:26:16,690 that were found at the crime scene. 505 00:26:16,767 --> 00:26:19,192 - KATHERINE: She had seen a blue bandana, 506 00:26:19,269 --> 00:26:23,572 and she had seen a clothesline that was like the kind of rope 507 00:26:23,583 --> 00:26:27,200 that was used to bind Christine's hands. 508 00:26:27,277 --> 00:26:31,371 - NARRATOR: Investigators ask her about one more detail. 509 00:26:31,448 --> 00:26:34,666 - She claimed that she had seen a green jogging suit 510 00:26:34,743 --> 00:26:36,335 that Laurie owned. 511 00:26:36,411 --> 00:26:38,596 - NARRATOR: But it's what Judy's mother says next 512 00:26:38,672 --> 00:26:43,383 that raises the final red flag for detectives. 513 00:26:43,460 --> 00:26:45,719 - KATHERINE: The mother of Judy Zess said that she had 514 00:26:45,796 --> 00:26:50,849 overheard Laurie say, "Christine should be blown away." 515 00:26:50,926 --> 00:26:53,444 - BILL: Bembenek was disturbed that a certain amount 516 00:26:53,520 --> 00:26:57,105 of her husband's money was going to her for the support 517 00:26:57,116 --> 00:27:01,568 of the children, and that irritated her to no end. 518 00:27:01,645 --> 00:27:02,861 - NARRATOR: While money appears to be 519 00:27:02,938 --> 00:27:05,197 a strong motive for the murder, 520 00:27:05,273 --> 00:27:12,796 detectives are still lacking hard evidence to prove it. 521 00:27:12,873 --> 00:27:15,415 - KATHERINE: On June 18, Fred Schultz brought 522 00:27:15,492 --> 00:27:19,586 his off-duty weapon to be tested at the crime lab. 523 00:27:19,663 --> 00:27:22,255 It was in his possession, I believe, for three weeks 524 00:27:22,332 --> 00:27:24,808 before he actually turned it in. 525 00:27:24,885 --> 00:27:26,760 - SHANNON: This was actually the second time 526 00:27:26,837 --> 00:27:30,481 someone was supposed to have examined the weapon. 527 00:27:30,557 --> 00:27:34,476 Hours after Christine's death, Fred Schultz's supervisor 528 00:27:34,487 --> 00:27:36,603 asks his partner, Michael Durfee, 529 00:27:36,680 --> 00:27:39,439 to examine his off-duty revolver. 530 00:27:39,516 --> 00:27:42,818 - BILL: He made an assumption that the gun hadn't been fired, 531 00:27:42,828 --> 00:27:45,570 because of dust around the barrel. 532 00:27:45,647 --> 00:27:48,782 It should've been confiscated right then and there. 533 00:27:48,859 --> 00:27:51,326 There's nothing else to eliminate it. 534 00:27:51,337 --> 00:27:55,339 But for some reason, that wasn't done. 535 00:27:55,416 --> 00:28:00,252 - Ballistics find that that bullet in Christine Schultz 536 00:28:00,328 --> 00:28:03,588 matched Elfred Schultz's off-duty revolver. 537 00:28:03,665 --> 00:28:07,685 - ♪ 538 00:28:07,761 --> 00:28:11,430 - Laurie Bembenek was arrested at her job 539 00:28:11,506 --> 00:28:14,933 as security at Marquette University. 540 00:28:15,010 --> 00:28:17,477 Her locker was searched. 541 00:28:17,554 --> 00:28:21,273 - BILL: Detectives spotted the hairbrush and snatched it, 542 00:28:21,349 --> 00:28:23,316 and said, "You mind if we check this out?" 543 00:28:23,393 --> 00:28:26,486 And she said, "No, go ahead." 544 00:28:26,563 --> 00:28:28,655 - KATHERINE: The hair analyst made what we call 545 00:28:28,732 --> 00:28:32,784 a gross comparison, looking simply at the appearance, 546 00:28:32,861 --> 00:28:36,329 said that the appearance of the strands of the hair 547 00:28:36,406 --> 00:28:40,625 from that hairbrush matched with hair that had been found 548 00:28:40,702 --> 00:28:43,670 in the blue bandana that had been used 549 00:28:43,747 --> 00:28:45,797 on the night Christine was murdered. 550 00:28:45,874 --> 00:28:49,217 - ♪ 551 00:28:49,228 --> 00:28:50,728 - NARRATOR: Coming up: 552 00:28:50,804 --> 00:28:54,898 A shocking turn of events leads to the trial of the century. 553 00:28:54,975 --> 00:28:57,350 - The TV stations sensationalized 554 00:28:57,427 --> 00:28:58,643 the whole thing. 555 00:28:58,720 --> 00:29:01,354 - The media blew it way out of proportion, 556 00:29:01,431 --> 00:29:03,315 and that's where the Playboy Bunny Killer 557 00:29:03,391 --> 00:29:04,858 headlines came in. 558 00:29:04,935 --> 00:29:09,362 - It just made no sense. It was horrific. 559 00:29:09,439 --> 00:29:19,465 - ♪ 560 00:29:21,743 --> 00:29:24,377 - NARRATOR: On June 24, 1981, 561 00:29:24,454 --> 00:29:27,672 28 days since the murder of Christine Schultz, 562 00:29:27,749 --> 00:29:31,051 authorities have just arrested Detective Fred Schultz's 563 00:29:31,127 --> 00:29:35,430 young wife, Laurie Bembenek, for the crime. 564 00:29:35,441 --> 00:29:38,275 - People speculated that Fred Schultz was somehow 565 00:29:38,352 --> 00:29:42,613 involved with the crime, but he was never charged. 566 00:29:42,689 --> 00:29:45,449 - NARRATOR: Details of 22-year-old Laurie Bembenek's 567 00:29:45,526 --> 00:29:49,361 arrest quickly make front page news. 568 00:29:49,437 --> 00:29:52,113 - The TV stations sensationalized 569 00:29:52,124 --> 00:29:53,791 the whole thing. 570 00:29:53,867 --> 00:29:56,535 - The media blew it way out of proportion, 571 00:29:56,611 --> 00:29:58,462 and that's where the Playboy Bunny Killer 572 00:29:58,539 --> 00:30:00,455 headlines came in. 573 00:30:00,466 --> 00:30:03,875 - ERIK: The press portrayed Laurie Bembenek as this 574 00:30:03,952 --> 00:30:07,971 beautiful, perhaps conniving femme fatale, 575 00:30:08,048 --> 00:30:10,048 who had it out for Fred's ex-wife. 576 00:30:10,125 --> 00:30:13,644 - ♪ 577 00:30:13,720 --> 00:30:19,432 - NARRATOR: Laurie's official trial begins in March of 1982. 578 00:30:19,509 --> 00:30:22,435 - KATHERINE: The prosecutor thought Laurie wanted 579 00:30:22,512 --> 00:30:24,988 Christine out of the picture in part because 580 00:30:25,065 --> 00:30:30,443 that way, her husband wouldn't have to pay all the support. 581 00:30:30,520 --> 00:30:34,823 - The state contended that Laurie got the spare key 582 00:30:34,834 --> 00:30:40,504 to Christine's house, put on the jogging suit and wig, 583 00:30:40,581 --> 00:30:44,341 jogged to the house, committed the crime. 584 00:30:47,421 --> 00:30:49,346 - [gunshot blasts] 585 00:30:49,423 --> 00:30:50,848 - ♪ 586 00:30:50,924 --> 00:30:52,841 - MARTIN: And jogged back home without anyone seeing her. 587 00:30:52,852 --> 00:30:55,176 - ♪ 588 00:30:55,187 --> 00:30:58,096 - Prosecutors say she went back home, changed clothes, 589 00:30:58,173 --> 00:31:01,516 put the gun where she found it, and was home when Fred 590 00:31:01,527 --> 00:31:04,144 called to tell her about the murder. 591 00:31:04,220 --> 00:31:06,438 - BILL: Things start falling together. 592 00:31:06,514 --> 00:31:10,442 She was the one that had access to the murder weapon. 593 00:31:10,518 --> 00:31:14,863 The wig, strands of it, matched strands on the victim's body. 594 00:31:14,874 --> 00:31:17,616 - ♪ 595 00:31:17,692 --> 00:31:19,117 - NARRATOR: It would seem prosecutors have 596 00:31:19,194 --> 00:31:22,537 a mountain of evidence, but Laurie's defense team 597 00:31:22,548 --> 00:31:27,885 reminds jurors it's just circumstantial. 598 00:31:27,961 --> 00:31:30,462 - KEVIN: Detective Michael Durfee initially said 599 00:31:30,538 --> 00:31:34,883 that Elfred Schultz's off-duty revolver was cold 600 00:31:34,894 --> 00:31:37,010 and dusty, giving the insinuation 601 00:31:37,087 --> 00:31:39,512 that it probably wasn't fired. 602 00:31:39,589 --> 00:31:41,723 - NARRATOR: Laurie's defense also reminds jurors 603 00:31:41,734 --> 00:31:46,019 that Michael initially lied about Fred's alibi. 604 00:31:46,096 --> 00:31:49,689 - The defense used this information 605 00:31:49,766 --> 00:31:55,195 to plant the seed of doubt in the minds of the jurors. 606 00:31:55,271 --> 00:31:57,822 - NARRATOR: The next line of defense is the testimony of 607 00:31:57,899 --> 00:32:01,660 Christine Schultz's 11-year-old son, Sean. 608 00:32:01,736 --> 00:32:04,913 - He was rather, uh, vivid, you might say, in his description 609 00:32:04,924 --> 00:32:07,749 that he thought it was a man. 610 00:32:07,760 --> 00:32:10,585 - He said the man was wearing a green jacket 611 00:32:10,596 --> 00:32:13,597 and had shoes similar to that of a police officer. 612 00:32:13,674 --> 00:32:19,010 He never changed his story, not even at trial. 613 00:32:19,087 --> 00:32:21,596 - NARRATOR: The defense team also calls into question 614 00:32:21,607 --> 00:32:25,100 the wig found in Laurie's old apartment. 615 00:32:25,110 --> 00:32:26,777 - ERIK: This is 1981. 616 00:32:26,853 --> 00:32:31,773 There is no DNA testing in criminal procedure at that time. 617 00:32:31,784 --> 00:32:34,693 Laurie's attorney tried to hammer home the fact that 618 00:32:34,769 --> 00:32:37,529 there wasn't that kind of exact science, 619 00:32:37,605 --> 00:32:42,742 and someone else might have put that wig down the toilet. 620 00:32:42,819 --> 00:32:44,869 - ♪ 621 00:32:44,946 --> 00:32:48,581 - NARRATOR: On March 5, 1982, the one person that could 622 00:32:48,658 --> 00:32:52,970 sway the outcome of this trial takes the stand-- 623 00:32:53,046 --> 00:32:55,964 23-year-old Laurie Bembenek. 624 00:32:55,975 --> 00:32:58,758 - MARTIN: When she got up and did her testimony, 625 00:32:58,835 --> 00:33:01,478 she denied everything. 626 00:33:01,555 --> 00:33:02,871 - NARRATOR: For those present, 627 00:33:02,873 --> 00:33:06,650 Laurie's testimony leaves some expecting more. 628 00:33:06,727 --> 00:33:09,152 - News accounts of her on the stand portrayed her as 629 00:33:09,229 --> 00:33:13,148 "cold and aloof" and that clearly hurt her case. 630 00:33:13,158 --> 00:33:15,316 - Laurie was only 23. 631 00:33:15,327 --> 00:33:16,818 She was terrified. 632 00:33:16,829 --> 00:33:22,157 Many people may have misinterpreted her demeanor. 633 00:33:22,167 --> 00:33:24,659 - NARRATOR: At the conclusion of the two-week trial, 634 00:33:24,670 --> 00:33:29,247 a jury retires to deliberate Laurie Bembenek's fate. 635 00:33:29,324 --> 00:33:32,000 - The jury deliberated for four days and they did 636 00:33:32,011 --> 00:33:36,755 return a verdict of guilty of first-degree murder, 637 00:33:36,831 --> 00:33:40,258 and Laurie was given a life sentence. 638 00:33:40,335 --> 00:33:44,104 - KEVIN: She sat without movement, without emotion. 639 00:33:45,190 --> 00:33:49,642 I didn't see any tears. 640 00:33:49,719 --> 00:33:51,019 I saw nothing. 641 00:33:51,030 --> 00:33:53,030 She was pretty stoic. 642 00:33:53,106 --> 00:33:57,192 - She tried her very best to tell the truth. 643 00:33:57,202 --> 00:33:59,110 She thought she didn't have anything to lose 644 00:33:59,187 --> 00:34:02,280 if she told the truth, and it all flipped on her. 645 00:34:02,357 --> 00:34:04,875 - ♪ 646 00:34:04,951 --> 00:34:06,284 - NARRATOR: Coming up: 647 00:34:06,361 --> 00:34:11,122 just as the case seems shut, Laurie has other ideas. 648 00:34:11,199 --> 00:34:13,374 - They hatched a plan for her escape. 649 00:34:13,385 --> 00:34:16,336 A quote/unquote, "window of opportunity." 650 00:34:16,412 --> 00:34:20,048 - This slogan rose up: "Run, Bambi, run." 651 00:34:20,059 --> 00:34:21,633 - JOANNE: It was just unbelievable! 652 00:34:21,709 --> 00:34:24,677 I kept thinking, "This isn't real, this can't be real." 653 00:34:24,754 --> 00:34:26,346 - [siren wails] 654 00:34:26,422 --> 00:34:38,909 - ♪ 655 00:34:38,985 --> 00:34:43,822 - NARRATOR: On March 9, 1982, 23-year-old Laurie Bembenek 656 00:34:43,898 --> 00:34:46,699 was sentenced to life in prison for the murder 657 00:34:46,776 --> 00:34:50,328 of her husband's ex-wife, Christine Schultz. 658 00:34:50,405 --> 00:34:52,255 - ERIK: After Laurie was convicted, 659 00:34:52,332 --> 00:34:56,000 Fred Schultz divorced her, moved to Florida, and he would 660 00:34:56,077 --> 00:34:59,930 later tell people that he was convinced she was guilty. 661 00:35:00,006 --> 00:35:03,258 - Christine's boys were raised by family. 662 00:35:03,268 --> 00:35:04,843 - ♪ 663 00:35:04,919 --> 00:35:07,929 - NARRATOR: For the next eight years, the former police officer 664 00:35:07,940 --> 00:35:10,941 is housed at the Taycheedah Correctional Facility 665 00:35:11,017 --> 00:35:13,777 in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin. 666 00:35:13,854 --> 00:35:18,115 - Laurie filed several appeals, all of them were turned down. 667 00:35:18,191 --> 00:35:20,784 - Laurie Bembenek always maintained her innocence 668 00:35:20,861 --> 00:35:25,196 and has asserted that she was set up, that she was framed, 669 00:35:25,273 --> 00:35:27,949 because she was no friend of 670 00:35:27,960 --> 00:35:31,294 the authorities at the Milwaukee Police Department. 671 00:35:31,371 --> 00:35:33,913 - Laurie had lost all three of her appeals 672 00:35:33,990 --> 00:35:35,957 and was getting very frustrated. 673 00:35:35,968 --> 00:35:37,709 - ♪ 674 00:35:37,785 --> 00:35:42,422 - NARRATOR: On July 15, 1990, after 8 years behind bars, 675 00:35:42,498 --> 00:35:45,967 a new development occurs in Laurie's case. 676 00:35:45,978 --> 00:35:48,261 - MALE REPORTER: Bembenek spent eight years in prison 677 00:35:48,338 --> 00:35:50,981 and then escaped! 678 00:35:51,057 --> 00:35:55,310 - It was on the news, and it was just unbelievable! 679 00:35:55,320 --> 00:36:00,365 I just kept thinking, "This isn't real, this can't be real." 680 00:36:01,493 --> 00:36:05,987 - NARRATOR: Police have reason to believe Laurie isn't alone. 681 00:36:05,998 --> 00:36:08,448 - KATHERINE: This is another very odd thing when, 682 00:36:08,524 --> 00:36:12,002 somebody's convicted of murder, and they're kind of infamous, 683 00:36:12,078 --> 00:36:16,789 and with someone like Laurie Bembenek, who was beautiful, 684 00:36:16,866 --> 00:36:20,177 she had plenty of admirers, but she saw the brother 685 00:36:20,253 --> 00:36:23,922 of one of the women who was also serving in the same place, 686 00:36:23,998 --> 00:36:28,518 and she thought he was cute, his name was Dominic Guglietti. 687 00:36:28,595 --> 00:36:30,970 She flirted with him, he flirted back 688 00:36:31,047 --> 00:36:34,265 when he came to see his sister. 689 00:36:34,342 --> 00:36:38,269 They spent time together and got engaged. 690 00:36:38,346 --> 00:36:41,105 - NARRATOR: Unable to find Dominic, authorities piece 691 00:36:41,182 --> 00:36:44,817 together how they believe he helped her escape. 692 00:36:44,894 --> 00:36:46,486 - KATHERINE: In the laundry room, she saw a window that 693 00:36:46,562 --> 00:36:49,322 she thought she could get through. 694 00:36:49,399 --> 00:36:54,494 So, she formed a plan with Dominic to help her escape, 695 00:36:54,570 --> 00:36:58,048 and he had prepared the getaway car and supplies. 696 00:36:58,124 --> 00:37:01,209 - A quote/unquote "window of opportunity." 697 00:37:01,220 --> 00:37:05,838 She slipped through the window, crawled over the fence. 698 00:37:05,915 --> 00:37:07,390 She had a little jacket or something with her, 699 00:37:07,467 --> 00:37:09,226 threw it over the barbed wire. 700 00:37:09,302 --> 00:37:12,887 - JOANNE: She did cut her leg on the razor wire, 701 00:37:12,898 --> 00:37:16,891 but she was able to get through and ran to a waiting car. 702 00:37:16,902 --> 00:37:18,902 And he was there, and they-- 703 00:37:18,979 --> 00:37:21,813 they were out of town in a matter of minutes. 704 00:37:21,889 --> 00:37:25,900 - ♪ 705 00:37:25,911 --> 00:37:27,527 - JACKIE: She tried an appeal. 706 00:37:27,603 --> 00:37:30,247 She tried to do it the right way, 707 00:37:30,323 --> 00:37:33,416 and it was sort of discarded. 708 00:37:33,493 --> 00:37:35,201 It was like, "I have to save my life. 709 00:37:35,278 --> 00:37:38,421 Nothing's working that's supposed to work." 710 00:37:38,498 --> 00:37:41,416 - KATHERINE: When Laurie escaped, 711 00:37:41,426 --> 00:37:44,427 the residents of Wisconsin said if they saw her, 712 00:37:44,504 --> 00:37:49,257 they would not turn her in, because they agreed, you know, 713 00:37:49,268 --> 00:37:51,509 she did not get a fair trial, 714 00:37:51,586 --> 00:37:54,095 and they were rooting for her. 715 00:37:54,106 --> 00:37:56,055 - SHANNON: One reason public sentiment shifted 716 00:37:56,132 --> 00:37:59,276 in Laurie's favor is because her friend, Judy Zess, 717 00:37:59,352 --> 00:38:01,269 recanted her statements. 718 00:38:01,280 --> 00:38:04,522 Judy's testimony was important, because she testified that 719 00:38:04,599 --> 00:38:08,109 she had seen the same bandana and jogging suit 720 00:38:08,120 --> 00:38:10,570 that Christine Schultz's killer used in Laurie's home 721 00:38:10,646 --> 00:38:13,906 prior to the murder. 722 00:38:13,983 --> 00:38:15,959 - NARRATOR: For the next three months, 723 00:38:16,036 --> 00:38:18,077 the former Milwaukee police officer 724 00:38:18,154 --> 00:38:21,205 and her lover remain on the lam. 725 00:38:21,282 --> 00:38:23,374 - "America's Most Wanted" was a TV show 726 00:38:23,451 --> 00:38:27,211 that would talk about cases of fugitives. 727 00:38:27,288 --> 00:38:30,131 - MARTIN: She was working in Thunder Bay, Ontario, 728 00:38:30,142 --> 00:38:33,634 and someone from America was there who had seen the show 729 00:38:33,645 --> 00:38:34,978 and recognized her. 730 00:38:35,055 --> 00:38:38,306 - [siren wails] 731 00:38:38,317 --> 00:38:39,724 - NARRATOR: Following her arrest, 732 00:38:39,801 --> 00:38:44,979 Laurie Bembenek applies for political asylum in Canada. 733 00:38:44,990 --> 00:38:46,397 - She claimed there was no chance 734 00:38:46,474 --> 00:38:49,326 she was ever going to get a fair trial. 735 00:38:49,402 --> 00:38:53,330 - NARRATOR: On April 22, 1991, Laurie is extradited 736 00:38:53,406 --> 00:38:55,999 back to the US under the condition that 737 00:38:56,076 --> 00:38:59,660 the Milwaukee courts reexamine her case. 738 00:38:59,671 --> 00:39:01,171 - JOANNE: When they did get her back, 739 00:39:01,247 --> 00:39:05,249 she was in solitary for a year, but then through that year, 740 00:39:05,326 --> 00:39:08,419 these attorneys worked on her case. 741 00:39:08,496 --> 00:39:11,923 - NARRATOR: Laurie's team exposes seven irregularities 742 00:39:11,999 --> 00:39:14,634 in the original investigation. 743 00:39:14,710 --> 00:39:17,520 - The ruling judge found no evidence 744 00:39:17,597 --> 00:39:22,934 of a conspiracy by prosecutors, but he had significant problems 745 00:39:23,010 --> 00:39:25,645 with the handling of the off-duty gun 746 00:39:25,721 --> 00:39:27,522 and the bullets, 747 00:39:27,532 --> 00:39:31,359 so prosecutors decided to cut a deal. 748 00:39:31,370 --> 00:39:33,703 - KATHERINE: Laurie was offered a deal that if she 749 00:39:33,780 --> 00:39:37,207 pleaded no contest to second-degree murder, 750 00:39:37,283 --> 00:39:40,368 they would give her credit for time already served, 751 00:39:40,379 --> 00:39:43,380 and then she would be on supervised parole 752 00:39:43,456 --> 00:39:45,164 where she can go free. 753 00:39:45,241 --> 00:39:48,551 - ♪ 754 00:39:48,628 --> 00:39:52,213 - JACKIE: In '97, Laurie had been released. 755 00:39:52,224 --> 00:39:55,299 And I think to have a more peaceful life, 756 00:39:55,376 --> 00:39:57,135 moved to Vancouver. 757 00:39:57,211 --> 00:39:59,396 It was a new start for her. 758 00:39:59,472 --> 00:40:03,141 - In about 2004, I finally got the courage to ask her 759 00:40:03,217 --> 00:40:06,352 to marry me after everything she'd been through, 760 00:40:06,429 --> 00:40:09,406 and we got married in 2005. 761 00:40:09,482 --> 00:40:11,074 We were only married for two years 762 00:40:11,151 --> 00:40:13,076 and had an amicable divorce. 763 00:40:13,153 --> 00:40:17,029 - ♪ 764 00:40:17,106 --> 00:40:20,032 - NARRATOR: As time passes, Laurie's team, headed up by 765 00:40:20,109 --> 00:40:24,036 defense attorney Mary Woehrer and P.I. Ira Robbins, 766 00:40:24,113 --> 00:40:26,998 uncover new evidence that casts further doubt 767 00:40:27,074 --> 00:40:30,209 over Laurie's earlier conviction. 768 00:40:30,286 --> 00:40:32,095 - KEVIN: Mary Woehrer calls for a complete thorough 769 00:40:32,172 --> 00:40:34,764 investigation of the evidence from the case. 770 00:40:34,841 --> 00:40:39,385 And now DNA gets involved, so the thought is, "Hmm, 771 00:40:39,462 --> 00:40:41,438 "we're gonna reexamine all of this. 772 00:40:41,514 --> 00:40:43,723 "It was circumstantial to begin with. 773 00:40:43,799 --> 00:40:47,727 "Maybe, maybe this will change the whole atmosphere 774 00:40:47,803 --> 00:40:49,520 surrounding this murder conviction." 775 00:40:49,597 --> 00:40:51,105 - ♪ 776 00:40:51,116 --> 00:40:54,066 - MARTIN: DNA evidence, presence of male semen, 777 00:40:54,143 --> 00:40:55,735 that her defense team knew nothing about. 778 00:40:55,811 --> 00:40:59,113 Didn't come out until now, clearly the fix was in. 779 00:40:59,124 --> 00:41:01,624 They--they wanted Laurie convicted, 780 00:41:01,701 --> 00:41:03,793 and that's what they got. 781 00:41:03,870 --> 00:41:06,454 - ERIK: The DNA evidence uncovered the fact 782 00:41:06,465 --> 00:41:08,465 that Christine Schultz had had sex with someone 783 00:41:08,541 --> 00:41:10,750 before her death, 784 00:41:10,826 --> 00:41:15,213 and Laurie's legal team found previously unrevealed evidence 785 00:41:15,289 --> 00:41:19,309 that showed the state crime lab had initially investigated it 786 00:41:19,385 --> 00:41:21,594 as a sexual assault case. 787 00:41:21,671 --> 00:41:24,055 - SHANNON: They found blood underneath Christine's 788 00:41:24,131 --> 00:41:26,599 fingernails, which would suggest that there was some type of 789 00:41:26,676 --> 00:41:29,477 physical struggle with the attacker. 790 00:41:29,488 --> 00:41:32,563 - KATHERINE: We didn't have DNA back then, 791 00:41:32,640 --> 00:41:34,440 but they did have blood analysis, 792 00:41:34,517 --> 00:41:37,827 and pretty sophisticated blood analysis. 793 00:41:37,904 --> 00:41:39,445 But they did not do that. 794 00:41:39,522 --> 00:41:42,281 - ♪ 795 00:41:42,358 --> 00:41:44,167 - NARRATOR: The purported murder weapon-- 796 00:41:44,244 --> 00:41:47,119 Fred Schultz's off-duty .38 revolver-- 797 00:41:47,196 --> 00:41:51,791 is also put through a battery of forensic and ballistic tests. 798 00:41:51,867 --> 00:41:53,067 - [gunshot] 799 00:41:53,069 --> 00:41:54,460 - MARTIN: Laurie's team had forensic experts 800 00:41:54,537 --> 00:41:56,679 test the gun and the bullet, 801 00:41:56,756 --> 00:42:00,850 and they found that there was no match from the off-duty gun 802 00:42:00,927 --> 00:42:04,303 to the bullet removed from Christine's Schultz's body. 803 00:42:04,380 --> 00:42:07,357 - We end up with this chain of inconsistencies 804 00:42:07,433 --> 00:42:12,687 that calls into question the most damning evidence. 805 00:42:12,697 --> 00:42:14,864 - NARRATOR: While Laurie and her supporters are hopeful 806 00:42:14,941 --> 00:42:17,775 the new findings might clear her name, 807 00:42:17,852 --> 00:42:21,112 the emotional damage of the last 21 years 808 00:42:21,188 --> 00:42:23,373 takes its toll on Laurie. 809 00:42:23,449 --> 00:42:25,700 - KATHERINE: She wanted the Supreme Court to look 810 00:42:25,710 --> 00:42:28,369 at the new evidence so that she could withdraw 811 00:42:28,380 --> 00:42:32,382 the no contest plea to be entirely exonerated, 812 00:42:32,458 --> 00:42:34,333 but they declined to look at it. 813 00:42:34,410 --> 00:42:36,553 - ♪ 814 00:42:36,629 --> 00:42:39,714 - NARRATOR: In 2010, Laurie Bembenek dies from 815 00:42:39,724 --> 00:42:45,386 kidney and liver failure, still fighting to clear her name. 816 00:42:45,397 --> 00:42:46,846 - Mary Woehrer, from what I know, 817 00:42:46,922 --> 00:42:48,681 is still working on things. 818 00:42:48,758 --> 00:42:53,736 I believe she has evidence now again that can clear her. 819 00:42:53,813 --> 00:42:56,689 - Hopefully someday, justice will be done, 820 00:42:56,766 --> 00:43:01,527 and her name will be cleared, but the clock is ticking. 821 00:43:01,604 --> 00:43:04,414 Everybody's getting older. 822 00:43:04,490 --> 00:43:07,750 - NARRATOR: After 39 years, Laurie Bembenek's arrest 823 00:43:07,827 --> 00:43:11,829 and conviction are still highly controversial. 824 00:43:11,906 --> 00:43:14,248 - We came up with enough physical evidence 825 00:43:14,259 --> 00:43:16,334 that we could arrest her. 826 00:43:16,410 --> 00:43:19,211 Everything eventually caught up with her. 827 00:43:19,288 --> 00:43:21,672 - JOANNE: Am absolutely certain, 828 00:43:21,749 --> 00:43:23,424 deep down in my heart, my soul, 829 00:43:23,435 --> 00:43:26,177 and every bone in my body, that she is innocent. 830 00:43:26,253 --> 00:43:29,180 - ♪ 831 00:43:29,256 --> 00:43:34,902 - ♪