#STEPHANIE LAZARUS FULL#

#STEPHANIE LAZARUS FULL#

The eight-woman, four-man jury deliberated for less than two full days before delivering the verdict. The family of victim Sherri Rasmussen cried softly. Lazarus, who had smiled at her family as she entered court, showed no reaction as the verdict was delivered in a courtroom ringed by 10 sheriff's deputies. He also suggested there might have been evidence tampering. Her defense attorney countered that the DNA was packaged improperly and deteriorated while stored in a coroner's freezer for two decades. The conviction came after a three-week trial that included testimony from a forensic expert who said the DNA was a match to defendant Stephanie Lazarus. We recognize that no verdict by a court can bring Sherri back, nor assuage the grief your family suffered over the past decades.' 'I am also sorry it took us so long to solve this case and bring a measure of justice to this tragedy. In addition to the death of the victim, 'the LAPD family felt a sense of betrayal to have an officer commit such a terrible crime.'īeck expressed his condolences and offered the victim's family an apology. 'This case was a tragedy on every level,' said LAPD Chief Charlie Beck in a press release. 24, 1986, just three months after the victim married Lazarus' one-time love interest, John Ruetten. Lazarus, 51, was convicted of first-degree murder. Lazarus shot 29-year-old nursing supervisor Sherri Rasmussen three times in the chest on Feb. Jurors found former Los Angeles police detective Stephanie Lazarus guilty Thursday of murdering her ex-boyfriend's wife in Van Nuys just over 26 years ago. Lazarus's defense says it's planning to appeal the verdict.

Stephanie lazarus