A former Los Angeles police detective, Stephanie Lazarus, who killed Sherri Rasmussen, a romantic rival, and concealed the murder for over two decades, will not be paroled after initially being found suitable for release. This decision was made after a 90-minute hearing before the California Parole Board, where Rasmussen’s family expressed their satisfaction with the outcome. Lazarus, who was an LAPD officer at the time of the murder, staged the killing to look like a robbery and was only arrested in 2009 after DNA evidence linked her to the crime scene.
Despite Lazarus claiming she didn’t intend to kill Rasmussen and expressing shame for her actions, the family and California Governor Gavin Newsom opposed her release. Newsom stated that although Lazarus had a good disciplinary record in prison, she had not fully taken responsibility for the murder until she was caught. The governor’s concerns led a separate panel to question the initial decision to grant Lazarus parole.
Rasmussen’s family emphasized Lazarus’ lack of remorse and questioned why the board considered the state’s youthful offender law, as Lazarus was almost 26 when she committed the murder and had been a police officer for two years. The family believed it was unfair for Lazarus to enjoy her life after receiving her LAPD pension while Rasmussen’s loved ones continued to suffer. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation did not immediately comment on the decision to deny Lazarus parole.
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