The Trail Went Cold

May 28, 1981. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 30-year old Christine Schultz, the ex-wife of police officer Fred Schultz, is shot to death inside her home and Fred’s current spouse, Laurie “Bambi” Bembenek, is soon charged with the crime. Even though Laurie insists that she was framed by the police and the evidence against her was planted and fabricated, she is convicted of first-degree murder and receives a sentence of life imprisonment. In 1990, Laurie manages to escape from prison with the assistance of her new spouse before they are recaptured in Canada, but even though Laurie continues to maintain her innocence, she is allowed to walk free after agreeing to enter a plea of “no contest” to the crime. Was Laurie “Bambi” Bembenek actually responsible for the murder of Christine Schultz or was she the victim of an elaborate frame-up job? This week, “The Trail Went Cold” releases the first part of a special two-part episode about one of the most controversial and sensationalistic murder cases of all time. Special thanks to listener Brent Amelingmeier for narrating the opening of this episode. Additional Reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurie_Bembenek [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurie_Bembenek] "Run Bambi, Run" by Kris Radish [https://www.amazon.ca/Run-Bambi-Beautiful-Convicted-Murderer/dp/1559721030] https://archive.vanityfair.com/article/1991/10/was-bambi-framed [https://archive.vanityfair.com/article/1991/10/was-bambi-framed] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-trouble-for-dr-phil-guest/ [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-trouble-for-dr-phil-guest/] https://www.chicagotribune.com/2003/01/18/bembenek-case-takes-new-turns-with-dna-and-dr-phil/ [https://www.chicagotribune.com/2003/01/18/bembenek-case-takes-new-turns-with-dna-and-dr-phil/] https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/22/us/22bembenek.html [https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/22/us/22bembenek.html] https://web.archive.org/web/20141019065121/http://www.milwaukeemag.com/article/6212011-laurieslastdays [https://web.archive.org/web/20141019065121/http://www.milwaukeemag.com/article/6212011-laurieslastdays] https://www.jsonline.com/story/life/2023/09/12/lawrencia-laurie-bembenek-run-bambi-run-facts-murder-escape-from-prison-cause-of-death/70794066007/ [https://www.jsonline.com/story/life/2023/09/12/lawrencia-laurie-bembenek-run-bambi-run-facts-murder-escape-from-prison-cause-of-death/70794066007/] https://www.jsonline.com/picture-gallery/life/2023/09/07/laurie-bembenek-tried-for-murder-in-1982/70791199007/ [https://www.jsonline.com/picture-gallery/life/2023/09/07/laurie-bembenek-tried-for-murder-in-1982/70791199007/] "Run Bambi Run" Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/run-bambi-run/id1616022051] "The Trail Went Cold" will be appearing at the True Crime Podcast Festival, taking place at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Boston North Shore in Boston, Massachusetts on July 18-20, 2025. To get a 20 % discount on tickets, please our specialized promo code, “ROBIN20”, by visiting https://www.truecrimepodcastfestival.com/ [https://www.truecrimepodcastfestival.com/].  “The Trail Went Cold” is on Patreon. Visit www.patreon.com/thetrailwentcold [https://www.patreon.com/thetrailwentcold/] to become a patron and gain access to our exclusive bonus content. The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote [http://www.magillfoote.com/]. All music is composed by Vince Nitro [https://soundcloud.com/vincenitro].

February 15, 1994. Indianapolis, Indiana. While waiting for her school bus, eleven-year old LaShonna Bates walks into a nearby convenience store, but she soon vanishes without a trace. A month-and-a-half later, LaShonna’s remains are found in a wooded area located eight miles away and it is determined that she has a skull fracture and died of blunt force trauma. In 2000, Charles Daughtery, the man who found LaShonna’s remains, is charged with her murder after he confesses to the crime. However, Charles recants his confession and after it is ruled to be inadmissible as evidence, the charges against him are dropped. A potential alternate suspect is the boyfriend of LaShonna’s mother, who was alleged to have been abusive, but no one else is ever charged with the crime. On this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we explore the heartbreaking and controversial murder of LaShonna Bates. Additional Reading: ht [https://www.newspapers.com/image/313031302/]tps://www.newspapers.com/image/313031302/ [https://www.newspapers.com/image/313031302/] https://www.newspapers.com/image/313050540/ [https://www.newspapers.com/image/313050540/] https://www.newspapers.com/image/313017527/ [https://www.newspapers.com/image/313017527/] https://www.newspapers.com/image/313015462/ [https://www.newspapers.com/image/313015462/] https://www.newspapers.com/image/107425204/ [https://www.newspapers.com/image/107425204/] https://www.newspapers.com/image/107478434/ [https://www.newspapers.com/image/107478434/] https://www.newspapers.com/image/107478993/ [https://www.newspapers.com/image/107478993/] https://www.newspapers.com/image/759074676/ [https://www.newspapers.com/image/759074676/] https://www.newspapers.com/image/108041229/ [https://www.newspapers.com/image/108041229/] https://www.newspapers.com/image/108041259/ [https://www.newspapers.com/image/108041259/] https://www.wthr.com/article/news/man-charged-in-girls-death-set-free/531-d0d3b02e-9475-4f43-b329-ec04ea063932 [https://www.wthr.com/article/news/man-charged-in-girls-death-set-free/531-d0d3b02e-9475-4f43-b329-ec04ea063932] https://fox59.com/news/legendary-indianapolis-homicide-detective-recalls-unsolved-cases-as-he-prepares-to-call-it-quits/ [https://fox59.com/news/legendary-indianapolis-homicide-detective-recalls-unsolved-cases-as-he-prepares-to-call-it-quits/] If you have any information about this case, please contact the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s homicide unit at (317) 327-3475 or the Crime Stoppers tip line at (317) 262-TIPS (8477). “The Trail Went Cold” is on Patreon. Visit www.patreon.com/thetrailwentcold [https://www.patreon.com/thetrailwentcold/] to become a patron and gain access to our exclusive bonus content. The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote [http://www.magillfoote.com/]. All music is composed by Vince Nitro [https://soundcloud.com/vincenitro].

March 15, 2000. Jacksonville, Florida. After completing her shift at a hospital pharmacy, 27-year old Tina McQuaig drives out of the parking garage, but she never returns home. Four days later, Tina’s abandoned car is discovered in a Wal-Mart parking lot. In December 2002, Tina’s remains are discovered in a wooded area on the property of a decommissioned naval base and it is determined that she was the victim of a homicide. Suspicion eventually falls upon a former neighbour of Tina’s, as she had allegedly been conducting an extramarital affair with this man, but there is no evidence to implicate him and the crime remains unsolved. On this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we explore the unsolved murder of Tina McQuaig. In addition, we will also be discussing the murder of 35-year old Mary Petersen, who was strangled to death inside her home in Jacksonville in May 2002. If you happen to have any information about the murders of Tina McQuaig or Mary Petersen, please contact the the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office at (904) 630-0500 or the First Coast Crimestoppers tipline at 1-866-845-TIPS (8477). Additional Reading: https://www.newspapers.com/image/177199645/ [https://www.newspapers.com/image/177199645/] https://disappearedblog.com/tina-mcquaig/ [https://disappearedblog.com/tina-mcquaig/] https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/jax-cold-cases-tina-mcquaig/77-438527795 [https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/jax-cold-cases-tina-mcquaig/77-438527795] https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/crime/2011/03/15/renewed-reward-case-missing-murder-victim-tina-mcquaig/15910940007/ [https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/crime/2011/03/15/renewed-reward-case-missing-murder-victim-tina-mcquaig/15910940007/] https://www.newspapers.com/image/657657475/ [https://www.newspapers.com/image/657657475/] https://www.newspapers.com/image/657657488/ [https://www.newspapers.com/image/657657488/] https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/crime/2009/03/02/who-killed-mary-petersen/15994445007/ [https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/crime/2009/03/02/who-killed-mary-petersen/15994445007/] https://www.jacksonville.com/story/opinion/columns/mike-clark/2018/08/12/cold-case-murder-of-young-mother-remains-unsolved/6494239007/ [https://www.jacksonville.com/story/opinion/columns/mike-clark/2018/08/12/cold-case-murder-of-young-mother-remains-unsolved/6494239007/] https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/duval-county/jacksonville-mother-mary-petersen-killed-nearly-19-years-ago/AVT5OQUH4FEYTBXYGCJBKYCHKY/ [https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/duval-county/jacksonville-mother-mary-petersen-killed-nearly-19-years-ago/AVT5OQUH4FEYTBXYGCJBKYCHKY/] https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/jacksonville-family-still-seeking-answers-daughters-murder-20-years-later/OQ2GESVD4ZES3MK5UIOOTST7VY/ [https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/jacksonville-family-still-seeking-answers-daughters-murder-20-years-later/OQ2GESVD4ZES3MK5UIOOTST7VY/] https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2023/05/26/21-years-since-mothers-body-found-by-her-children-still-no-arrests/ [https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2023/05/26/21-years-since-mothers-body-found-by-her-children-still-no-arrests/] “The Trail Went Cold” will be appearing at the AdvocacyCon, taking place at the Indianapolis Marriott East in Indianapolis on March 28-30, 2025. To get a 10 % discount on tickets, please use our specialized promo code, “TRAIL10”, by visiting https://www.advocacycon.com/ [https://www.advocacycon.com/]. “The Trail Went Cold” is on Patreon. Visit www.patreon.com/thetrailwentcold [https://www.patreon.com/thetrailwentcold/] to become a patron and gain access to our exclusive bonus content. The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote [http://www.magillfoote.com/]. All music is composed by Vince Nitro [https://soundcloud.com/vincenitro].

October 21, 1985. Brooklyn, New York. Three days after she is born, Marlene Santana is carried out of Brookdale Hospital by her mother, Francesca Santana, before they are confronted by a woman who had been seen hanging around the hospital nursery earlier that night. The woman points a gun at Marlene and orders Francesca to walk six blocks before she abducts the baby and escapes in a car being driven by an accomplice. There is speculation that the woman may have kidnapped Marlene in order to raise the child as her own, but she is never identified and no trace of Marlene is ever found. June 30, 1944. Chicago, Illinois. Ten-week old Laurence Harding Jr. is taken grocery shopping by his mother, but shortly after they return home, Laurence is abducted from his baby carriage by two teenage girls who had been eyeing him at the market. Four decades later, Laurence’s brother obtains the original FBI file from the investigation and learns that a pair of railroad porters at a train station in St. Louis, Missouri had spoken to a woman carrying a baby four days after Laurence’s disappearance. The woman claimed that the child was given to her by a teenage girl at a train station in Chicago and she was planning to take him to Magnolia, Arkansas, but while it is suspected this baby might have been Laurence, he is never recovered. On this week’s episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we explore two unsolved cases involving abducted infants who have may have been unknowingly raised under false identities following their disappearances. if you happen to have any information about the disappearance of Marlene Santana, please contact the New York City Police Department Missing Persons Squad at (212) 694-7781. Additional Reading: https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Marlene_Santana [https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Marlene_Santana] https://unsolved.com/gallery/marlene-santana/ [https://unsolved.com/gallery/marlene-santana/] https://charleyproject.org/case/marlene-santana [https://charleyproject.org/case/marlene-santana] https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/10/24/Police-find-one-of-two-stolen-babies/2793498974400/ [https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/10/24/Police-find-one-of-two-stolen-babies/2793498974400/] https://www.newspapers.com/image/709783318/ [https://www.newspapers.com/image/709783318/] https://www.newspapers.com/image/491373321/ [https://www.newspapers.com/image/491373321/] https://www.newspapers.com/image/491376220/ [https://www.newspapers.com/image/491376220/] https://www.newspapers.com/image/406642817/ [https://www.newspapers.com/image/406642817/] https://www.nytimes.com/1986/11/02/nyregion/crime-update-85-kidnapping-of-newborn-baby-is-still-a-mystery.html [https://www.nytimes.com/1986/11/02/nyregion/crime-update-85-kidnapping-of-newborn-baby-is-still-a-mystery.html] https://unsolved.com/gallery/laurence-harding-jr/ [https://unsolved.com/gallery/laurence-harding-jr/] https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Laurence_Harding_Jr. [https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Laurence_Harding_Jr.] “The Trail Went Cold” will be appearing at the AdvocacyCon, taking place at the Indianapolis Marriott East in Indianapolis on March 28-30, 2025. To get a 10 % discount on tickets, please use our specialized promo code, “TRAIL10”, by visiting https://www.advocacycon.com/ [https://www.advocacycon.com/]. “The Trail Went Cold” is on Patreon. Visit www.patreon.com/thetrailwentcold [https://www.patreon.com/thetrailwentcold/] to become a patron and gain access to our exclusive bonus content. The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote [http://www.magillfoote.com/]. All music is composed by Vince Nitro [https://soundcloud.com/vincenitro].

November 27, 1985. St. Augustine, Florida. While attending a neighbourhood social gathering, 12-year old Martha Jean Lambert tells her mother that she needs to take a brief trip back to their mobile home, but she never returns and is eventually reported missing. Suspicion falls on Martha’s 14-year old brother, David, after he gives conflicting stories about the last time he saw his sister. 24 years later, David confesses to killing Martha and disposing of her body and police find his story to be believable enough to close the investigation. However, David soon recants his confession and since corroborating evidence cannot be found to support it, Martha continues to remain a missing person and there is still debate about what actually happened to her. In this special two-part series of “The Path Went Chilly”, Jules and I explore the unsolved disappearance of Martha Jean Lambert and in this episode, Jules will perform a statement analysis on David Lambert’s confession. Part Two of our series can be found here: https://www.podbean.com/media/share/dir-embuq-234d44be