Los Angeles Police Detective Arrested

On June 5, 2009, detectives assigned to the Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery-Homicide Division arrested Los Angeles Police Detective Stephanie Lazarus for the 1986 murder of Sherri Rasmussen.  The arrest was made at the Los Angeles Police Administrative Building (PAB) in downtown Los Angeles.

On February 24, 1986, Sherri Rasmussen, who was 29 years old, was alone in her residence in Van Nuys, California.  Her husband had left for the day, and when he returned in the early evening hours he found his wife brutally murdered.  Ms. Rasmussen died as a result of multiple gunshots.

In February 2009, the murder of Sherri Rasmussen was reviewed by Los Angeles Police Department Detectives in a systematic review of “Cold Cases.”  The current investigation, combined with technology available today lead to the identification of Lazarus as the suspect in this case.  The investigation revealed that Lazarus had a previous relationship with the victim’s husband prior to the murder.

DNA processing and analysis provided a key piece of evidence in this investigation.

Robbery-Homicide Division Detectives served search warrants at several locations to further the investigation following the detective’s arrest.

Lazarus is 49 years old, and has been a member of the Department for 25 years.  At the time of the murder Lazarus had been a member of the Department for two years.  Lazarus resides in Simi Valley.

All inquiries should be directed to the Los Angeles Police Department Detective Bureau at 213-847-4491.

Comments

[Molly]

"If" she did do this: Someone once told me (I think it was good ol grandma) "Honey,when you're going through a painful or strssful situation in your life and it's consuming you,ask yourself if it will matter in five years." In her case it would have been a painful break up she was having a hard time moving on from. The answer to the question will almost ALWAYS be "No,it won't matter.
This is so sad! "If" she did do it it's so unfortunate she didn't have a friend or two to do a intervention with. This was so long ago and she she created a great life for herself contributing to many wonderful causes,but if found guilty then she needs to pay. My prayers not just go out to the family of the victim but her and her family aswell. If found guilty I hope she heals and learns from this in her life what she needs to without any judgement. People need to remember Cops are human FIRST and every single human being is capable of murder under under the right curcumstances.

Sending the families of both sides prayers and strength.

[Loves LA LEOs]

I hope the DA recuses itself from this case and that LAPD turns it over to another agency. For Beck to say it was a crime of passion indicates bias. She sounds like a cold blooded sociopath to me. This case has implications in other cases. It is ironic that Lazarus, who led such a fraudulent life, was so interested in the imitations of others.

[ICORP Investigations, Inc.]

Wondering if this story is getting lots of media attention in LA?

[CITIZEN]

Wow 23 years later. You sure blew this. but you did make up for it. Maybe.

[Southender]

More proof that the LAPD needs to remain under President Barrack Obama's Federal oversight via the Consent Decree. Also another shining example of why Obama snubbed Bill Bratton and wisely chose Janet Napolitano for the Homeland Security Security. As the always have done, LAPD takes one step forward and three back. The LAPD clearly cannot be trusted to police itself. Judge Feuss please keep the Consent Decree in place for the next decade. We LA residents have suffered enough!

[Ed O'Shea]

Boy, oh boy, they'll give anyone a keyboard.

[CODE ONE]

Southender,

The LAPD can obviously police it's own. They opened a cold case, found out the suspect was one of its own, arrested her, and got a felony filing for murder from the DA's office. This case has absolutely nothing to do with the Consent Decree. This happened over 23 years ago. Some of the Officers on the department werent even born when this happened or even employed by the LAPD for that matter.

I am in no way defending Det Lazarus or what she did. If she is found guilty, I hope she gets the maximum sentence. If this case shows anything, it shows the LAPD can police their own and seek the proper punishment.

[BOB]

cops cannot be trusted anywhere

[Brady v Maryland]

While I don't necessarily agree that LAPD or any police agency is capable of policing themselves, I do know that Detective Lazarus' crime will open the flood-gates to appeals from every defendant that Lazurus had anything to do with. The result? Millions of taxpayer dollars spent on cleaning up her mess. How sad!

[Insider]

Southender - you have no clue what you are talking about...

[CITIZEN]

You have a keyboard too Ed.

[me2]

CITIZEN, Ed usually makes sense and you rarely do...now do you get his point?

[Ed O'Shea]

"CITIZEN", how very astute of you. Two stars for you today, Sally.

As for the head in tail comments about the LAPD, and the ability of her to Police herself? This case demonstrably proves that to be false. Anyone who cannot see or admit that, is a Police hating delta-bravo, and will never see the LAPD in a positive light.

Good job to the cold case Detectives and my prayers go out to the family of the victim.

[CITIZEN]

Ed, do you know how much enjoyment I get out of pushing you and others buttons? I sit back and laugh at what you say.

[Civilian who's proud of LAPD]

LOL,Wow what a great way to abuse your power,tarnish the badge and make the rest of the awesome,wonderful loyal LAPD look bad.

I think I'm going to try this....walk around in a uniform and badge and intimidate pretty young women of my ex boyfriends that I'm jealous of LOL This is a great screenplay and we'll probably be seeing this in a year or two on those Forensic files,cold case shows. The LAPD of today is cutting edge and fabulous!!The hardworking men and women deserve so much props. Thanks you guys,and gals.

Good work on the job of the CURRENT detectives. You guys and gals make us proud to have you as a police department,as for the vintage LAPD It doesn't take Sherlock homes to figure out after this repeated harassment and condo break in as someone Else stated that this was her,especially a true crime of passion with bite marks on her body and badly beaten before she sent her circling the drain.It's cold blooded if you ask me. Then she prances around for 23 years moving on with her life without a care in the world. The father tells them this the very first meeting and she's never questioned. I can understand his frustration.

The only thing taken is the marriage. COME ON,DA!

The LAPD has been a class act in how they handled this.Good work detectives!

[No ego]

Too bad the consent decree wasn't around this would have prevented her from even committing the crime!!As a P2 she would have been overtime putting a booking number on 342 different forms she wouldn't have made it home to do such a thing!!!

I'm glad that the ONLY honest officers are two cold case detectives that will surely be unable to go through the 9,000 other pieces of evidence that will put the rest of the department behind bars. Whew!

[Civilian who's proud of LAPD]

Citizen
I hate to burst your bubble of grandiose illusion but trust me when I tell you.I can guarantee you don't have that kind of power in Edwards life,but keep telling yourself that. We all have a dream.

[Pete Malloy]

Some of you are wack! This proves cops are not above the law. The Detectives used the new technology that wasn't available before and got their suspect.

Do away with the conscent decree so more money can be spend on hiring more detectives like these.