The case went cold for at least 23 years.ДЄny hope of Lazarus' relationship with John Ruetten being reconnected was dissolved, along with their friendship. It seemed like Stephanie Lazarus committed the perfect murder. The crime scene did not leave a lot of physical evidence no hair, fiber or blood evidence (besides Ruetten's own blood) to connect to a suspect. The LAPD believed this and hunted for an armed robber, not knowing that the real murderer was one of their own. She proceeded by knocking over furniture, pulling out the drawers and stacked a VCR and CD player, as if the alleged robbers escaped what they intended to steal in the house after murdering Ruetten. Once Sherri Ruetten was dead, Lazarus got to work, making the murder look like a home invasion and robbery gone wrong. Lazarus then wrapped a blanket around the barrel of the revolver to act as a silencer and then fatally shot Sherri three times in her heart and face. Sherri stopped struggling after being struck in the head with the butt of her revolver. She bit Sherri on the forearm, causing her to let go of a sleeper hold she had on Lazarus, who then smashed a vase on her head. Sherri was taller than Lazarus and strong, but Lazarus was a police officer trained for combat. The two struggled in a fight to the death. When Sherri detected Lazarus' presence, the obsessive policewoman fired a shot from her. Lazarus picked the lock on the Ruetten's home and entered when Sherri was home while John was elsewhere. Stephanie believed she was in a love triangle but it was a fantasy. Ruetten suggested ignoring Lazarus and hoping she would go away, thinking she would get over it. She was abusing and stalking Rasmussen out of jealousy. One day, she entered Ruetten's condominium, claiming she was waiting for Ruetten. Ruetten's marriage didn't stop Lazarus, now an officer in the LAPD, from stalking and harassing his new wife. Rasmussen was frightened of Stephanie but forgave Ruetten and married him in November 1985.

Lazarus, wearing short shorts and a crop top, later went to Rasmussen office at a hospital and revealed that she and Ruetten had sex two nights previously. When Ruetten said he had to leave, she asked if they could have sex one more time, which he agreed to. She called him over and begged him not to marry Rasmussen, revealing that she loved him. But Lazarus still had feelings for Ruetten, evidenced by her journal.

They instantly fell in love and were engaged with a year. In the 1980s, John Ruetten met another woman, 27-year-old Sherri Rasmussen. Ruetten got a career as an electrical engineer. Lazarus applied for the police academy, surprising her friends and family. The open relationship continued after graduation. They both were heavily focused on working out and physical fitness. There, she met John Ruetten, a fitness fanatic at a party. In 1978, Lazarus was a UCLA Freshman at 18 years old. Above The Law Stephanie Ilene Lazarus is a former policewoman who murdered her ex-boyfriend's new bride.

Stephanie lazarus obituary