A criminal investigation that called it a botched burglary case was reopened 23 years later to find the real murderer – John’s ex-girlfriend Stephanie Lazarus. ‘ID’s People Magazine Investigates: Once Bitten’ explores the story of this police-officer-turned-murderer. Here’s everything we know about John Ruetten!
According to the Rasmussen family, Stephanie Lazarus, John’s ex-girlfriend, was the major suspect in the terrible incident.
In addition to that, The prosecutors established that LAPD officer Lazarus was really the perpetrator of Sherri’s heinous killing.
Who is John Ruetten?
A mechanical engineering student at UCLA, John dated political science major Stephanie Lazarus on and off throughout their undergraduate days and after.
While the relationship was not serious for John, Stephanie was surprised to find out that John had started seeing Sherri, a nursing administrator, who he soon married.
Stephanie, who joined the police force after graduation and became a part of the LAPD, expressed her love for John after he had been engaged to Sherri. Reportedly, the two had sexual intercourse to give Stephanie closure.
In his interviews post the murder of his wife, John mentioned that he regrets doing that and that it was a stupid move. A dejected and jealous Stephanie also invited herself to John and Sherri’s place on two different occasions, once to ask John to wax her skis and another time in her police officer uniform. An uncomfortable Sherri asked John to stand up to Stephanie, but John didn’t think much of her impositions and told Sherri to ignore her.
Stephanie even went as ahead as going to Sherri’s place of work to threaten her by saying: “If I can’t have John, no one else will.” Sherri, on occasions, had shared her unpleasant encounters with Stephanie with her parents, who pinned Stephanie as the prime suspect behind the brutal murder of their daughter. All these events led to the tragic and untimely death of 29-year-old Sherri Rasmussen. The event took place on the afternoon of February 24, 1986, when Stephanie attacked Sherri, who had called in sick from work. She shot her three times using her off-duty gun and bit her arm.
What is John Ruetten Impact Statement?
John Ruetten, Through his testimony, later known as a victim impact statement, described how his wife’s murder impacted his and his family’s lives.
When he talked about Sherri, he tore up with emotion and tragically described his connection with Stephanie.
CBS shared the touching video of John’s initiative in the cold case. Stephaine was not apprehended until 2009 when the case was reopened using cutting-edge technology.
Similarly, Stephaine had bitten Sherri’s arm, and the sophisticated DNA test later discovered her DNA remains. Her jealousy and continual interference in John and Sherri’s relationship drove her to murder Sherri.
Furthermore, the assailant went on to have a successful police career and even became friends with John following the murder.
Sherri Rasmussen Husband John Ruetten In 2022
Sherri Rasmussen’s husband, John Ruetten, was present throughout the judicial procedures and cooperated with the investigations.
John was devastated by his wife’s death, but he had never doubted Stephanie’s innocence.
After Sherri’s death, John resigned from his work and moved out of Los Angeles. Furthermore, upon his return, he had maintained his intimate contact with Stephaine.
However, his mental pain was palpable in court after his conviction. He felt remorse for his wife’s death as a result of his involvement with Stephaine.
In front of the court, John apologized to the entire Rasmussen family for their loss.
Stephanie was sentenced to 27 years to life at the California Institution for Women in Corona. Conversations with John revealed that he never even considered Stephanie to be a suspect, and he had in fact been in contact with her after the murder took place. John who had quit his job and left Los Angeles after Sherri’s death, on his return met up with Stephanie where the two had sexual intercourse again.
Photos of John and Sherri’s marriage were shown in court for John to identify. Stephanie apparently did not look up during this time. During the trial, John tore up in his statement while talking about Sherri, and tearfully described his relationship with Stephanie. He also felt guilty that someone he knew was the reason behind Sherri’s death. He was apologetic to the Rasmussen family as well. John Ruetten remarried after the death of his first wife.