Sherri rasmussen l and her husband of just a few months john ruetten. Police worked under the theory she was killed by a home invader after a desperate struggle. Rasmussen was an accomplished woman, having entered college at the age of 16 and was the director of nursing at glendale adventist medical center at the time of her death. The beautiful life of sherri rasmussen and the downfall of stephanie lazarus duration. In february of 1986, the body of the 29 year old woman was discovered in the van nuys, california, apartment she shared with her husband, john ruetten. Questions should be ontopic and related to casefile or true crime.
A collection of true crime stories headlined by the murder of sherri rasmussenfor 23 years, no one knew how sherri rasmussen had died. And it was there that newlyweds sherri rasmussen and john ruetten lived in a condo together, on balboa boulevard. My work with crime stoppers has led me to do this podcast, and i am so excited to be your new true crime dealer. If the lapd really did cover up stephanie lazarus murder of sherri rasmussen, it was done so brazenly that its almost impossible to believe on february 24, 1986, john ruetten returned home to his condo in van nuys, california, to find sherri. Nov 03, 2018 a year later, ruetten shocked her with the news that he was marrying a woman named sherri rasmussen. Sherri rasmussen was born on the 7th of february 1957\. Nov 16, 2018 true stories about the longdelayed delivery of justice are innately powerful. Nels and loretta rasmussen had a boat in san diego. These are the best true crime books to read that cover every case from ted bundy to the zodiac killer. Stephanie lazarus crimes of passion pictures cbs news. In 1986, a young woman named sherri rasmussen was murdered in the home she shared with her husband, john. The long story of an lapd cold case whats nonfiction.
In february of 1986, the body of the 29 year old woman was. She is bitten in the forearm and is sot in the gut after 20 minutes of. Sep 16, 20 theres embossing and cheesy roses on the covers. The family has nothing but praise for the lapd of 2009. Matthew mcgough has not only written a singular true crime. The case of the murdered newlywed and the cop who nearly. On february 24, 1986, the body of sherri rasmussen born february 7, 1957. Over the last several years i have interviewed many of sherri. On february 24, 1986, 29yearold newlywed sherri rasmussen was murdered in the home she shared with her husband, john. Inside the case of a murderous lapd detective that could. At midnight on december 31, when the lapd closed the books on its 1986 homicide statistics, sherri rasmussen s murder was indelibly recorded as one of 293 unsolved cases. Sherri rasmussen was a young newlywed who had made a name for herself with a successful nursing career.
On february 24, 1986, the body of sherri rasmussen born february 7, 1957 was found dead in the apartment she shared with her husband, john ruetten, in van nuys, california, united states. John and sherri went down over memorial day weekend in 1985 and told them. In a packed true crime book, the lazarus files goes behind the scenes in the murder of sherri rasmussen, killed by lapd cop stephanie lazarus, it was a shocking crime that went unsolved. Homicide detectives advanced a theory that the murder was a botched burglary, but that theory was wildly incongruous with the crime. The body of a 29yearold nurse and threemonth newlywed, sherri rasmussen, had been discovered by her husband, john ruetten. But they also tell a story larger story, contextualizing the crime. Cold cases, bad grandpas, and crimes against chimpanzees. My work with crime stoppers has led me to do this podcast, and i am so excited to be your new true crime. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures.
A collection of true crime stories headlined by the murder of sherri rasmussen for 23 years, no one knew how sherri rasmussen had died. Murdered paul alexander nonfiction loc 589 no pages in the book murdered sherri rea russeman is brutally murdered. The lazarus files is a thorough, comprehensive, and impressive account of the murder of sherri rasmussen, and how lapd detective stephanie lazarus got away with the crime for more than two decades. Rasmussen was an accomplished woman, having entered college. Matthew mcgough is writing a book about sherri s life and murder. Lazarus responded to the revelation by becoming hysterical. In the lazarus files, mcgough probes the 1986 murder of 29yearold newlywed sherri rasmussen. The middle daughter of three, sherri was known as a gentle, kind and caring. Put on your shoulder pads and tease your hair to the heavens and join us this week as we discuss the peculiar murder of sherri rasmussen. At the hospital where rasmussen worked as a nursing supervisor, the jilted, distraught cop confronted her rival.
Criminal courthouse after lazarus first appearance there, sherris parents, nels and loretta rasmussen, watched grimly, as their lawyer told the assembled reporters something startling. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. A year later, ruetten shocked her with the news that he was marrying a woman named sherri rasmussen. The crime scene suggested a ferocious struggle, and police initially assumed it was a burglary gone awry. The police initially suspected that it was a random occurrence, that rasmussen. Today, were covering the solved true crime story and mystery of sherri rasmussen. The separated after college, and john moved on and married sherri rasmussen. She was charged with the murder of sherri rasmussen, a young nurse, 23 years after the killing.
The book, a true crime, is the product of a meticulous mind, who left no stone unturned. The lazarus files, by matthew mcgough amazon book depository in 2009, a decadesold cold case, the 1986 murder of sherri rasmussen, a young newlywed nurse in van nuys, heated up. In february of 1986, sherri rasmussen was found dead in the condo she shared with her husband, john ruetten, in van nuys, ca. Im also on the board of directors for crime stoppers of central indiana.
He spoke with a roster of names to piece it all together. True stories about the longdelayed delivery of justice are innately powerful. Regardless, i ended up purchasing if you really loved meand quickly became so hooked on true crime that i now force myself to alternate true crime books with other books, so as not to turn into a total loony murder story fanatic. When sherri rasmussen was found dead in her condo in 1986, it was. Mar 04, 2011 paul alexander has written a clear, concise, justthefacts account of the brutal murder of sherri rae rasmussen. The first time john ruetten broke down on the stand occurred when dda presby asked ruetten about telling sherri s parents they were engaged. Ive been crime obsessed since birth and the only thing i love more than true crime is my dog, charlie. The middle daughter of three, sherri was known as a gentle, kind and caring woman. True crime is having a renaissance right now, but the genre has been popular long before the serial podcast or once upon a time in hollywood brought charles mansons murders back into focus. Apr 27, 2019 the book, a true crime, is the product of a meticulous mind, who left no stone unturned.
Shocking death pictures of a murdered woman were shown to jurors in the trial of former police detective stephanie lazarus huge closeup portraits of the battered face of sherri rasmussen. The investigation in 1986 is a completely different story, and the family. People magazine investigates spotlights the murder of sherri rasmussen, who was found beaten and shot to death in a case. It was discovered that rasmussen s father had provided a vital lead during the initial investigation, but it was never followed. Questions should be ontopic and related to casefile or true crime in general. But her parents knew that one of her husbands exes was an lapd officer. Mar 21, 2010 sherri rae rasmussen sherri rae rasmussen, 29 shot to death. Then, one morning in 2009, when a detective opened the. The best true crime books read like thrillers, with twists and turns to keep you hooked. A riveting account of sherri rasmussens cold case murder investigation april 27, 2019 i havent slept well the past few nights because i stayed up pass my bedtime to read and finish the lazarus files, by the nonfiction writer, mathew mcgough, out on april 30th.
Sherri rasmussen was born on the 7th of february 1957. Kindle store buy a kindle free kindle reading apps kindle books french. See more ideas about true crime, crime and serial killers. The case of the murdered newlywed and the cop who nearly got. This cold case remained unsolved for years until it was finally solved in 2009. On february 24, 1986, the body of sherri rasmussen born february 7, 1957 was found dead in the apartment she shared with her husband, john ruetten, in van nuys. She and her husband john had only been married for three months when john came home one night to find sherri. Lazarus was charged with staging the crime scene to look like a burglary gone bad, and police long believed that rasmussen was the victim of two male burglars. A cold case investigation, has refuted claims that his book is a whodunit.
She had been beaten and shot three times in a struggle. Jan 11, 2020 in a packed true crime book, the lazarus files goes behind the scenes in the murder of sherri rasmussen, killed by lapd cop stephanie lazarus, it was a shocking crime that went unsolved for decades. In the decades after 29yearold sherri rae rasmussen was found bludgeoned and fatally. Mar 24, 2020 these are the best true crime books to read that cover every case from ted bundy to the zodiac killer. Well look at the timelines of events surrounding sherri. A cold case investigation examines the case and the investigation that followed, noting that while the person responsible for sherri rasmussens death may be behind bars. May 11, 2012 lazarus was charged with staging the crime scene to look like a burglary gone bad, and police long believed that rasmussen was the victim of two male burglars. Apr 01, 2012 the first time john ruetten broke down on the stand occurred when dda presby asked ruetten about telling sherri s parents they were engaged.
This is a true crime book that focuses on the recent dna evidence that helped solve a crime from the 80s. Matthew mcgough has not only written a singular true crime story, but a careful and damning indictment of systemic failure, one that should. Lapd love rival murdered sherri rasmussen in calculated attack. By the time i reached the final pages of the lazarus files, i felt breathless. An engrossing true crime accountthis memorable and powerful work deserves a wide readership. When ruetten, an engineer, had come home from work at 5. In corroborating evidence ii, william rasmussen, author of two previous true crime books, continues his investigation into famous, unsolved criminal cases by focusing on two separate.