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LAPD Detective Will Stand Trial for Murder
A judge has decided that LAPD Detective Stephanie Lazarus will stand trial for the 1986 slaying of Sherri Rasmussen. At the time of her death, Rasmussen was recently married to Lazarus' ex boyfriend. With crime down and DNA technology more readily available, detectives this year looked into the cold case where the suspects were thought to be two men suspected of a similar crime at the time. A criminalist collected saliva from Rasmussen's body where a bite mark was found and the LAPD is saying that "the odds that DNA... belonged to anyone other than Lazarus were 1 in 400 quadrillion," according to the LA Times.
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Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
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