February 19th, 1997. Geraldo Rivera’s namesake talk show brings us one of America’s’ most wanted women — she escaped from Taycheedah Correctional Institution shortly after being sentenced to life in prison.
“We caught her in the most remote area of Canada, I started to follow up and did several segments about this new information…this was a woman that was easily frameable, and I believe that she did not commit this murder..”
We hear a synopsis of Ms. Bembenek’s case involving the gruesome murder of her husband’s ex-wife. After her escape and the subsequent spotlight from America’s Most Wanted, she was discovered and arrested in Canada. At an extradition hearing she was able to plead no contest and become eligible for parole.
John Walsh walks on stage a few minutes into the segment and discusses how the one fugitive he truly believes was innocent, in ten years oh his fugitive-chasing television show, is now out on parole. Mr. Walsh’s efforts played a decisive role in the case.
Lawrencia Bembenek passed away in 2010.
John Walsh anchored multiple additional anti-crime investigative documentary series after America’s Most Wanted ended in 2013.
This day, Geraldo’s television history.