NOTORIOUS MURDERS > WOMEN WHO KILL

The Murder of Sherri Rae Rasmussen

By Tricia Romano

Announcing the Cracking of the Cold Case

On June 5, the announcement of the arrest of Stephanie Lazarus in the 23-year-old case sent shock waves through the press and the LAPD.

She had been sitting in her third-floor office when she was told that a suspect in custody in the jail might have information on one of her cases. She immediately left to check on the suspect.

But, in accordance with policy, to get through jail security she had to surrender her weapon.

It was a trap. Once disarmed, the 49-year-old was arrested. The announcement stunned the police department. One veteran officer told the Los Angeles Times, "Never in my wildest imagination would I ever think she could do something like this. We drank beers. She was always quick to give you a hug or tell a joke."

She had been described as "bubbly" and "vivacious" in a story about her private investigation firm, Unique Investigations, in the Ventura County Star in 2000.

She was the type who made homemade soaps and chocolate-covered cherries to give her neighbors for Christmas.

But other details about Lazarus began to appear on the Internet. She was nicknamed "Spaz" or "Spazarous" for her erratic behavior when she became flustered or angry.

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1. Introduction
2. Rising in the Force
3. Robbery Gone Awry
4. "If I can't have John, then nobody else will."
5. Something out of Law and Order
6. Announcing the Cracking of the Cold Case
7. Redemption: "I told you so."
8. New Details
9. On the Other Side of the Thin Blue Line