Stephanie Lazarus

Stephanie Ilene Lazarus is a former Los Angeles Police Department detective convicted of murdering Sherri Rasmussen in 1986.

Stephanie Ilene Lazarus is a former Los Angeles Police Department detective convicted of murdering Sherri Rasmussen in 1986. The case was unsolved for more than two decades before Lazarus was arrested in 2009, convicted in 2012, and sentenced to 27 years to life in prison.

Early life and career

Stephanie Lazarus worked for the Los Angeles Police Department and later served as a detective, including work as an art theft investigator. Sources identify her as a veteran officer with a long LAPD career before her arrest.

Murder of Sherri Rasmussen

In 1986, Sherri Rasmussen was beaten and shot to death in the condominium she shared with her husband, John Ruetten. The crime was initially treated as a burglary or other unsolved homicide before later reinvestigation.

Investigation, arrest, and trial

The case was reopened in the late 2000s, and DNA testing tied Lazarus to evidence from the scene. She was arrested in 2009, tried in 2012, and found guilty of first-degree murder.

Sentencing and parole

Lazarus received a sentence of 27 years to life in prison, with sources noting an additional firearm enhancement. She later became eligible for parole, but recent reporting shows parole has been denied or delayed.