LAPD Detective Stephanie Lazarus Deserves The Benefit Of The Doubt

Los Angeles, CA—I’m dumbfounded by the arrest of LAPD Detective Stephanie Lazarus for murdering her former boyfriend’s wife, Sherri Rae Rasmussen, 29. Rasmussen was both beaten and shot to death in 1986.

LAPD boss William Bratton credits modern DNA technology advances with the solution of this cold case killing that remained unsolved for well over two decades.

There is apparently nothing in the background of Lazarus that would suggest this kind of violence. Apparently there are no witnesses to explain Rasmussen’s killing.

The big question I have is just how DNA material transferred from Lazarus to Sherri Rae Rasmussen at the time of her death. Since it’s conceivable that Lazarus may have been legitimately in the home that Rasmussen shared with her husband the presence of DNA material may not be sinister.

If the DNA material is blood transferred during a fight in which Lazarus was injured that led to the killing then that’s somewhat persuasive that Lazarus was involved.

If we are talking about a physical fight between the women we cannot discount a defense of self-defense. If it were self-defense then the killing was justified. I’m sure the public, police and prosecutors would act with disdain if Lazarus failed to report the event to police.

The fact is there are no laws that require the reporting of a justifiable homicide. Lazarus has an absolute right not to ever say a word about that to anyone.

If Lazarus was involved and simply failed to report the event she deserves no punishment.

I can’t help but notice that the LAPD arrested Lazarus on a Friday so she could be kept away from the court and a bail bond hearing for the weekend. This does not appear to be a capital case so perhaps reasonable bail can be set.

The case will be submitted to the District Attorney who may have a different view than the LAPD.

Lazarus, her LAPD officer husband and child have a nightmare before them. This will require significant financial assets to obtain the legal, investigative and forensic expert services needed to obtain a fair day in court.

I can only hope that there is a fair disposition of this remarkable case. I will be watching it closely.

Stephanie Lazarus is expected to make her first court appearance on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 @8:30 AM in Division 30 located at 210 Temple Street, Los Angeles.

There is more on this story here.

Boycott Bailed Out Companies

Washington, DC-The Obama Administration has bailed out every corrupt bank and business that they could, giving the crooks an unfair advantage over profitable and properly run businesses.

The cure is simple, refuse to do any business with bailed out or government seized or run business or banks. The bailouts were un-American so why reward government fascism and tyranny?

Risky Kung Fu Sex Killed David Carradine

Bangkok-This is the premier sex playground of the world. Popular actor, David Carradine was found dead, hanging in a hotel closet suspended by his neck and genitals.

The cause of death was from accidental affixation, due to a deadly phenomenon known as auto erotic affixation. This is where a person usually a man masturbates using wires or ropes to deprive him of oxygen. Pathologists tell me that it gives the practitioner of this form of sex an extra kick.

As always happens, close friends and relatives want to protect the decedent from the horror and embarrassment of this kind of disclosure. They refuse to accept the findings of forensic experts that investigate these cases.

I have investigated many of these cases as a cop and later a private eye. I’ve never seen a medical examiner proven wrong on these unusual deaths.

Millions of dollars are paid every year to investigators and “experts” to manufacture findings that will contradict the salacious gossip of what may be considered an act of perversion.

Murder or suicide is always more acceptable to families than a seemingly darker truth. Human sex is far too complicated for even the experts to understand. Humans develop their own personal triggers for this mysterious gift. Human sexual organs did not come with instruction books. I’ve learned to accept that we are all different and provided that nobody is injured or traumatized some of these acts get far more voyeuristic attention than they deserve.

For the Carradine family I feel for their loss. David Carradine should be remembered for his talents and ability to entertain rather than a private act gone wrong. The Carradine family is rich with great talent, memories and success.

Drew Peterson Will Remain Jailed

Joliet, IL— The Illinois Third District Appellate Court had denied retired Bolingbrook, Il police sergeant Drew Peterson’s petition for a reduction in his astronomical bail of $20 million.

Peterson’s lawyer, Joel Brodsky released the following statement, "We're disappointed in the ruling from the Illinois Third District Appellate Court, but we accept the Court’s ruling. However, we are also confident that as the weakness of the State’s case is exposed over the following weeks and months we will have another opportunity to ask for a reduction in bond."

What this means is Peterson may well remain jailed during the period it will take the lawyers and the courts to digest and investigate the small truckload of discovery material that The Will County State’s Attorney has generated during their 18th Month investigation.

The actual trial of Drew Peterson is not expected to begin for at least a year or more.

I remain convinced that the paper thin case against Peterson only has emotional appeal for those who hate Peterson and more importantly lacks substance and genuine evidence.

The “Drew Peterson Hearsay Law” seems sure to fail especially when it comes to the double hearsay of the young minister, Neil Schori who claimed that Stacy Peterson told him that Drew Peterson confessed to killing his third wife.

Questions we need to explore here are complicated and mind boggling. Did the missing Stacy Peterson embellish, lie about or misstate what Peterson told her or did the talkative, tabloid informing reverend make up what he claimed to hear from Stacy Peterson?

Does allowing that type of testimony before a court violate a defendant’s fundamental right to confront and cross examine his accuser? The answer is obvious.

One thing for sure, the taxpayers and Drew Peterson are going to take a serious financial beating as a conviction will be very evasive. A serious drawback for justice is that double jeopardy will attach and prevent a retrial of Peterson should reliable evidence ever surface.

Veteran LAPD Detective Arrested For Cold Case Murder

Los Angeles, CA She’s being held at the L.A. County jail without bond at this hour. Her Name is Stephanie Lazarus, 49 and she’s a respected 26 year veteran officer. This morning at work shortly after 8:00 AM she was arrested at the LAPD Parker Center for the 1986 slaying of her former boyfriend’s wife.

Lazaruz has been investigating major art thefts since 2006 for the LAPD.

Recently police investigators surreptitiously collected DNA material from Lazarus and had it compared with DNA recovered from the dead woman, Sherri Rae Rasmussen,29 a nursing director who was beaten and shot to death in her Van Nuys condo in 1986.

Rasmussen’s body was discovered by the victim’s husband, John Ruetten who has not been arrested. Police say that Lazarus and Ruetten were involved in an affair at the time of the murder.

There were early theories that this crime was the product of a home invasion robbery gang working the area at the time.

The biggest question I’m waiting to see answered is where was the DNA material found and just how was it transferred? I guess we will have to wait and see what develops here.

Somehow I suspect that there is a lot more to be told about this case and the defense of the accused officer.

Update: June 7, 2009--The L.A. Times did an in depth follow up article that can be found here.

Helping Cops Caught Up In The Legal System

When you begin a career as a cop the risks to your life on the job are drummed into your soul for the next year or so. Your training surrounds the issue of survival on the mean streets along with all the other areas such as law, enforcement methods, first aid and dealing with the hostile public.

What they don’t tell you is that you’re a target for more than fists and bullets. People will try and frame you through bogus complaints. Just like cops are killed, careers are also killed.

I will never forget how some great Chicago cops arrested a young and prolific burglar on Chicago’s Northwest side. The burglar would claim brutality, false arrest and anything else he could to evade prosecution.

Cops were fired, disgraced and blackballed from future law enforcement positions. As for this particular burglar he was the son of the late, Democratic Chicago Alderman turned Congressman, Roman Conrad Pucinski. The young Pucinski was able to destroy the careers of no less than a half-dozen good cops before his father ceased to interfere fixing those arrests.

That kind of back door Chicanery has existed as long as government and will continue as long as we have government. No “Blue Ribbon Special Investigations” will cure this practice or even slow it down.

When cops find themselves wrongly in the courts, police boards, civil service commissions and such they are in a fight for their very lives. They need lawyers and investigators working on their side. I handle plenty of these types of cases and enjoy helping the wrongfully accused.

Today we have a surveillance camera in nearly every business, on police vehicle dashboards and there are the bystanders and agitators with cell phone cameras. For the officer who has been acting properly these videos are very helpful.

When possible after a crime seize bystander cell phone and other cameras as evidence long enough to download their images and videos. This may save your butt and bring justice to the courts and various commissions.

Police internal investigations almost always error on the side of hurting cops rather than protecting them.

It can be an ugly world out there. If it were not for the lies people freely tell even while under oath the occupation of private investigator may not even exist.

Obama’s I’m Really A Muslim Tour

Egypt—As Barack Obama readies to take off for Germany, he really made a fool out of himself. His assertions to leaders in Saudi Arabia and Egypt contradicted his American political campaign by embracing his Muslim religion he refused to acknowledge.

His efforts fell on deaf ears since he also claims to have since become a Christian. That makes him deceptive as he downplayed his real connection to Islam during his presidential campaign.

The reality here is that Muslims will view him as an infidel who turned his back on Islam even if that’s not the case. Despite Obama’s speech he gained no ground with Muslims.

The only good thing for our Muslim enemies is that they know Obama is a Communist and an American traitor. Perhaps they will view us on friendlier terms as a result.

Gagging Drew Peterson

Joliet, IL—As he’s sitting in the Will County Jail murder suspect Drew Peterson wants to endlessly talk to anyone who will listen. Some people are up in arms over this and just want Peterson to shut up.

These are the same detractors that demanded Peterson’s hanging despite the lack of an arrest, trial or conviction. These harpies are misguided and need to get a life. Police and prosecutors usually pray for suspects to say anything at all. In America most crimes are solved by the suspect’s own big mouths. It’s always better to keep the suspects talking. The same holds true for Drew Peterson.

If Drew Peterson is really guilty, please let him talk! If Peterson is not guilty he deserves the right to talk. Right now Peterson is presumed innocent and should be able to say whatever he wants. Should any man not yet convicted lose the right to claim his innocence?

Another not so small issue surrounds the government’s discovery material (the entire police report). By law they must turn it all over to the defense so they may prepare for trial. Prosecutors also got an order from Judge Stephen White precluding the defense from releasing any discovery information to the media. Why do they want that you’d ask? It’s really quite simple when information is released to the public people come forward with information about the players named in the case.

The prosecutors and State Police know that many of the people involved are very dirty and will be exposed by the press. Before it’s over I’d expect that sunshine on the government witnesses may reveal just what happened to Stacy Peterson and it won’t fit the prosecutions model or help convict Drew Peterson.

Here the police make public whatever they want but should Peterson’s defense team release any information the prosecutors cry foul. Not fair you say? Who said government wants to be fair?

The Ultimate Un-American Redistribution Of Wealth Has Arrived!

Washington, DC—FEMA using emergency powers will place Florida trailer trash folks into foreclosed real homes after storms.

The banks or other owners of the property have enough problems but now the government wants place homeless storm victims in these homes. The government sanctioned squatters will tie up the properties for years if not decades.

Next homelessness will be declared an emergency and that will be an excuse for the government agents to seize more homes for this Marxist plan.

Every week the traitors to America within the Obama Administration have a new plan to destroy America and free enterprise. We have no choice but to stop the traitors or lose our freedom.

Babe Reporter Under The Sheets With L.A. Mayor

Los Angeles, CA—Lu Parker is one of the hotter babes in local television news. Parker is a reporter who works for a bankrupt TV station. KTLA has a cloudy future at best. Television news is in serious trouble in America. Viewers have fled to the Internet, Ipods and Xboxes forgoing news broadcasts.

Parker has taken up with Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and has herself hit the media spotlight.

Two years ago, the mayor's marriage went South after word of his relationship with a Spanish-language journalist made a splash in L.A. news reports. Now with Parker being hooked up with Villaraigosa, again, questions are surfacing about ethics in journalism.

I may detest the Mayor’s politics but I don’t take issue against his flings with hot women. As for Parker she’d be better off with me instead of a total Bolshevik like the mayor. Parker has an absolute right to share her world with whoever she chooses. Great and lasting relationships are hard to find even for pretty people with high profiles.

Parker should enjoy her life and stay off of the political newsbeat. Parker can continue to front KTLA stories like this one and there should be no conflict of interest.

A horrible Chicago News Story

Chicago, IL—While I was a guest on the Geoff Pinkus WIND Radio Show, we heard a sickening story breaking that a young 7th District tactical officer, Alejandro Valdez, 27 was shot in the head as he was investigating a shots fired call on South Hermitage Avenue. The officer was taken off life support after a 14-hour battle to save his life failed.

The young officer was only three years into his career and earned 22 Honorable Mentions and a Department Commendation. He was engaged to another officer and was about to start a family. The officer was ambushed by cowardly criminals that opened fire in a drive-by shooting.

Two Gangster Disciple hood rats are in custody. They are both violent criminals and convicted felons. It looks like they are going to stand trial for a capitol murder charge.



Chicago police officers need greater firepower than their service pistols now. Mayor Richard M. Daley has dragged his feet and does not give a rat’s ass about the men and women sworn to protect life and property in Chicago.

The problem is made much worse by severe under staffing of officers. That of course while the mayor and various politicians and political supporters have Chicago officers as personal bodyguards.

How many more officers must die before they have the right manpower and tools to protect themselves?


Here are pictures from the funeral borrowed from Renee at Intheloop.tv

Chicago Handgun Ban Headed For US Supreme Court

Chicago, IL—The Heller case last summer made it clear that Americans have an individual right to keep and bear arms. Not settled is whether or not states can enact gun bans. The Second Amendment was never incorporated into the Bill of Rights through the Fourteenth Amendment by the Supreme Court as the other rights have.

The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld Chicago’s gun ban saying the Second Amendment is only a protection from federal government and not the states. So it’s now off to the Supreme Court and it looks like they will be forced to deceide the issue.

The most liberal Court of Appeals in the country is the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco and they just ruled that the Second Amendment is incorporated under the 14th Amendment. Because there are two opposite rulings on the same issue this will most likely be heard and argued but don’t expect any quick resolution. The answer will be at least one year or more from today.

There is a real underlying fact here. The City of Chicago accepts federal funds and used them to enforce unconstitutional gun laws. The Chicago gun ban is a federal gun ban under those conditions.

If you live in Chicago and want a gun go ahead and get one. The fact is you will need one. Survival is more important that Richard M. Daley’s world where only criminals have guns. Daley wants that young man in the picture to kill you and your families as you stand by defenseless and helpless. I only pray I can outlive Daley so I can pee on his grave.

Live Tonight In Studio With Chicago’s Own Geoff Pinkus

Chicago, IL—Tune in to AM 560 tonight at midnight as we explore the cases Phil Spector, Drew Peterson and others in the criminal justice system. We will also talk about the approaching Summer of Mayhem on the mean streets of Chicago along with Chicago politics. WIND Radio can be heard live on the Internet too.

Call in and tell us what you think! 312-642-5600

Phil Spector Was Railroaded In A Legal Outrage

Los Angeles, CA—Judge Larry Paul Fiddler seemed like such a personable fellow when I met him in San Francisco at a function hosted by the Investigative Reporters and Editors some six years ago. First impressions are sometimes misleading.

Fidler had the duty to give murder suspects a fair trial under our sacred system of justice. When legendary record producer Phil Spector’s murder case came before Judge Fidler, fairness was replaced by judicial tyranny.

Fidler consistently ruled for nearly every request by prosecutors while denying nearly everything for Spector’s defense. Fidler was more biased than any judge I’ve seen in some 40 years.

Fidler was out to prove that a celebrity could get convicted after a stunning series of acquittals of other accused Hollywood notables.

Fidler was asked repeatedly to recuse himself and when he refused the defense went as far as the Court of Appeals and lost the argument.

The real abuse of judicial discretion was surrounding the newly revised California’s evidence code 1101B that could allow the introduction of so-called prior bad acts committed by the defendant.

Fidler allowed a string of women jilted by Spector to come into court and accuse Spector of whatever they wanted. Allegations surfaced that were never reported to police and there was never a prosecution or trial to sort out fact from fiction. The tales were decades old and the women telling them were felons, freeloaders and even sold their stories to the tabloids.

As for the evidence or rather a lack of it, the jury was allowed to be tainted by a very public hate campaign often centering on the aging Spector or his appearance.

The case was far more about salacious gossip than facts. The pretty dead woman, Lana Clarkson was painted as saintly or angelic. The truth was that she was a troubled alcohol and drug addicted woman who stole from her friends and lived under a cloud of poverty and depression.

The prosecutors took steps to cover up Clarkson’s real problems by asking the Los Angeles County Medical Examiners to not conduct the normal psychological autopsy done in such cases. This obstruction of justice was criminal to say the least.

The prosecution made a, Motion to Fix and Judge Filer sustained that motion. The jury was swayed by the avalanche of what should have been inadmissible garbage rather than evidence. The result was a miscarriage of justice.

Lana Clarkson died at her own hands while heavily intoxicated.

Now Phil Spector can watch the Clarkson family loot his estate as he rots in a prison cell for a year or few until his case is reviewed by a higher court.

Chicago Food Porn-BBQ Ribs @ Twin Anchors

Chicago, IL A weekend in Chicago brought me to my old Chicago haunt of Old Town. My taste buds always scream for some of the great places I used to eat.

Twin Anchors is just such a place where gluttony rules supreme. Here is that place in its glory and weather permitted me sitting in their sidewalk café. Watching the girls go by was better than desert!

Jury In Drew Peterson’s Criminal Trial Hangs!

Chicago, IL—A 12-member jury heard the evidence and could not reach a unanimous verdict in the "trial" of murder suspect Drew Peterson.

The jury was picked from random observers at Chicago’s Kent College of Law. Available evidence was presented at a Mock Trial held before retired Cook County Circuit court Judge Richard E. Neville at the school’s Marovitz Courtroom.

The case was prosecuted by WGN radio co-host of Legally Speaking, and lawyer Karen Conti who guided jurors through Peterson’s failings as a husband along with his lecherous fondness for young women. Conti fell short of having any physical evidence that tied Drew Peterson to the death.

Conti had to deal with the original and follow up autopsy results finding Kathleen Savio’s death was the result of an accidental drowning presumably in her own bathtub. Conti suggested the Coroner’s Jury’s verdict was unduly influenced by a member that was a cop that had once worked with Peterson.

The Savio/Peterson marriage was described by Conti as a violent one where both parties called local police on 18 occasions. There was never an incident where either party suffered an apparent injury.

The Defense was presented by lawyer Joseph Lopez. He described Savio as being a feisty woman upset with Peterson’s dumping her for a younger woman.

Lopez hammered at the weakness of the state’s case and suggested that the hearsay evidence offered by Peterson’s now missing young wife Stacy Peterson was unreliable.

Noting that Stacy Peterson was involved with at least one new lover, she met her young minister, Neil Schori, not at a church but at a local restaurant. The ministered claim was that Stacy Peterson revealed that her husband confessed killing his third wife and expressed her own fears she was next in line for murder.

The best advice the minister claimed he could give was to, “Go home and pray about it.” Lopez insisted that the minister had an obligation to tell the young woman to flee from the danger and notify the authorities. The strong suggestion was that of deception by the young minister.

The jury was instructed by Judge Neville and retired for a 30 minute attempt at deliberations. The jury was split six-six and could not agree on a verdict.
The jury panel consisted of nurses, sales people, a banker, office manager and retired folks.

The public event was sponsored by WGN Radio and Moderated by another WGN Legally Speaking co-host lawyer, Greg Adamski. Also on board the trial was jury consultant, Dr. Cindy Adams.

This mini-trial made it clear that prosecutors will have an uphill battle to convict the retired cop of killing his third wife even with questionable hearsay evidence.
That was assuming that the new “Drew Peterson Hearsay Law” stands certain legal challenges even before a real trial will begin.

The entire event was recorded and will be broadcast by WGN on June 14 and 15.

In a related matter yesterday, Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow filed a motion on Wednesday to gag Peterson’s defense attorneys from leaking any information from discovery documents, which must be turned over to Peterson's legal team for the first time next week.

Police, Pink Slips and Gun Rights

Ohio, USA-Cash strapped Toledo and Columbus are laying-off cops. Because Ohio is a right to carry state, many citizens will be ready for most anything including those dreaded pink slips.

Like cops the armed citizens need to learn not to bite off more than they can chew and call for back-up. If the police can’t come, arrange it with a well trained neighbor or two to act as your back-up.

Should you come home and find the door broken or otherwise suspect someone is in your home don’t ever try making a house clearing without competent help. Wait for the burglars outside and confront them there. If they threaten you fire shots until the threat passes.

Through it all remember the four words to tell inquiring police, "I want a lawyer" and NOTHING else. Let a neighbor make any 911 calls. Stay off the 911 operator’s recording of your words. Don’t ever answer any questions other than name and address and if you need police or an ambulance.

The 911 operators are trained to redundantly try to get you to incriminate yourself so don’t play their game.

Saying that really lame, “I was in fear of my life” crap is an AMISSION THAT YOU SHOT SOMEONE. Don’t confess, say nothing at all. That’s your right!

Buying A Car From A Bailed Out Car Maker Is Un-American.

Washington, DC: As Barack Obama seizes control of car makers, firing their CEOs and installing his party faithful patronage hacks to run these companies I refuse to buy any the products at any price.

We can all refuse and still let these companies fail sending a message straight to the Whitehouse. My GM days are over for good. It’s too bad but I’d rather drive a Kia.

Why do Gays Need Marriage?

I have no problem with what Gays do behind closed doors. I’m not anti-Gay but I believe marriage is about a mom, dad and the strong probability of children.

Gays don’t need this strictly symbolic legal status. It makes a mockery out of marriage when gays call themselves husbands and wives. In the case of a transgender person I’d concede that could be a legitimate marriage.

Civil Unions are the way to go for Gays. They can have their honeymoons and give each other presents and such. They can carryon anyway they choose as long as the peace is not breached.

As for Gay adoption, I support it for those in committed relationships that will protect the children. There are so many children put through horrible abuse by their natural parents. There are plenty of kids that need a safe refuge. There is the not so simple issue of a boy growing up sharing with his schoolmates that he has two daddies. I don’t have a clue how that will not cause ridicule and a beating.

Guys have to be more reasonable that to demand a right to marriage when they don’t fit the mold. No matter what the law says the fact that marriage requires both a man and a woman does not change.

Just What We Don’t Need!

Washington, DC—Another judicial activist with a black robe who will circumvent lawmakers with her own Bolshevik ideas has been nominated for the US Supreme Court. Sonia Sotomayor plainly stated that she is a policy maker right here.

How much longer must we tolerate that Marxist despot in the Whitehouse? Please call your US Senator and demand this woman not be appointed.