STEPHANIE LAZARUS 2021 FULL
STEPHANIE LAZARUS 2021 TRIAL

Other suspects were eliminated through interviews and DNA testing, leaving Lazarus as the only remaining suspect. 2009 due to Van Nuys area homicide detecitves having a new theory about women in Rasmussen's life wanting to kill her. The DNA was uploaded into a DNA database of convicted criminals, but there was no match. The case was reopened in 2004 when detectives found there was DNA evidence from a bite-mark swab, which was analyzed and showed that it was from a woman other than Rasmussen. The case went cold after detectives attributed the murder to a burglary and found no evidence to link to a suspect. The case was submitted to jurors on Tuesday after intense closing arguments by both sides.

Lazarus could face 27 years to life in prison with the possibility of parole when she is sentenced on May 4 for the murder and a gun enhancement imposed by the jury.

STEPHANIE LAZARUS 2021 TRIAL

I have very strong feelings about how the trial played out. 'It's been a difficult thing for our whole family. 'I'm just devastated,' said Steven Lazarus, the defendant's brother. 'The family is relieved that this 26-year nightmare has concluded with the positive identification of the person who killed their daughter,' said John Taylor, an attorney for the Rasmussen family. It took them less than an hour after that to return a verdict.īeck also thanked the officers involved for their work to solve the case. The jury was then instructed that they could consider first- and second-degree murder charges. This morning, jurors heard testimony read back to them from a neighbor and a housekeeper working next door to Rasmussen and Ruetten.

STEPHANIE LAZARUS 2021 FULL

The eight-woman, four-man jury deliberated for less than two full days before delivering the verdict. The family of victim Sherri Rasmussen cried softly. Lazarus, who had smiled at her family as she entered court, showed no reaction as the verdict was delivered in a courtroom ringed by 10 sheriff's deputies. He also suggested there might have been evidence tampering. Her defense attorney countered that the DNA was packaged improperly and deteriorated while stored in a coroner's freezer for two decades.

The conviction came after a three-week trial that included testimony from a forensic expert who said the DNA was a match to defendant Stephanie Lazarus. We recognize that no verdict by a court can bring Sherri back, nor assuage the grief your family suffered over the past decades.' 'I am also sorry it took us so long to solve this case and bring a measure of justice to this tragedy. In addition to the death of the victim, 'the LAPD family felt a sense of betrayal to have an officer commit such a terrible crime.'īeck expressed his condolences and offered the victim's family an apology. 'This case was a tragedy on every level,' said LAPD Chief Charlie Beck in a press release. 24, 1986, just three months after the victim married Lazarus' one-time love interest, John Ruetten. Lazarus, 51, was convicted of first-degree murder. Lazarus shot 29-year-old nursing supervisor Sherri Rasmussen three times in the chest on Feb. Jurors found former Los Angeles police detective Stephanie Lazarus guilty Thursday of murdering her ex-boyfriend's wife in Van Nuys just over 26 years ago. Lazarus's defense says it's planning to appeal the verdict.

Stephanie lazarus 2021