He says aspects of the original LAPD investigation may be 'problematic,' and there are still unanswered questions as to why Lazarus wasn't looked at more closely to begin with.īut the LA Times reporter says the dramatic developments that took decades later hinge mainly on a revolution in DNA technology, which enabled investigators to zero in on the source of a bite mark on the arm of the murder victim, Rasmussen. The case raised tough questions about whether the LAPD intentionally looked the other way, and ultimately, covered up Lazarus' involvement in the killing.īlankstein sees a case of 'tunnel vision' by the police, in their long-held belief that Rasmussen was killed in a robbery. Blankstein recalls being struck by the fact that Lazarus was called away from her office by police - the same office where he had sometimes spoken with her in her capacity as an art crimes investigator.īack in 1986, Sherri Rasmussen was a newlywed, and Lazarus, already a cop, was an ex-girlfriend of Rasmussen's husband, John Ruetten. Lazarus was arrested for murder in an elaborate sting by her LAPD colleagues in June 2009. Still, Blankstein says he was 'supremely confident' he was on the right track, because his information was 'so good.' Los Angeles police detective Stephanie Lazarus is arraigned at the Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles on murder charges, Tuesday, June 9, 2009. We 'didn't want to impact the case,' he said. 'It's very rare for a cop to be arrested'.let alone 'arrested for murder.' Blankstein said it was a challenge not to 'jump the gun' on the story. Having covered the LAPD for some 20 years, he told Crimesider that when the reporters got a tip about 'something big' involving a police officer, he knew it would be 'above and beyond' the routine.

Stephanie lazarus 2017