Ex-LAPD Detective to Be Sentenced in Murder Case A former Los Angeles police detective faces 27 years to life in prison when she's scheduled to be sentenced Friday for murdering the wife of her former lover in 1986. Stephanie Lazarus was found guilty in March of killing Sherri Rasmussen, who was bludgeoned and shot to death 26 years ago in the condo she shared with her husband of three months, John Ruetten. During the trial, prosecutors focused on the romantic relationship between Lazarus and Ruetten after they graduated from college. They claim Lazarus was consumed with jealousy when Ruetten decided to marry Rasmussen. The case hinged on a single piece of evidence - DNA from a bite mark prosecutors say belonged to Lazarus which was found on Rasmussen's arm. Lazarus's attorney argued the DNA evidence was corrupted and not reliable evidence.