Ep 3. Driven to Silence

In episode 3 of season 13 of Forensic Files titled "Driven to Silence," viewers are introduced to a case involving the murder of a young woman named Sherri Rae Rasmussen. Sherri was a registered nurse and had recently married her college sweetheart, John Ruetten, when she was found brutally murdered in their Los Angeles home on February 24, 1986.

Initially, the case appeared to be a robbery gone wrong, but the investigating officers began to suspect that there was more to the story after discovering that nothing of value had been stolen from the house. The investigation remained open for several years, but it ultimately went cold.

More than a decade after Sherri's murder, a new detective was assigned to the case and he began to investigate the possibility that the killer may have been someone that Sherri knew. His hunch proved to be correct, as DNA evidence eventually led to the arrest of a woman named Stephanie Lazarus.

As the episode unfolds, viewers learn more about Stephanie's background and her history with John Ruetten. Stephanie and John had dated briefly while they were in college, and Stephanie had become jealous when John began dating Sherri.

Despite the fact that John had not spoken to Stephanie in years, she seems to have been consumed by her jealousy and harbored resentment towards Sherri. Eventually, Stephanie became a police officer and was assigned to the same unit as Sherri.

Through interviews with law enforcement officials and the use of forensic evidence, viewers learn how Stephanie's obsession with John and her jealousy towards Sherri ultimately led to her committing the murder. The episode explores the various pieces of evidence that the detectives used to build their case against Stephanie, including DNA evidence and bite marks that were left on Sherri's arm.

Overall, "Driven to Silence" is a captivating episode that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. It's a powerful reminder of the importance of forensic science in solving crimes and bringing justice to those who have been wronged.