LAPD detective pleads not guilty to murder charge

The Los Angeles police detective accused of premeditated murder in the fatal shooting two decades ago of her ex-boyfriend's wife pleaded not guilty today in a downtown courtroom.

Stephanie Lazarus, 49, could potentially face the death penalty after being charged last month with the special circumstance death of Sherri Rae Rasmussen, who was badly beaten and shot multiple times in her Van Nuys condominium on the evening of Feb. 24, 1986.

Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Kristi Lousteau also granted Lazarus' request to name Mark E. Overland as her new attorney.

In the original investigation, detectives pursued the theory that Rasmussen had been killed by men she discovered burglarizing her home, according to police and a recent interview with the now-retired Mayer. Rasmussen's family said they told police investigators at the time that she was being harassed by an LAPD officer.

In February, cold-case detectives revisited the case. DNA samples from the crime scene thought to have been from the killer suggested that the attacker was a woman, contradicting the detectives' theory that Rasmussen had been killed by a man.

An undercover officer followed Lazarus to a store, where he recovered a plastic utensil or similar discarded item that bore traces of her saliva, police say. Her DNA matched the genetic profile extracted from the crime scene evidence, police allege.

Overland said after the hearing that many questions remain about the evidence recovered by police.

"DNA requires interpretation," Overland said. "DNA typing is only as good as the data you have and there are a lot of questions about that data."

--Andrew Blankstein

Photo: LAPD Detective Stephanie Lazarus at her arraignment in Los Angeles Superior Court. Credit: Al Seib  / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[wonderingwhy]

YEAH, The DNA might not be as cleanly selected as they wish, but she did it. It is True. She is a Stalker!

[stupid pigs]

so she could have been caught years ago except for the fact pigs were covering for pigs as they usually do.

[wonderingwhy]

DNA requires interpretation," Overland said. "DNA typing is only as good as the data you have and there are a lot of questions about that data." it might night have been as cleanly selected as the dna is collected now days, but her dental records will show that it is Stepanie Dearest Ugly Bite Marks! What A Slime Dog. She looks as ugly as she ever did. What a crazy stalker.

[Larry Anaheim]

"DNA typing is only as good as the data you have and there are a lot of questions about that data."

Is that the best her mouthpiece can do?

The only question I have is "Why did it take so long to arrest LAPD Detective Stephanie Lazarus?"

She's guilty. Plain and simple. She had the motive, the means and the opportunity. And she did it.

[Forgiving Type]

Guilty as charged. Lock her up and throw away the key.

[August]

There's many more like her on the forced!

[frank carter]

: LAPD Detective Stephanie Lazarus knows from experience that pleading guilty she will eventually get the AX. Pleading innocent and some where down the line things can change and she can bargain with the D.A for a better sentence.

[Frank Veasey]

Have read the local edition front page for 6jul09 abd have had the of over the shoulder comments. Thought I would pass along. Frank Veasey

[michael richardson]

Hey STUPID PIGS.....

It is readily apparent that your IQ level precludes you from commenting on issues that require rational thought....

...I'm just sayin

[Just input]

My question is why the detectives had to follow her to get something with her dna - wouldn't there be a coffee cup or something on her desk?

[slowtrain]

Shouldn't the LAPD have DNA of all their officers/employees on file? (at the very least, it may help ID them if they are burned beyond recognition)

[eow62405]

wow, it's great that everyone immediately jumps to conclusion. What happened to a fair trial? According to you most people posting comments, she is already guilty, so might as well sentence her, without the jury hearing one ounce of the case. As for DNA only being as good as the data, that's very true. Was the DNA found on the victim? on a weapon?? or was it just found in the victim's home??? none of these questions have been answered and yet she is guilty as charged. typical.

As for stupid pigs comment, the only thing that is true is that you appear to be stupid.

[JT]

What happened to a fair trial? I don't know, but if I ever see one, I'll be sure and let you know.
Prosecutors and (most) police aren't interested in giving people a fair trial. They want convictions.
I'd very much like this woman to recieve a fair trial...but I'd like that for everyone else, too. Not just ex-cops. Is that also inside your sphere of concern, or is it just cops/ex-cops that deserve their full rights?

A large portion of the hostility directed at her might be caused by the fact that on anything involving police/ex-police, no matter what the evidence, sooner or later someone is going to show up and break out the "They deserved it! Cops have a hard job!" line.

[R W Alderman]

I feel sorry for Sherri's parents who have had to endure 23 years of not knowing who was responsible for the death of their daughter. The murder came as a shock to me, as I just happened to find out about it when Stephanie Lazarus was charged last month. I remember Sherri as a beautiful, sweet, intelligent woman. Too bad there isn't a way that the original investigators couldn't be charged with negligence. Kudos to the cold case detectives. Rest in Peace sweet Nurse.

[Lisa Herrick]

Wow, Not guilty? Thats amazing. I hope Nels and Loretta have the strength to see this thing to the end. Justice needs to be served and I hope every bit of evidence will convict this
woman of her heinous crime.