Case 42
Sherri Rasmussen
Case 42
Sherri Rasmussen
Van Nuys is a neighbourhood in the central San Fernando Valley region of the city of Los Angeles, California. And it was there that newlyweds Sherri Rasmussen and John Ruetten lived in a condo together, on Balboa Boulevard.
Sherri Rasmussen was born on the 7th of February 1957. Her parents were Nels and Loretta Rasmussen. The middle daughter of three, Sherri was known as a gentle, kind and caring woman. Strikingly beautiful. Her compassion for others drove her to study nursing at the age of 16. By the age of 29, she was the director of critical care at Glendale Adventist Hospital. Sherri was well respected and known for her caring approach to her job.
John Ruetten was born in Eugene, Oregon in September 1958. He excelled at basketball growing up, and he continued that passion at UCLA where he studied engineering. He was a charming, handsome and athletic student. He graduated in 1982 and a few years later secured a job as a mechanical engineer at a disk drive manufacturer.
John & Sherri met at a party in the Spring of 84. John was immediately attracted to Sherri. As soon as he met her, he got her number from a mutual friend.
They went on a date and instantly hit it off.
John moved into Sherri’s condo on Balboa Boulevard, and they married on the 23rd of November 1985, friends and family described them as utterly in love.
But tragedy was waiting.
________
Our episodes deal with serious and often distressing incidents. If you feel at anytime you need support, please contact your local crisis centre. Some suggestions for confidential support for men, women and children:
AUSTRALIA:
Lifeline Crisis Support: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: Depression and anxiety support: 1300 22 46 36
Rape & Domestic Violence Services: 1800 737 732
Men's Line: 1300 78 99 78
Headspace: Youth Mental Health Foundation: see headspace.org.au for your local centre
USA:
Distress & Lifeline: 1800 273 8255
Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741
Domestic Violence Helpline: 1800 799 7233
Victim Connect: support for victims of crime: 855 484 2846
UK:
Mind: mental health support: 0300 123 3393
SANE: mental health support: 0300 304 7000
Samaritans support network: 116 123
National Stalking Helpline: 0808 802 0300
CANADA:
For a list of Canadian crisis centres: https://thelifelinecanada.ca/help/call/
NEW ZEALAND:
Lifeline: 0800 543354
Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (Text 4202)
CREDITS
NARRATION:
Episode narrated by the Anonymous Host
EPISODE:
Episode assisted in research and co-written by Anna Priestland
MUSIC:
‘Flatline intro’ and ‘Come play with me’ intro and outro www.dl-sounds.com
All other music and audio clean up performed by Mike Migas and Andrew Joslyn
OTHER:
Logo design by Paulina Szymanska
RESOURCES
BOOKS:
“California’s deadliest women: dangerous dames and murderous moms” – by David Kulczyk
AUDIO/VIDEO:
ARTICLES:
In Plain Sight – The Los Angeles Magazine
California’s Scariest Female Murderers Have Their Chilling Tales Told – LA Weekly
JR victim impact statement – CBS News
Parents of a woman murdered by LAPD officer can’t sue the department – CBS Los Angeles
Reflecting on 100 years of women serving in the LAPD – LA Daily Mail
The Lazarus File – The Atlantic
Shocking pictures open Los Angeles detective’s murder trial – Fox News
Appeal by LAPD detective convicted of gunning down romantic rival fails – My News LA
Ex-LAPD Det. Stephanie Lazarus gets 27 years to life for murder – Los Angeles Times
Stephanie Lazarus, a former LAPD detective, sentenced to 27 years to life in prison for 1986 murder – CBS News
A case so blue – Vanity Fair
Detective stalked slaying victim – Los Angeles Times
26 years later, LAPD detective convicted of cold-case murder – Press Herald
Detective stalked slaying victim, father says – Los Angeles Times
State Supreme Court refuses to hear case against former LAPD detective convicted of murdering romantic rival – LA Daily News
Parents of Sherri Rasmussen can’t sue LAPD over her murder in Van Nuys at the hands of detective Stephanie Lazarus, court rules – LA Daily News
Retired L.A. detective sentenced to 27 years to life for 1986 murder – CNN
DOCUMENTS:
DOCUMENTARIES:
Dateline 48 hours “one of their own”
CBS news 4 part documentary “internal affairs”
Full Stephanie Lazarus’ homicide interrogation video
Van Nuys is a neighbourhood in the central San Fernando Valley region of the city of Los Angeles, California. And it was there that newlyweds Sherri Rasmussen and John Ruetten lived in a condo together, on Balboa Boulevard.
Sherri Rasmussen was born on the 7th of February 1957. Her parents were Nels and Loretta Rasmussen. The middle daughter of three, Sherri was known as a gentle, kind and caring woman. Strikingly beautiful. Her compassion for others drove her to study nursing at the age of 16. By the age of 29, she was the director of critical care at Glendale Adventist Hospital. Sherri was well respected and known for her caring approach to her job.
John Ruetten was born in Eugene, Oregon in September 1958. He excelled at basketball growing up, and he continued that passion at UCLA where he studied engineering. He was a charming, handsome and athletic student. He graduated in 1982 and a few years later secured a job as a mechanical engineer at a disk drive manufacturer.
John & Sherri met at a party in the Spring of 84. John was immediately attracted to Sherri. As soon as he met her, he got her number from a mutual friend.
They went on a date and instantly hit it off.
John moved into Sherri’s condo on Balboa Boulevard, and they married on the 23rd of November 1985, friends and family described them as utterly in love.
But tragedy was waiting.
______
Our episodes deal with serious and often distressing incidents. If you feel at anytime you need support, please contact your local crisis centre. Some suggestions for confidential support for men, women and children:
AUSTRALIA:
Lifeline Crisis Support: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: Depression and anxiety support: 1300 22 46 36
Rape & Domestic Violence Services: 1800 737 732
Men's Line: 1300 78 99 78
Headspace: Youth Mental Health Foundation: see headspace.org.au for your local centre
USA:
Distress & Lifeline: 1800 273 8255
Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741
Domestic Violence Helpline: 1800 799 7233
Victim Connect: support for victims of crime: 855 484 2846
UK:
Mind: mental health support: 0300 123 3393
SANE: mental health support: 0300 304 7000
Samaritans support network: 116 123
National Stalking Helpline: 0808 802 0300
CANADA:
For a list of Canadian crisis centres: https://thelifelinecanada.ca/help/call
NEW ZEALAND:
Lifeline: 0800 543354
Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (Text 4202)
CREDITS
NARRATION:
Episode narrated by the Anonymous Host
EPISODE:
Episode assisted in research and co-written by Anna Priestland
MUSIC:
‘Flatline intro’ and ‘Come play with me’ intro and outro www.dl-sounds.com
All other music and audio clean up performed by Mike Migas and Andrew Joslyn
OTHER:
Logo design by Paulina Szymanska
RESOURCES
BOOKS:
“California’s deadliest women: dangerous dames and murderous moms” – by David Kulczyk
AUDIO/VIDEO:
ARTICLES:
In Plain Sight – The Los Angeles Magazine
California’s Scariest Female Murderers Have Their Chilling Tales Told – LA Weekly
JR victim impact statement – CBS News
Parents of a woman murdered by LAPD officer can’t sue the department – CBS Los Angeles
Reflecting on 100 years of women serving in the LAPD – LA Daily Mail
The Lazarus File – The Atlantic
Shocking pictures open Los Angeles detective’s murder trial – Fox News
Appeal by LAPD detective convicted of gunning down romantic rival fails – My News LA
Ex-LAPD Det. Stephanie Lazarus gets 27 years to life for murder – Los Angeles Times
Stephanie Lazarus, a former LAPD detective, sentenced to 27 years to life in prison for 1986 murder – CBS News
A case so blue – Vanity Fair
Detective stalked slaying victim – Los Angeles Times
26 years later, LAPD detective convicted of cold-case murder – Press Herald
Detective stalked slaying victim, father says – Los Angeles Times
State Supreme Court refuses to hear case against former LAPD detective convicted of murdering romantic rival – LA Daily News
Parents of Sherri Rasmussen can’t sue LAPD over her murder in Van Nuys at the hands of detective Stephanie Lazarus, court rules – LA Daily News
Retired L.A. detective sentenced to 27 years to life for 1986 murder – CNN
DOCUMENTS:
DOCUMENTARIES:
Dateline 48 hours “one of their own”
CBS news 4 part documentary “internal affairs”
Full Stephanie Lazarus’ homicide interrogation video
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