Former LA police detective Stephanie Lazarus, who was convicted of killing her ex-boyfriend’s wife in 1986, has had her chance for parole rescinded. Lazarus, a former Los Angeles police detective, is currently serving a sentence of 27 years to life for the cold-case killing of her ex-boyfriend’s wife, Sherri Rasmussen. Rasmussen, a 29-year-old nurse, was bludgeoned and shot to death in her condo in 1986, but Lazarus was not arrested until 2009.
The state Board of Parole Hearings recently heard arguments from both sides during a 90-minute hearing. Following this, the three commissioners made the decision to rescind a previous grant of parole for Lazarus, according to attorney John Taylor, who represents the Rasmussen family. The family expressed relief at the decision, with Taylor stating that Lazarus had evaded arrest for 23 years after the murder and showed no remorse for her actions.
In May, a select committee of the parole board had deemed Lazarus eligible for parole, but the final decision was delayed until now. Lazarus’s case was brought up again in May, where Rasmussen’s family members provided emotional testimony about the impact of the crime on their lives.
During her trial, prosecutors highlighted the romantic relationship between Lazarus and John Ruetten, Rasmussen’s husband. They suggested that Lazarus was driven by jealousy when Ruetten chose to marry Rasmussen. The case’s breakthrough came in 2009 when DNA evidence from a bite mark on Rasmussen’s arm, which prosecutors said was left by Lazarus, was presented.
Despite not being a suspect initially, Lazarus was eventually linked to the crime through DNA evidence collected in 2009. Prosecutors argued that her police training allowed her to cover her tracks effectively. Lazarus had risen through the ranks of the Los Angeles Police Department, holding a position as a detective in charge of art forgeries and thefts.
The recent decision to rescind Lazarus’s chance for parole underscores the severity of the crime she committed over three decades ago. The case serves as a reminder of the enduring impact of unresolved cold cases on the victims’ families and the importance of justice being served.