Former LAPD Detective Stephanie Lazarus Convicted on Murder Charges

Los Angeles:  Today, after three days of deliberation the jury came back with a guilty verdict in the murder trial of Stephanie Lazarus.

Lazarus was convicted of the 1986 beating and shooting of Sherri Rasmussen in her Van Nuys home.  The case had originally gone cold when detectives, who at the time believed the murder was a result of a burglary that had been interrupted, yielded no evidence leading to suspects.  In 2004, the case was reopened by LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division cold case detectives who discovered there was DNA evidence in the case in the form of a bite-mark swab.  Analysis of the swab revealed the DNA profile was from a female other than Rasmussen.  The DNA profile was uploaded into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), a database of convicted offenders’ DNA profiles, but there was no match.

In February 2009, the case was reopened when Van Nuys Area homicide detectives reviewing cold cases reexamined the case with a new theory relating to the women in Rasmussen’s life who may have wanted to kill her.  After eliminating the possible other female suspects through interviews and DNA testing, Lazarus was the only remaining suspect.  Once investigators obtained a surreptitious DNA sample from Lazarus, a match was made to the bite-mark swab and the case was then turned over to the LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division.  The assignment of the case to the division presented special challenges as Lazarus’ office was located next door to the detectives who were now investigating her.  Lazarus was interviewed and arrested in June 2009, and her trial began Feb. 6, 2012.  It concluded Tuesday of this week with the jury beginning their deliberations.

“This case was a tragedy on every level,” said LAPD Chief Charlie Beck. “Not only did the family of Sherri Rasmussen lose a wife and a daughter, a life that can never be returned, but also the LAPD family felt a sense of betrayal to have an officer commit such a terrible crime. To the family of Sherri Rasmussen, I am truly sorry for the loss of your wife, of your daughter.  I am also sorry it took us so long to solve this case and bring a measure of justice to this tragedy.  We recognize that no verdict by a court can bring Sherri back, nor assuage the grief your family suffered over the past decades.  I also want to thank the detectives that followed up on this case. It shows the tenacity of the detectives on the LAPD who will work tirelessly to bring a case to justice, whether that case takes them around the world or across the hall.”

Anyone requesting further information regarding this incident please contact LAPD Media Relations at 213-486-5910.

Comments

[citizen]

Well it may have taken 25 years but, you got the right person.

[LAMurderCop]

I would expect a lot more apologies for the thousands of other victims

[Mara]

Good job detectives! I'm sorry but this woman is a total sociopathic personaility...NO REMORSE,now she wants to appeal it,typical arrogance of a sociopath! This thing was a disgrace to the entire LAPD!

[KEB]

Bravo - it is amazing what persistence and hope can do.

[Guss Winn]

I remember reading the LA Times article when she first was arrested.

She was armed, and the detectives asked her to come down to the jail (no guns allowed) to talk with a 'supposed suspect', when she turned in her firearm to go inside they sat her down and hit her with the evidence, taking her into custody.

Now that's what I call smooth operators, the rest of the case was just a matter of time and the benefit of having a solid jury.

[rob]

This is just another screw up by the LAPD. A former detective that did not do his job and I think things were conceiled to protect Lazerus. Now the idiot chief is patting the back on the new detectives saying they did a good job. Just another screw up by the lapd

[FTO]

Rob,
You are obviously one of those people that no matter what the LAPD does you aren't happy. Yes, the original detectives, for whatever reason, did not solve the case. However, the new detectives, along with help from SID, did an outstanding job solving the case. Why is it wrong for the Chief to give praise to those that finally solved the case?

[Robert]

This shows that LAPD is corrupt and they are killers, shame on you LAPD.

[Weston DeWalt]

A sad day for the folks in blue, but a tribute to those detectives who persisted.