Unforgotten CasebookThe cases. The books. The screen stories.
The case library /

Los Angeles, California · 1986

Sherri Rasmussen & Stephanie Lazarus

Book cover: The Lazarus Files — Matthew McGough
Book coverThe Lazarus FilesMatthew McGoughArtwork via Macmillan / Henry Holt and Co

The story behind The Lazarus Files

Sherri Rasmussen was killed in her Los Angeles home in 1986. Investigators initially treated the attack as a burglary, but preserved DNA evidence eventually pointed to police detective Stephanie Lazarus, a former girlfriend of Rasmussen’s husband. Lazarus was arrested more than two decades after the crime and convicted of murder.

Content note: violence, abuse, or loss. Linked material may contain graphic descriptions. Screen dramatizations may change events and dialogue.

Roads Traveled

Open case map →

Los Angeles, California. The map provides regional context; individually verified historical places are listed below.

Map sources checked September 14, 2026. No case-specific Odd Stops location was found in this review.

See this case’s source review
Odd Stops
No verified match found. Source imagery is linked; only separately licensed photos are reproduced.
MurderData
No verified match found.
ArcGIS essay
Not included in this essay.
Reddit map
Reviewed as a general resource. Its coordinates and victim counts were not adopted as case evidence.

“No verified match” describes the accessible material found in this review, not proof that a source has never covered the case. MAP’s anonymous records were not individually matched to people.

See the full case checklist →

The map shows regional context for this case. No individually sourced historical place is included below.

Explore outside maps & location guides →

Fiction Work

Browse all →

Scripted stories and fictional inspirations. Scenes, characters, and dialogue can differ from the record.

No verified fictional adaptation or inspiration has been identified in this collection. Nonfiction coverage is listed in the other media sections.

01Books

1 items

Matthew McGough

The Lazarus Files

A nonfiction account of this case. See the linked edition for publication details and available formats.

Explore this book

02Movies

0 items

Watch links, previews, and historical title listings are identified below. Availability varies by service and region; rentals or subscriptions may be required.

A verified movie listing has not been added yet.

New material will appear here after editorial review.

03TV & documentaries

4 items

Watch links, previews, and historical title listings are identified below. Availability varies by service and region; rentals or subscriptions may be required.

IMDb · TV episode

Dateline NBC — The Smoking Gun (2018)

IMDb episode reference connected to the Sherri Rasmussen & Stephanie Lazarus case. Listed release: 2018. Cast, credits, and title information; viewing availability is separate.

Credits & title details on IMDb

IMDb · TV episode

48 Hours — One of Their Own (2010)

IMDb episode reference connected to the Sherri Rasmussen & Stephanie Lazarus case. Listed release: 2010. Cast, credits, and title information; viewing availability is separate.

Credits & title details on IMDb

IMDb · TV episode

48 Hours — One of Their Own (2012)

IMDb episode reference connected to the Sherri Rasmussen & Stephanie Lazarus case. Listed release: 2012. Cast, credits, and title information; viewing availability is separate.

Credits & title details on IMDb

IMDb · TV episode

People Magazine Investigates — Once Bitten (2017)

IMDb episode reference connected to the Sherri Rasmussen & Stephanie Lazarus case. Listed release: 2017. Cast, credits, and title information; viewing availability is separate.

Credits & title details on IMDb

04Newspaper clippings

1 items

Original newspaper coverage, hosted by Newspapers.com. Read each article in the context of its publication date; later findings may differ. Full-page access may require sign-in.

Featured newspaper clipping

Read a featured clipping here, then explore more reporting in the newspaper archive.

The Signal · 2012-03-09 · Page 4

Lazarus convicted in Rasmussen’s murder

The verdict report explains the DNA evidence and the long delay in identifying Sherri Rasmussen’s killer.

Historical reporting; read in the context of its publication date.

Open full clipping at Newspapers.com

Keep following the newspaper trail.

Search original reporting, follow the trial, and compare how newspapers covered the case over time.

Explore more on Newspapers.com

Newspapers.com controls access to its archive. A subscription may be required; existing subscribers can sign in.

05News & reporting

1 items

Los Angeles Times

Newspaper & magazine reporting

Linked reporting or commentary. Read the source date for its historical context; access may require a subscription.

Read source

06Podcasts

14 items

Direct links open the selected episode in Apple Podcasts or on its publisher’s site. Some editions may require a subscription.

Apple Podcasts

Dateline NBC — Detective Story

Direct episode page for this case or its screen adaptation. Open it for listening options and the publisher’s episode notes.

Listen to the episode

Morbid

The Murder of Sherri Rasmussen

Podcast coverage of the Sherri Rasmussen & Stephanie Lazarus case. Released November 28, 2022. About 73 minutes.

Listen to the episode

Casefile True Crime

Case 42: Sherri Rasmussen

Podcast coverage of the Sherri Rasmussen & Stephanie Lazarus case. Released January 14, 2017. About 65 minutes.

Listen to the episode

Women and Crime

Sherri Rasmussen

Podcast coverage of the Sherri Rasmussen & Stephanie Lazarus case. Released July 12, 2022. About 47 minutes.

Listen to the episode

Murder With My Husband

60. Sherri Rasmussen – The Twisted Triangle

Podcast coverage of the Sherri Rasmussen & Stephanie Lazarus case. Released May 17, 2021. About 32 minutes.

Listen to the episode

Crimes of the Centuries

A Newlywed Murdered: The Sherri Rasmussen Case

Podcast coverage of the Sherri Rasmussen & Stephanie Lazarus case. Released February 9, 2026. About 55 minutes.

Listen to the episode

Moms and Mysteries: A True Crime Podcast

The Murder of Sherri Rasmussen: A Killer in Uniform

Podcast coverage of the Sherri Rasmussen & Stephanie Lazarus case. Released September 5, 2017. About 58 minutes.

Listen to the episode

Criminally Listed Presents: Into the Killing

Sherri Rasmussen

Podcast coverage of the Sherri Rasmussen & Stephanie Lazarus case. Released July 4, 2021. About 22 minutes.

Listen to the episode

Unseen

The Bite Mark Mistress Murder | The Case of Sherri Rasmussen | UNSEEN

Podcast coverage of the Sherri Rasmussen & Stephanie Lazarus case. Released September 22, 2025. About 32 minutes.

Listen to the episode

True Crime Brewery

His Crazy Ex-Girlfriend: The Murder of Sherri Rasmussen

Podcast coverage of the Sherri Rasmussen & Stephanie Lazarus case. Released August 18, 2020. About 98 minutes.

Listen to the episode

Crack House Chronicles

Ep. 324 The Murder of Sherri Rasmussen

Podcast coverage of the Sherri Rasmussen & Stephanie Lazarus case. Released July 27, 2026. About 44 minutes.

Listen to the episode

RedHanded

Episode 156: Stephanie Lazarus: The Detective Who Almost Got Away with Murder

Podcast coverage of the Sherri Rasmussen & Stephanie Lazarus case. Released July 16, 2020. About 66 minutes.

Listen to the episode

10 to Life

His Jealous Ex Kept Showing Up…Then The Newlywed Bride Was Found Dead | Sherri Rasmussen

Podcast coverage of the Sherri Rasmussen & Stephanie Lazarus case. Released June 16, 2026. About 69 minutes.

Listen to the episode

GRIMM: A True Crime Podcast

Baby Break v2, Episode 2: The Murder of Sherri Rasmussen Part 2

Podcast coverage of the Sherri Rasmussen & Stephanie Lazarus case. Released August 5, 2026. About 58 minutes.

Listen to the episode

07Social Media

12 items

Case videos, posts, family pages, and creator communities. Creator channels and groups cover multiple cases; each includes a link to the relevant episode. Facebook or TikTok may require sign-in, and groups may require membership approval. Community opinions are separate from verified reporting.

Unseen

Killer Realizes She’s Been Caught 23 Years Later | The Case of Sherri Rasmussen

Video from Unseen covering the Sherri Rasmussen & Stephanie Lazarus case. Length: 28:42.

Watch on YouTube

EXPLORE WITH US

Cold Case SOLVED After 26 Years: The True Story of Sherri Rasmussen | True Crime Solved Mystery

Video from EXPLORE WITH US covering the Sherri Rasmussen & Stephanie Lazarus case. Length: 17:00.

Watch on YouTube

The Lore Lodge

The (Almost) Successful Coverup Of The Sherri Rasmussen Murder

Video from The Lore Lodge covering the Sherri Rasmussen & Stephanie Lazarus case. Length: 1:10:39.

Watch on YouTube

Megyn Kelly

Fatal Attraction: The Body in Unit 205 — Ep. 1 | MK Confidential on the Murder of Sherri Rasmussen

Video from Megyn Kelly covering the Sherri Rasmussen & Stephanie Lazarus case. Length: 32:23.

Watch on YouTube

True Crime Brewery

His Crazy Ex Girlfriend: The Murder of Sherri Rasmussen

Video from True Crime Brewery covering the Sherri Rasmussen & Stephanie Lazarus case. Length: 1:35:49.

Watch on YouTube

Megyn Kelly

Fatal Attraction: Nineteen Years in a Freezer — Ep. 2 | MK Confidential on Sherri Rasmussen

Video from Megyn Kelly covering the Sherri Rasmussen & Stephanie Lazarus case. Length: 32:35.

Watch on YouTube

Megyn Kelly

The Deadly Secrets Behind Sherri Rasmussen's Murder

Video from Megyn Kelly covering the Sherri Rasmussen & Stephanie Lazarus case. Length: 6:00.

Watch on YouTube

ABC News

Examining notorious Los Angeles murder case of Sherri Rasmussen | 20/20 PART 1

Video from ABC News covering the Sherri Rasmussen & Stephanie Lazarus case. Length: 9:45.

Watch on YouTube

Criminal Underworld

Killer Cop: How DNA Exposed the Shocking Murder of Sherri Rasmussen

Video from Criminal Underworld covering the Sherri Rasmussen & Stephanie Lazarus case. Length: 18:48.

Watch on YouTube

Casefile

The deadly secrets behind Sherri’s murder

Video from Casefile covering the Sherri Rasmussen & Stephanie Lazarus case. Length: 1:03:38.

Watch on YouTube

TikTok · Creator channel

Crack House Chronicles — TikTok channel

Linked by this creator in the episode notes for “Ep. 324 The Murder of Sherri Rasmussen.” This creator channel covers multiple cases. The matching case episode is linked below. The platform may ask you to sign in.

Visit the TikTok channel

Facebook · Creator channel

Crack House Chronicles — Facebook page

Linked by this creator in the episode notes for “Ep. 324 The Murder of Sherri Rasmussen.” This creator channel covers multiple cases. The matching case episode is linked below. The platform may ask you to sign in.

Visit the Facebook page

08Blogs & essays

0 items

Outside blogs, personal essays, and creator write-ups. These reflect each author’s perspective. Check publication dates and compare claims with reporting and court records.

This section is awaiting its first entry.

New material will appear here after editorial review.

09Internet Archive

3 items

Individual records from Internet Archive: library books, historical broadcasts, and preserved web pages. A catalog listing does not guarantee free reading or full playback. Access, previews, and borrowing are controlled by Internet Archive.

Internet Archive · TV News Archive

Dateline NBC : KNTV : February 11, 2011 9:00pm-11:00pm PST

The archive indexes this broadcast under Sherri Rasmussen. It may contain several stories; use any available captions or previews to locate the relevant segment. Full playback may be restricted.

Explore the archived broadcast

Internet Archive · TV News Archive

Dateline : MSNBCW : June 9, 2019 2:00am-3:00am PDT

The archive indexes this broadcast under Sherri Rasmussen. It may contain several stories; use any available captions or previews to locate the relevant segment. Full playback may be restricted.

Explore the archived broadcast

Internet Archive · TV News Archive

20/20 : KGO : October 4, 2024 9:01pm-11:00pm PDT

The archive indexes this broadcast under Sherri Rasmussen. It may contain several stories; use any available captions or previews to locate the relevant segment. Full playback may be restricted.

Explore the archived broadcast

10From the journal

0 articles

This section is awaiting its first entry.

New material will appear here after editorial review.

11Court records & documents

2 items

Court opinions, filings, transcripts, and dockets, alongside clearly labeled parole records, released investigative files, and courtroom recordings. Each item identifies its source and scope. Allegations in filings are not findings of guilt. These selections are not complete case files. Where an online document could not be verified, a separate guide identifies the records office or archive to contact.

Court opinionArchive copy

Lazarus v. Core — federal habeas decision

A federal appellate memorandum addressing the delay before Stephanie Lazarus was charged with Sherri Rasmussen’s murder.

Court / agency
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Document date
September 5, 2023
Case / citation
21-55483
Hosted by
Justia
Related civil caseArchive copy

Rasmussen v. Lazarus — wrongful-death litigation

A civil appeal concerning the time limit for the Rasmussen family’s wrongful-death lawsuit against Lazarus. This is separate from the murder prosecution.

Court / agency
California Courts of Appeal
Document date
January 8, 2018
Case / citation
B277635
Hosted by
Justia

12Nicknames & media names

0 items

No sourced nickname has been added for this case.

New material will appear here after editorial review.

13Where are they now?

0 items

The latest information verified for this collection is listed below. Each source has its own date; these are not live custody records.

A current-status update has not been verified for this case yet.

New material will appear here after editorial review.

14Positive Outcome

0 items

Documented laws, advocacy, and reforms connected to this case. Changes do not undo the harm, and listing a law does not claim that it is effective or universally supported.

No case-specific law, reform, or advocacy initiative has been verified for this collection yet. This does not mean that none exists.

New material will appear here after editorial review.