Los Angeles, CA— LAPD art theft detective Stephanie Lazarus has been held in jail since her arrest in June of 2009 in lieu of a $10 Million bail bond requirement. Lazarus was arrested for the murder of Van Nuys, 29 year-old nurse, Sherri Rae Rasmussen nearly a quarter century ago in 1986. Lazarus’ future looks very bleak unless the state’s DNA evidence can be discredited or otherwise somehow eliminated. I always tell anyone and everyone I can about our birthright as Americans to remain silent and to never talk to police when they come with questions. It never ceases to amaze me how cops themselves of all people insist on having unnecessary conversations with fellow investigators targeting them. If we allowed everyone convicted at trials for crimes to take back the words either told to police or credited by police as having been said by the defendants, our prisons would all be empty. Heck, every cop knows that! Despite explicit Miranda warnings people insist on being chatty with th...

Los Angeles, CA — The L.A. Times , reporting anonymous police sources claim that Sherri Ray Rasmussen was found beaten, had been bound and executed. She suffered three .38 gunshot wounds to the chest and that a bathrobe was used to muffle the sounds of the gunfire. The 1986 killer or killers apparently stacked up stereo equipment on the floor and also removed Rasmussen’s car creating the appearance of a burglary. Some weeks later, Lazarus reported to Santa Monica police that her .38 snub-nosed revolver was stolen from her automobile. These leaked reports may negate any possible self-defense claims by career police detective Stephanie Lazarus who is accused of murder and is being held without bond. It’s beyond ugly when death investigations are made the subject gossip being leaked to reporters by cops acting well outside the integrity parameters in place to prevent these types of nefarious disclosures. You can read the full L.A. Times report here.

Los Angeles, CA —Slowly the facts are beginning to emerge in the death investigation of Sherri Rasmussen . Rasmussen was found beaten and shot to death in her Van Nuys townhouse she shared with her new husband in 1986. Now some 23 years later a well-respected 25 year veteran policewoman, Stephanie Lazarus is being held without bond on a capital murder charge. Police say that there was a deadly fight that included a bite mark containing the salvia of Stephanie Lazarus on the dead woman Sherri Rasmussen’s arm. We all know women resort to scratching and biting when they fight. I see nothing unusual here. Lazarus was a sworn officer at the time and was required to carry a firearm. We are learning that Lazarus was a frequent visitor/invitee in the townhouse. Lazarus was reportedly a “former” girlfriend of the dead woman’s new husband. I can see the potential for friction here but these kinds of cases rarely turn so violent. Lazarus has no history of violence or other criminality. Lazar...

Los Angeles, CA— It’s shocking anytime I see a police officer in handcuffs. I’ve seen it before as rare as that happens but I’ve yet to see a policewoman in restraints until this morning. The proceedings took place before a packed courtroom with most major press organizations present. Stephanie Lazarus was brought in wearing a waist chain and handcuffs. She was also wearing a orange jumpsuit as she made her court appearance from the prisoner cage within division 30 of the Superior Court. Lazarus a 25 year LAPD veteran is facing capital murder charges in connection with her arrest Friday at the LAPD Parker Center where she worked as a detective specializing in art thefts. The 23 year-old cold case, culminated in Lazarus’ arrest after police say DNA linked Lazarus to the killing. Lazarus was represented by Camarillo lawyer, Mark Pachowicz . The Commissioner, Kristi Loustau ordered that Lazarus be held without bond. Pachowicz asked to continue the current matter agreeing to waive time u...

Los Angeles, CA --Lawyers John C. Taylor and David M. Ring will reveal client’s claims that the dead woman Sherri Ray Rasmussen reported that she’d been threatened by a “former girlfriend of her husband who was a LAPD officer.” The claim is that the LAPD ignored the investigative leads and that this is why the case took decades to solve. Veteran police detective Stephanie Lazarus is expected to appear in court this morning after her arrest on charges that she murdered Sherri Rasmussen. If convicted Lazarus may face the death penalty. These high powered litigators will be sharing that story accompanied by Nels and Loretta Rasmussen of Chandler, Arizona. These are the parents of the dead woman who will demand a separate police investigation into the handling of the homicide investigation. I suspect that the Taylor & Ring law firm figures this event will lead to some civil litigation and perhaps a big payday. Let’s hope that this investigation and trial is not influenced by money...

Los Angeles, CA — According to a press release the Los Angeles District Attorney has charged LAPD Detective Stephanie Lazarus with capital murder with special circumstances of burglary and personal use of a handgun. The charges came as a result of a re-opened cold case investigation into the killing of 29 year-old Sherri Rasmussen in 1986. The decision on seeking the death penalty is yet to be made by prosecutors. This kind of a charge will undoubtedly affect the chances Lazarus has of being released on bail pending her trial. Prosecutors will have to disclose some of their stronger evidence against Lazarus to justify a denial of bail. The next step will either be a public preliminary hearing or a secret Grand Jury Indictment. I suspect they will opt for a Grand Jury in an effort to keep the facts of the case from public view. I expect that Lazarus will have a lawyer fighting for bail tomorrow when she appears in court for the first time. A date will most likely be set for a prel...

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...

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...