Ep 9. Stephanie Lazarus

Stephanie Lazarus, the ninth episode of the first season of It Takes a Killer, follows the investigation into the murder of Sherri Rasmussen, a nurse who was killed in her California home in 1986. At the time, investigators were unable to identify a suspect, but the case remained open for over two decades.

In 2009, LAPD detectives received a break in the case. They learned that a colleague of Rasmussen's husband had dated her in the past. The colleague was Stephanie Lazarus, a highly respected detective in the LAPD's art theft unit. The detectives began to investigate Lazarus, and quickly realized that she was a prime suspect.

As the investigation progressed, detectives learned that Lazarus had been jealous of Rasmussen and had threatened her in the past. They also discovered that Lazarus had tampered with evidence at the crime scene, and had lied about her whereabouts on the day of Rasmussen's murder.

As the evidence against Lazarus mounted, she was arrested and charged with Rasmussen's murder. In court, prosecutors argued that Lazarus had killed Rasmussen out of jealousy and revenge. They presented a compelling case, which included DNA evidence and witness testimonies.

Lazarus denied any involvement in the murder, but the jury didn't believe her. She was convicted and sentenced to 27 years to life in prison.

Stephanie Lazarus is a fascinating episode of It Takes a Killer, as it explores the dark side of a respected police officer. It also highlights the importance of persistence in solving crimes, as it took over two decades for investigators to finally bring Rasmussen's killer to justice.