Monday, July 13, 2015

Stephanie Lazarus Criminal Appeal - Appellate Court Decision

Stephanie Lazarus, in custody, date unknown.
Photo Credit, Nick Ut, AP.


UPDATE 7/14: According to court records, the divorce between Lazarus and her husband was finalized on June 24, 2015.

UPDATE: correct date of VNHU reopening the investigation.
July 13, 2015
Today, the California Courts of Appeal affirmed the lower court decision in the murder trial of Stephanie Lazarus. Her appeal was denied.

On March 8, 2012, Stephanie was convicted of first degree murder in the death of Sherri Rae Rasmussen. Sherri had recently married Lazarus' former boyfriend, John Ruetten.

John came home from work on February 24, 1986 to find his wife dead on their living room floor. Sherri's murder wasn't solved until the LAPD's Van Nuys Homicide Unit reopened the case in early 2009.

Lazarus can still appeal to the California Supreme Court, but they are not obligated to review it.

You can read the Appellate Courts' published decision, HERE.

Report on the ruling at The Recorder.

Below, Lazarus' prison intake photo, 2012.


2 comments:

David In TN said...

I don't know what to make of the prison intake photo. Thanks for giving us the latest on this case.

TrevoseLion said...

@David in TN, one word comes to my mind upon seeing Stephanie's picture...Psycho!