It was sparked when a box containing the Lazarus case files was inexplicably left at the desk of LAPD detective Jim Nuttal. The probe into Rasmussen's death had reportedly been revived just weeks before the author's chance encounter with the killer. The officer allegedly told her if she couldn't have him, nobody could. She said she was confronted by an LAPD cop, who claimed to be her husband's ex-girlfriend, at the hospital where she worked as a nurse. He later revealed he had relayed to authorities what his daughter once told him. Rasmussen's father was not satisfied with the investigation from the start. However, no arrests were made at the time and the case went cold. Police eventually fingered two unidentified Latino men as suspects after a nearby home was burglarized shortly after Rasmussen's murder. Responding officers found that her living room was ransacked, her car stolen, and she had been beaten and shot at least three times in a violent struggle. The author states in his book that Lazarus was “off the radar” of law enforcement early on because Rasmussen’s killing first appeared to be a botched burglary. That said, the initial mistakes during the probe reportedly seemed innocent. The Lazarus Files: A Cold Case Investigation (Henry Holt & Co.) In order to lend validity to that argument, McGough, who has also written for 'Law & Order', scoured the department's chronological log of the investigation, Lazarus’ diary and several other documents pertinent to the case.Īccording to People, the book is "as engrossing as it is disturbing, using an understated style to take the reader through the complex and sensational case with great clarity." McGough said his book simply asks how the killer managed to get away with the crime for more than 20 years while climbing ranks at the same department responsible for investigating her.Īccording to the victim's family, the LAPD covered up Lazarus' involvement for years as she was part of their team. He said it was already proven in court in 2012 that Los Angeles Police Department detective Stephanie Lazarus had murdered 29-year-old Sherri Rasmussen, the newlywed wife of a man she dated in college. Matthew McGough, author of 'The Lazarus Files: A Cold Case Investigation', has refuted claims that his book is a "whodunit". You can help support the show at /truecrimeallthetime Visit the show's website at for contact, merchandise, and donation information An Emash Digital production See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at. But, they had to tread carefully to take down one of their own. And when they did all signs pointed to Stephanie Lazarus. It took cold case investigators, over 20 years later, to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Many people have said this caused them to not interview key witnesses or even take a hard look at John's ex-girlfriend. From the start, police were stuck on the theory that Sherri was killed by one or multiple burglars. Join Mike and Gibby as they discuss the murder of Sherri Rasmussen committed by Stephanie Lazarus. She used her police training to make the murder look like a robbery. Lazarus was still infatuated with her ex, John Ruetten, and decided to execute the woman she thought was her romantic rival. In 1986, Stephanie Lazarus was an LAPD officer who murdered her ex-boyfriend's wife, Sherri Rasmussen.
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