Ep 19. Stephanie Lazarus

In season 9, episode 19 of Snapped, viewers are introduced to Stephanie Lazarus, a former LAPD detective whose life takes a deadly turn. Lazarus worked as a detective and specialized in art theft prior to the events leading up to the show. Despite her success in the police force, she was also plagued by personal problems, including a failed marriage and difficulties with fertility.

The story begins in 1986, when Lazarus’s ex-boyfriend, John Ruetten, marries another woman, Sherri Rasmussen, whom Lazarus is said to have had a grudge against. In the middle of the night, Rasmussen is found dead in her home, beaten and shot. The case went cold for several years, but Lazarus was suspected of the murder early on by some of her colleagues.

Through interviews with police officials and eyewitnesses, the show paints a picture of Lazarus as a manipulative and emotionally unstable person who was jealous of Rasmussen and may have killed her out of revenge. Her alibi at the time of the murder, a dental appointment, was never substantiated and has since been proven false.

The show also describes how the case was eventually solved nearly 25 years after the crime was committed. Through advances in DNA technology and persistent detective work, investigators were able to link a bite mark on Rasmussen’s arm to Lazarus. This discovery led to her arrest and conviction in 2012.

The episode also explores the aftermath of the case, including interviews with Rasmussen’s family members and Lazarus’s former colleagues. Many of those interviewed express shock and disgust at Lazarus’s actions, while others still have trouble believing that someone they knew and worked with could commit such a heinous crime.

Overall, season 9, episode 19 of Snapped is a gripping and tragic tale of a woman whose personal demons may have led her down a dark path. The episode is filled with suspenseful twists and turns as investigators race to solve a decades-old crime, and viewers are sure to be captivated from beginning to end.