True Crime With Aphrodite Jones S3 Ep 02 930056TX

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Job ID: 45557True Crime With Aphrodite Jones S3930056 Ep 02TX Script

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DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS EUROPETRUE CRIME WITH APHRODITE JONES S3930056 EP 02TRANSMISSION SCRIPT

JOB ID:45557CLOCK INFO:

True Crimes with Aphrodite Jones (S3)

Ep.2 - A Bite, A Bullet, and A Broken Heart

EHD/930056B

Seg.1- 9:48

Seg.2- 6:28

Seg.3- 17:28

Seg.4- 10:31

TRT - 44:15

13/02/13

Track 1: Full Mix Left

Track 2: Full Mix Right

Track 3: Mix Minus Left

Track 4: Mix Minus Right

Cover Page

Transcripts provided by

Tel: 0800 0854418

+44 (0)1580 720923www.take1.tvTime-codes & CaptionsDialogue

10:00:01:04NARRATOR

A PRETTY, YOUNG NEWLYWED FOUND MURDERED WITH THREE SHOTS TO THE CHEST. A BAFFLING CASE THAT GOES UNSOLVED FOR YEARS, UNTIL FORENSIC

10:00:11:06SCIENCE REVEALS THE MOST UNLIKELY OF SUSPECTS.

10:00:15:04Aphrodite Jones

When I first heard about this case, I felt, Oh my God, is this possible?

10:00:19:21Shannon Presby

The line dividing good and evil runs through the heart of every human being.

10:00:25:13TITLE SEQUENCE

10:00:26:14NARRATOR

MY NAME IS APHRODITE JONES. AS A TRUE CRIME AUTHOR, I TAKE ON CONTROVERSIAL CASES. I TRACK DOWN THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY AND I WONT STOP UNTIL I GET

10:00:38:08THE TRUTH.


There are certain cases that I cannot just let go, because theres so much deception involved, so much evil underneath, that I feel it has to have attention.

10:01:01:03NARRATOR

THE CASE IM TALKING ABOUT TOOK PLACE IN THE CENTRE OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY IN THE COMMUNITY OF VAN NUYS. ITS NO DIFFERENT THAN MANY LOS

10:01:09:11ANGELES NEIGHBOURHOODS. A MAIN COMMERCIAL STRIP DOTTED BY PALM TREES, BUT THEIR ARE SECRETS HERE BEHIND THE LOCKED ENTRANCES TO THE

10:01:17:24GATED COMMUNITIES. COMMUNITIES LIKE THE BALBOA TOWNHOMES.

10:01:24:13NARRATOR

WHERE, ON FEBRUARY 24TH 1986, SOMETHING TRULY HORRIFIC HAPPENS IN UNIT 205.

10:01:38:21NARRATOR

ITS A MONDAY EVENING AND ENGINEER JOHN RUETTEN IS COMING HOME FROM WORK.

10:01:45:17NARRATOR

HE TAKES THE GARAGE STAIRS UP TO THE CONDO.

10:01:52:1010:01:53:08

GRAPHICS ON SCREEN:Reconstruction

NARRATOR

HE CAN TELL IMMEDIATELY THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG.

10:02:00:0110:02:00:14

GRAPHICS ON SCREEN:FROM JOHN RUETTENS TESTIMONY

John Ruetten (Actor) VOAt first I wondered

10:02:01:10John Ruetten (Actor)

Sherri!

10:02:01:21

John Ruetten (Actor) VO

whats going on? Why is she lying there on the floor?


Sherri!

10:02:05:22

10:02:07:11



right in the middle and I went over and started to look closely and tried to see what was going on.


I tried to imagine what this poor man must have felt like, John Ruetten, coming home to his brand new wife and finding her bloodied and beaten.

10:02:27:11John Ruetten (Actor) VO

I could tell by her eyes that she was gone.

10:02:31:14NARRATOR

HIS WIFE, SHERRI RASMUSSEN, IS DEAD, ONLY FOUR MONTHS INTO HER MARRIAGE, ONLY 29 YEARS OLD. IN A FLASH JOHN RUETTEN GOES FROM NEWLYWED TO

10:02:44:12WIDOWER.

10:02:49:21NARRATOR

I LOOKED IT UP. IN 1986 831 PEOPLE WERE MURDERED IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, MORE THAN TWO EVERY DAY. SHERRI RASMUSSEN WAS JUST ONE OF THEM. HER

10:03:02:14DEATH GOT A BRIEF MENTION ON PAGE EIGHT OF THE LOS ANGELES TIMES.

10:03:08:10NARRATOR

BUT SHERRI WAS MORE THAN A STATISTIC, A LOT MORE, AS DISTRICT ATTORNEY, PAUL NUNEZ, WOULD LATER COME TO APPRECIATE.


Did you feel youd got to know her in the process of investigating this case?

10:03:20:21

10:03:23:19

GRAPHICS ON SCREEN:PAUL NUNEZ

Deputy district attorney

Paul Nunez

Yes. Sherri embodied such a giving spirit and it was a tremendous loss for everyone.

10:03:28:06NARRATOR

SHERRI RAE RASMUSSEN HAD FOUND HER CALLING AS A NURSE WHEN SHE WAS JUST 21. BY 29 SHE WAS MADE A DIRECTOR OF NURSING AT GLENDALE AVENTIST MEDICAL

10:03:38:23CENTER.


Sherri was a smart young woman. She was pretty, she was savvy. This is a young woman who wanted to serve and who really cared about other people.

10:03:53:11NARRATOR

IN 1984 SHERRI MEETS A YOUNG UCLA GRADUATE NAMED JOHN RUETTEN WHOS JUST BEGUN A CAREER IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING. THE COUPLE FALLS IN LOVE

10:04:04:02AND LATE THE FOLLOWING YEAR THEYRE MARRIED. SHERRIS PARENTS APPROVE.

10:04:08:1610:04:11:09

GRAPHICS ON SCREEN:JOHN TAYLORRasmussen family attorney

John Taylor

Nels and Loretta Rasmussen were ecstatic that Sherri had found somebody to share her life with. They loved John; they were really excited for them.

10:04:20:02NARRATOR

THE NEWLYWEDS CANT WAIT TO START THEIR NEW LIFE TOGETHER, MAYBE EVEN START A FAMILY. THATS NOT WHAT HAPPENS.

10:04:28:09


10:04:30:21NARRATOR

DETECTIVES ARRIVE AT THE BALBOA TOWNHOMES AT ABOUT 7.30 THE EVENING OF THE MURDER.

10:04:38:15NARRATOR

THEY SEE HER BEATEN BODY

10:04:41:10NARRATOR

AND CLEAR SIGNS OF A LIFE AND DEATH STRUGGLE.

10:04:45:11Sherri Rasmussen (Actress)Help!

10:04:47:13Lead Detective Lyle Mayer (Actor)

Look I know this is difficult, but if you dont mind answering a couple of questions for us?

10:04:53:15NARRATOR

JOHN RUETTEN IS BARELY ABLE TO SPEAK.


And how would you describe your wifes mood when you left this morning? Was she in a good mood?

10:05:01:15NARRATOR

AT FIRST, LEAD DETECTIVE LYLE MAYER QUIZZES JOHN ON HIS WHEREABOUTS THAT DAY.


I got home at six.


Six pm.

10:05:09:01NARRATOR

IN ANY HOMICIDE THE SPOUSE IS USUALLY CONSIDERED A SUSPECT, BUT JOHNS ALIBI SEEMED SOLID AND HIS SHOCK GENUINE AND LATER DETECTIVES WILL RULE HIM

10:05:19:18OUT.

10:05:23:10NARRATOR

AFTER EXAMINING SHERRIS BODY AND HER WOUNDS, MAYER NOTICES A DRAWER THATS BEEN PULLED OPEN. SOMEONE HAD BEEN SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING.

10:05:34:07NARRATOR

TWO PIECES OF STEREO EQUIPMENT SIT ON THE FLOOR NEAR THE DOOR LEADING TO THE GARAGE.

10:05:40:21NARRATOR

DETECTIVE MAYER STARTS TO FORM AN IDEA ABOUT WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED.


From the evidence, as I recall, the two detectives actually thought this was an interrupted burglary, yes?

10:05:53:00Paul Nunez

The theory was that you had burglars that came in and they were interrupted by Sherri.

10:06:01:19Sherri Rasmussen (Actress)

John? Honey?


What are you doing in my house?

10:06:09:0010:06:09:11


NARRATOR

THE DETECTIVES BELIEVE SHERRI STRUGGLED WITH HER ATTACKERS.

10:06:13:0210:06:15:20

GRAPHICS ON SCREEN:SHANNON PRESBYDeputy district attorney

Shannon Presby

We all know that Sherri was fighting for her life by the front door, because two of Sherris fingernails are broken off and found on that tiled entry way.

10:06:24:0910:06:31:15


Shannon Presby

Once Sherri made it to the carpeted living room, it was at that point that she was struck in the face with this heavy, ceramic vase.

10:06:34:09NARRATOR

STUNNED BY THE BLOW, SHERRI WOULD NO LONGER HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OFFER ANY RESISTANCE. STILL, BASED ON HER WOUNDS, POLICE THINK ONE OF THE

10:06:42:2410:06:45:07


BURGLARS DECIDED TO FINISH HER OFF WITH A 38 CALIBER [GUN SHOTS] REVOLVER.

10:06:51:02NARRATOR

A BLANKET WITH GUNPOWDER BURNS INDICATES THAT THE SHOOTER USED IT TO MUFFLE THE WEAPON AND THEN THE BURGLARS MUST HAVE FLED TAKING

10:06:59:20SHERRIS CAR, WHICH IS MISSING FROM THE GARAGE.

10:07:04:09NARRATOR

THERES NO EVIDENCE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, BUT WHILE EXAMINING SHERRIS BODY, THE CORONER NOTICES AN UNUSUAL WOUND ON HER LEFT FOREARM. IT LOOKS

10:07:14:07A LOT LIKE A BITE MARK.


Sherri was trying to get out of the door and thats why the person bit her on the arm.


Yes. She was probably either trying to escape, or pushing that gun away and the killer had to regain control of the situation.

10:07:30:20NARRATOR

THE CORONER TAKES A SWAB OF THE WOUND AND PLACES IT IN AN EVIDENCE TUBE FOR BLOOD TYPING. HE CANT POSSIBLY KNOW HOW CRUCIAL THIS SWAB

10:07:39:24WILL BE 25 YEARS LATER.

10:07:46:01NARRATOR

PROCESSING A CRIME SCENE IS ALWAYS A TOUGH JOB, BUT EVEN TOUGHER IS NOTIFYING THE PARENTS.

10:07:53:05John Taylor

Nels and Loretta Rasmussen received a phone call about two oclock in the morning. They were incredulous, devastated.

10:08:03:22NARRATOR

SHERRIS PARENTS GET ON THE FIRST PLANE FROM TUCSON, ARIZONA TO LOS ANGELES. THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR DAUGHTER.


Nels met with Lyle Mayer when they first came to the Van Nuys Division of the LAPD.

10:08:18:05NARRATOR

NELS RASMUSSEN TELLS MAYER THAT SHERRI HAD BEEN COMPLAINING RECENTLY ABOUT A WOMAN SHED SAID WAS HARASSING HER, A WOMAN FROM JOHN

10:08:26:19RUETTENS PAST.

10:08:27:22Nels Rasmussen (Actor)

I think you should take the time to look into this woman.


In those meetings, detective Mayer was always dismissive of Nels repeated requests that John Ruettens ex-girlfriend be investigated as a suspect.


All due respect, I think you should leave the detective work to us.


They told them to, sort of, butt out. The Rasmussens, at this point, felt scared.


When Nels Rasmussen, the father, went to the police and had multiple things to say, the LAPD officers he was talking to said, You know what buddy, you go home, youve been watching too

10:09:04:18much TV.

10:09:06:12NARRATOR

DETECTIVES ALREADY THINK THEY HAVE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA OF WHAT HAPPENED.


From the time that Sherri Rasmussen was murdered, the detectives, charged with solving the crime, very quickly concluded that the crime had been an interrupted burglary.

10:09:25:09NARRATOR

AND THEIR THEORY LOOKS LIKE IT WILL PAN OUT, BECAUSE A FEW WEEKS LATER, JUST THREE BLOCKS AWAY, THERES ANOTHER ARMED BURGLARY USING A 38

10:09:34:15CALIBER.

10:09:36:05

GRAPHICS ON SCREEN:COMING UP

10:09:36:15NARRATOR

UP NEXT.


I really was stunned.


And the Los Angeles Police Department did absolutely nothing.

10:09:44:00

GRAPHICS ON SCREEN:true

CRIME

WITH APHRODITE JONES

10:09:48:00END OF PART 1

CLOCK INFO:

NO CLOCK SCREEN

10:11:00:00PART 2

10:11:00:01GRAPHICS ON SCREEN:true

CRIME


10:11:06:1110:11:13:03


NARRATOR

LOS ANGELES, A TOWN WITH MORE THAN ITS SHARE OF HEART-BREAKING STORIES, BUT THE 1986 MURDER OF SHERRI RASMUSSEN HAS TO BE ONE OF THE SADDEST.


This was such a happy, newlywed couple. For that to be destroyed it's unfathomable.

10:11:24:14NARRATOR

BASED ON THE EVIDENCE AT THE CRIME SCENE, LEAD DETECTIVE LYLE MAYER CONCLUDES THAT SHERRI WAS KILLED IN THE COURSE OF A BURGLARY.

10:11:35:07NARRATOR

ATTORNEY MARK OVERLAND CAN SEE WHY MAYER CAME TO THIS CONCLUSION.

10:11:39:1210:11:39:12

GRAPHICS ON SCREEN:MARK OVERLANDDefense attorney

Mark Overland

A very similar burglary occurred in a very similar condo complex.


When you say similar burglary, what was similar?

10:11:49:17Mark Overland

There was stacked stereo equipment by the door leading to the garage. The victim had a 38 caliber revolver pointed at her. 38 caliber was a caliber that was used to kill Miss Rasmussen.

10:12:07:09NARRATOR

THE VICTIM OF THIS LATEST ARMED ROBBERY WAS ABLE TO GET AWAY AND BASED ON HER DESCRIPTION OF THE TWO MEN, INVESTIGATORS PUT TOGETHER A COMPOSITE SKETCH AND POST IT ALL OVER THE

10:12:18:23NEIGHBOURHOOD.

10:12:21:03NARRATOR

MAYER IS SURE THAT IF HE CAN FIND THESE TWO, HELL HAVE FOUND SHERRIS KILLERS AS WELL.


Certainly when theres another burglary in the same area with the same MO. and the robbers have a gun in the victims face, now we can say, Jeez maybe it was a burglary.

10:12:40:04NARRATOR

BUT THE TWO MEN NEVER SURFACE AND AS WEEKS GO BY THE INVESTIGATION STALLS.

10:12:47:24NARRATOR

SHERRIS PARENTS EVENTUALLY LEAVE LOS ANGELES AND RETURN TO ARIZONA.

10:12:53:1310:12:58:00

GRAPHICS ON SCREEN:JOHN TAYLORRasmussen family attorney

John Taylor

The Rasmussens felt that the LAPD wanted them to butt out. There was nothing more they could do.

10:13:01:21NARRATOR

ONE YEAR PASSES AND THEN ANOTHER WITH NO NEW LEADS. THE MURDER IS RELEGATED TO THE COLD CASE FILES AND IT WILL STAY COLD FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS.

10:13:19:08NARRATOR

IN THE 1990S THE VIOLENT CRIME RATE IN LOS ANGELES BEGINS TO DROP.

10:13:26:04NARRATOR

POLICE HAVE TIME TO RE-OPEN UNSOLVED CASES.

10:13:30:14NARRATOR

FINALLY, IN 2005 THE SHERRI RASMUSSEN MURDER CASE IS RE-OPENED, BECAUSE OF ONE PARTICULAR PIECE OF EVIDENCE IN THE CASE FILE.

10:13:39:1610:13:42:23

GRAPHICS ON SCREEN:PAUL NUNEZDeputy district attorney

Aphrodite Jones

You have a bite. Saliva from that bite thats preserved since 1986.


Yes.

10:13:45:18


10:13:46:00NARRATOR

IN 1986 THE SWAB OF SHERRIS WOUND WOULDNT HAVE TOLD DETECTIVES MUCH, BUT IN 2005 IT MIGHT TELL THEM EVERYTHING, BECAUSE IT HAS A SAMPLE OF THE KILLERS DNA.


DNA, that was evidence that was not available to detective Mayer at the time.


And then its tested in 2005.


Yes.

10:14:06:01NARRATOR

DNA ANALYSIS OF THE SWAB DROPS A BOMBSHELL ON THE COLD CASE.

10:14:11:14NARRATOR

THE SAMPLE HAS A MIXTURE OF TWO GENETIC PROFILES. ONE MATCHES THE VICTIM AND THE OTHER THE PERSON WHO BIT HER AND THAT PROFILE BELONGS TO A WOMAN.


The first time I heard female DNA was in a bit mark, I really was stunned.


Once we saw that the DNA profile was of a female, and not of a male, it really took the investigators by surprise and so they started looking at the case freshly.

10:14:50:18NARRATOR

STILL NO SUSPECTS ARE IDENTIFIED, AND ACCORDING TO THEIR LAWYER, SHERRIS FAMILY GROWS FRUSTRATED.


That information sat with the detectives for more than two years. The Los Angeles Police Department did absolutely nothing.

10:15:06:13NARRATOR

BUT APPARENTLY THEY DIDNT DO NOTHING.


The handling detective thought, Okay, well they had looked at burglars; lets see if there was a male/female burglary team that was working at that time. He came up with absolutely nothing and that cold case detective had other cold cases that

10:15:25:01developed, so the triage of his work


Kept this case


kept this case


at the bottom.


behind.


The detectives, who were responsible for investigating the cold case evidence from Sherri Rasmussens murder, sent it back to the Van Nuys Division as a closed case.

10:15:42:07NARRATOR

THE CASE FILE SITS IN STORAGE UNTIL 2009, WHICH IS WHEN VAN NUYS DETECTIVE JAMES NUTTALL DECIDES TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.


If it wasnt for detective Nuttall who, on his own, decided to look in a box that had been sealed for storage, then this crime would never have been solved.

10:16:01:08NARRATOR

THE UNUSUAL RESULT OF THE DNA ANALYSIS OF THE BITE MARK, POINTING TO A FEMALE KILLER, GRABS HIS ATTENTION. HE AND HIS TEAM GO BACK THROUGH THE ORIGINAL FILES AND COMPILE A LIST OF FIVE WOMEN

10:16:14:14WHO MIGHT HAVE HAD A MOTIVE FOR THE MURDER. THEY QUICKLY ELIMINATE SHERRIS MOTHER AND TWO SISTERS AND A DNA TEST RULES OUT A FOURTH WOMAN, A DISGRUNTLED EMPLOYEE AT THE HOSPITAL

10:16:25:04WHERE SHERRI WORKED. THAT LEAVES ONE NAME ON THE LIST, THE WOMAN NELS RASMUSSEN HAD ASKED DETECTIVES TO INVESTIGATE ALL THOSE YEARS AGO.


For more than 25 years, Nels believed that Johns ex-girlfriend, whose name he didnt know, was a suspect. He had urged the LAPD to look into that to no avail.

10:16:47:12NARRATOR

BUT THERES A PROBLEM WITH THIS MYSTERIOUS EX, SUMMED UP IN DETECTIVE MAYERS ORIGINAL INVESTIGATION FILE.

10:16:55:05NARRATOR

JOHN RUETTEN CALLED. IT READS. VERIFIED: STEPHANIE LAZARUS, PO, WAS FORMER GIRLFRIEND. PO - POLICE OFFICER. THE REMAINING SUSPECT IS AN LAPD DETECTIVE.

10:17:09:19NARRATOR

UP NEXT.

10:17:10:24



Whats truly unusual here is typically if a woman is scorned she will go after the man that shes angry at.

10:17:18:14Steven Lazarus

She says, Hes coming over and sleeping with me. If he is engaged with you, tell him to stay away.

10:17:24:00GRAPHICS ON SCREEN:trueCRIME


10:17:28:00END OF PART 2

NO CLOCK SCREEN

10:18:00:00PART 3

10:18:00:01GRAPHICS ON SCREEN:TrueCRIME


10:18:05:0810:18:07:14


NARRATOR

WHEN VAN NUYS DETECTIVE JAMES NUTTALL DIGS INTO THE CASE FILE OF SHERRI RASMUSSENS 23 YEAR OLD MURDER, HE COMES TO A STUNNING AND TERRIBLE

10:18:14:22CONCLUSION. IT LOOKS LIKE HIS BEST SUSPECT IS A LOS ANGELES POLICE OFFICER, A WOMAN NAMED STEPHANIE LAZARUS.


Police dont like to take one of their own down.

10:18:27:08

10:18:29:19

GRAPHICS ON SCREEN:PAUL NUNEZDeputy district attorney

Paul Nunez

They knew that it would create some professional disturbances within the department.

10:18:33:21NARRATOR

JUST WHO IS STEPHANIE LAZARUS AND WHAT WAS HER RELATIONSHIP TO JOHN RUETTEN AND HIS MURDERED WIFE. TO FIND OUT I SAT DOWN WITH STEPHANIES MOTHER, CAROL

10:18:44:08LAZARUS.

10:18:46:17NARRATOR

SHE AGREED TO TALK WITH ME, THOUGH SHE HAS NEVER SPOKEN BEFORE ON TELEVISION ABOUT HER DAUGHTER.


How long were they involved, John and Steph?

10:18:56:2110:18:56:23

GRAPHICS ON SCREEN:CAROL LAZARUSStephanie Lazarus mother

Carol Lazarus

She went into ULCA in 1978 and they met somewhere after that time. I know that they played tennis together, they were friends, they went out.

10:19:12:00



So she was athletic.

10:19:13:14Carol Lazarus

Oh yes, she played organised softball with girls leagues.


Was she a tomboy?


No, not really. Shes just really very athletic.

10:19:22:17NARRATOR

TURNS OUT STEPHANIE AND JOHN SHARE A LOVE OF SPORTS, ESPECIALLY BASKETBALL AND THEY FIND THEMSELVES SPENDING A LOT OF ONE ON ONE TIME TOGETHER.

10:19:32:20ACCORDING TO HER DIARY, STEPHANIE DEVELOPED STRONG FEELINGS FOR HER FRIEND, THOUGH HE DOESNT SEEM TO SEE HER THAT WAY, AT LEAST NOT AT FIRST, BUT

10:19:42:11AFTER COLLEGE THEIR RELATIONSHIP BECOMES SEXUAL. ACCORDING TO MUTUAL FRIENDS, JOHN SEES IT AS A FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS TYPE THING.


He looked at Stephanie Lazarus as a sleeping partner, a sex buddy and


unfortunately, women dont think that way about making love.

10:20:05:21NARRATOR

FOR STEPHANIE IT'S FAR MORE.


She wanted to be his wife.

10:20:12:0310:20:12:13

GRAPHICS ON SCREEN:MARK OVERLANDStephanie Lazarus defense attorney

Mark Overland

She did. Theres no question about that.


And that Stephanie thought that the relationship was going somewhere, whereas he apparently never intended it to go anywhere, but he never told her that.

10:20:28:23NARRATOR

THEIR CASUAL RELATIONSHIP CONTINUES ON AND OFF FOR YEARS. JOHN BECOMES A MECHANICAL ENGINEER AND IN 1983, STEPHANIE EMBARKS ON HER OWN CAREER

10:20:40:03WITH THE LAPD. IT ISNT WHAT HER YOUNGER BROTHER, STEVEN LAZARUS, WAS EXPECTING.

10:20:46:15

10:20:48:07

GRAPHICS ON SCREEN:STEVEN LAZARUSStephanie Lazarus brother

Steven Lazarus

I do remember getting a phone call from her saying, Hey, I got accepted into LAPD Academy and was a bit of a surprise.


Back in time, women that was kind of a, you know, still a shaky area if you will.


There wasnt a lot of women police officers.

10:21:05:14NARRATOR

STEPHANIE BUILDS A REPUTATION AS A SMART, CONSCIENTIOUS COP AND RISES STEADILY THROUGH THE RANKS.


Was she a good cop?


She was a great cop.

10:21:18:18NARRATOR

PROFESSIONALLY, STEPHANIES LIFE IS ON TRACK, BUT ACCORDING TO A DIARY ENTRY IN JUNE OF 1985, SHE GETS SOME HEART-BREAKING NEWS.

10:21:28:06Stephanie Rasmussen (Actress) VO

I really didnt feel like working. I found out that John is getting married. I was very depressed. This is very bad.

10:21:37:02NARRATOR

SHE ALSO REVEALS HER FEELINGS TO JOHN RUETTENS MOTHER THAT AUGUST IN A LETTER.

10:21:43:06Stephanie Rasmussen (Actress) VO

Im truly in love with John and this past year has really torn me up. I dont think Ill ever understand Johns decision.

10:21:51:07NARRATOR

STILL STEPHANIE APPEARS TO REBOUND FROM HER DISAPPOINTMENT AND FOCUS ON HER CAREER.

10:21:57:15NARRATOR

SHE MAKES DETECTIVE IN 1993 AND THREE YEARS LATER SHE MARRIES A FELLOW POLICE OFFICER

10:22:06:11NARRATOR

AND ADOPTS A CHILD.

10:22:09:23NARRATOR

SHE THEN SPENDS OVER A YEAR WORKING IN THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS DIVISION, BEFORE LANDING A PLUM ASSIGNMENT WITH THE LAPDS ART THEFT UNIT. SHE HAS A

10:22:19:12REPUTATION FOR BEING UPBEAT AND GENEROUS.

10:22:22:2110:22:24:10

GRAPHICS ON SCREEN:SUSAN MEYERLos Angeles Police Dept. (Ret.)

Susan Meyer

Stephanie was a really hard worker. She always sort of that bubbly, cheerful personality. She was always willing to go the extra mile to get the job done. She put others before herself.


Is there something that you want people to know about Stephanie?


Anyone that knows her knows that shes not a mean, spiteful person. Shes a very caring, giving, compassionate person. I know that, her family knows that, her friends know that.

10:22:53:12NARRATOR

AS HE READS THROUGH STEPHANIES IMPRESSIVE RESUME, DETECTIVE NUTALL REALISES HE WILL HAVE TO TREAD CAREFULLY. CLEARLY, SHE IS WELL

10:23:01:16RESPECTED AND WELL LOVED IN THE DEPARTMENT, BUT HE CANT IGNORE THE FEMALE DNA SAMPLE TAKEN FROM SHERRIS BITE WOUND. STEPHANIE LAZARUS MUST BE

10:23:11:13CONSIDERED A SUSPECT.

10:23:15:23NARRATOR

BEFORE APPROACHING HER DIRECTLY, NUTTALL DECIDES TO TALK OVER HIS SUSPICIONS WITH SHERRIS FATHER, NELS RASMUSSEN.


Nels Rasmussen, Sherris father, played an immense role in this case. He knew his daughter had been stalked by this woman.

10:23:33:16NARRATOR

SHERRIS FATHER REVEALS THAT JUST WEEKS BEFORE THE MURDER, HIS DAUGHTER TOLD HIM ABOUT STEPHANIE LAZARUS. APPARENTLY, STEPHANIE HAD PAID A VISIT

10:23:43:05TO SHERRIS OFFICE AT THE GLENDALE AVENTIST MEDICAL CENTER.


Come in.

10:23:48:09NARRATOR

ACCORDING TO NELS, HIS DAUGHTER WAS INTIMIDATED BY THE UNEXPECTED VISIT.

10:23:52:07Stephanie Lazarus (Actress)

I need to talk to you about John.

10:23:54:12NARRATOR

AND FELT THREATENED.


What about John?

10:23:56:23NARRATOR

STEPHANIE WAS THERE TO INFORM HER THAT HER FIANC JOHN HAD DROPPED BY RECENTLY.


He came to my place last week.

10:24:04:16NARRATOR

HE HAD SAID HE WAS THERE TO BREAK THINGS OFF FOR GOOD, BUT APPARENTLY OLD HABITS DIED HARD.


We made love.


Whats truly unusual here is typically if a woman is scorned she will go after the man that shes angry at, but in this case, what does she do? She decides to confront Sherri.


Stephanie went where Sherri works and confronted her and said, Im sleeping with John. There was an altercation there. No?


No, I dont think thats accurate. I think she says, Hes coming over and sleeping me. If he is engaged with you, tell him to stay away, cause hes not staying away from me.

10:24:51:09NARRATOR

WAS STEPHANIE SIMPLY TELLING HER RIVAL AN UNPLEASANT TRUTH, OR DID SHE THREATEN SHERRI AS NELS BELIEVES. THE CONVERSATION ALONE CANT REALLY PROVE

10:25:02:0510:25:05:17


ANYTHING. WHAT DETECTIVES NEED IS PHYSICAL EVIDENCE [GUN SHOTS] THAT POINTS TO STEPHANIE LAZARUS.

10:25:10:23NARRATOR

AS STEPHANIES MOTHER POINTS OUT, THERE DOESNT SEEM TO BE ANY PHYSICAL EVIDENCE TYING HER TO THE MURDER.


No blood, no fibres, no hair. None of the bloody fingerprints, palm prints on the wall anywhere, have any evidence of it being from Stephanie Lazarus.


So shed have to be the master crime master to not leave anything there.


Exactly.

10:25:38:08NARRATOR

BUT THE KILLER DID LEAVE BEHIND SOME EVIDENCE INSIDE SHERRIS BODY, BULLETS THAT HAVE A DISTINCTIVE MARKING, OR HOOK ON THEM.

10:25:48:1410:25:52:05


Shannon Presby

These were LAPD bullets. The only bullets that LAPD officers could use at the time of the murder.


And anybody who says that, including the DA and Shannon Presby, theyre lying.

10:26:02:10NARRATOR

STEPHANIES BROTHER INSISTS THAT JUST BECAUSE THEY WERE THE TYPE OF BULLETS USED BY LAPD, DOESNT MEAN POLICE WERE THE ONLY ONES USING THEM.


The hook in the bullet


Okay, but Aphrodite.


matches the type of bullet that was matching the gun.


But its the identical bullet that was sold to the general public. Youre talking about hundreds of millions of bullets. Youre wrong, Im sorry, Im not trying to be argumentative with you, but youre

10:26:28:17wrong.


No I welcome your argument.


Youre wrong!


I welcome your argument.


Im just telling you, your wrong.

10:26:34:01NARRATOR

BUT ITS NOT JUST ABOUT THE BULLETS; ITS ALSO ABOUT THE GUN THAT SHOT THEM. THE MURDER WEAPON WAS A 38 CALIBER REVOLVER WITH AN USUALLY SHORT

10:26:43:15BARREL.


Sherri Rasmussen was murdered by a gun that had a two inch barrel. That was conclusively established by the barrel cylinder gap residue that was left on the blanket that was used to muffle the firearm.

10:27:00:01NARRATOR

IN 1986 STEPHANIE LAZARUS MAIN SERVICE WEAPON IS A LONG BARREL 38 SPECIAL - NO MATCH, BUT HER BACK UP GUN IS A 38 CALIBER SNUB NOSE REVOLVER, EXACTLY

10:27:13:06THE SAME KIND OF GUN THAT WAS USED TO MURDER SHERRI RASMUSSEN.

10:27:17:20

Shannon Presby

Her Smith and Wesson had a five shot capacity. There were five shots fired during the course of this murder and the wound on Sherris eye matched the physical characteristics of the barrel of that gun

10:27:32:18exactly.


But theres the gun, by the way.


Wheres the gun?


Thats a good question.

10:27:41:05NARRATOR

THE THING IS, INVESTIGATORS CANT USE BALLISTICS TO MATCH STEPHANIES WEAPON TO THE BULLETS RECOVERED FROM THE SCENE, BECAUSE TWO WEEKS AFTER THE

10:27:50:09MURDER SHE REPORTED IT STOLEN. SHE CLAIMS SOMEONE HAD SNATCHED THE GUN OUT OF HER CAR.


It is incredibly suspicious that a gun that matched the murder weapon in every respect disappeared shortly after the murder.


For me, the fact that she reported that gun missing, stolen, two weeks after the murder, is highly problematic.


When you report a gun stolen its to do it as an alibi that you dont have that gun at the time of the killing, therefore, it couldnt have been you. Reporting it stolen two weeks after doesnt help you, you still had

10:28:25:14it at the time of the killing.


The murder weapon matches the issued gun by the LAPD to your sister.


It doesnt match it. You tell me how it matches. It doesnt exist. How can you say it matches? Come on report


Because she reported it missing!


What a coincidence that Stephanie happened to have her gun stolen two weeks after the murder. Where is that gun? [GUN SHOTS] I dont know, probably at the bottom of the pacific ocean.

10:28:51:20NARRATOR

THERES LITTLE CHANCE THAT GUN WILL EVER BE FOUND. STILL, DETECTIVE NUTTALLS TEAM CAN FOLLOW UP ON THE CASES MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF EVIDENCE

10:29:02:10- THE SWAB TAKEN FROM THE BITE MARK ON SHERRIS ARM. TO DETERMINE IF THAT UNKNOWN FEMALE DNA BELONGS TO STEPHANIE LAZARUS

10:29:12:11NARRATOR

THEY HAVE TO GET A SAMPLE FROM HER WITHOUT TIPPING HER OFF.

10:29:19:09NARRATOR

NOT SO EASY.


As I understand it, police had a surveillance team out on Stephanie.


They saw her drink from a cup, use a straw


and then they saw her put it in the trash can.

10:29:41:05NARRATOR

DETECTIVES IMMEDIATELY PICK IT UP AND BRING IT BACK TO THE DNA LAB FOR ANALYSIS.


And it matched Stephanie Lazarus.


That DNA that was on that cup matched the profile.

10:29:57:20NARRATOR

WITH THIS TEST RESULT, NUTTALL SENDS THE CASE OVER TO THE LAPDS ROBBERY HOMICIDE DIVISION. ITS A SENSITIVE, POTENTIALLY EXPLOSIVE SITUATION, THEY

10:30:08:11SHOULD BE THE ONES TO QUESTION ONE OF THEIR OWN.


They had a DNA sample that matched Stephanies DNA, so now they had to fill in the pieces of the puzzle.

10:30:21:18NARRATOR

LAPD DETECTIVES ARRANGE TO INTERVIEW STEPHANIE IN THE SAME BUILDING WHERE SHE WORKS, THE PARKER CENTER. THEY DONT TELL HER THEYRE WORKING ON A

10:30:30:22MURDER CASE.

10:30:32:04

10:30:35:19

GRAPHICS ON SCREEN:ACTUAL INTERROGATION FOOTAGEShannon Presby

When Stephanie Lazarus was brought into that interrogation room, she believed that she was there to talk about an art theft and then they slowly began to talk about her relationship to John Ruetten.

10:30:46:20LAPD Detective (Archive)

Do you know John Ruetten?

10:30:48:19Stephanie Lazarus (Archive)

John Ruetten? John Ruetten?


Ruetten.


Oh yeah, I went to school with him.


You did?


Yeah.


Were you guys friends, close friends?


Yeah, we were very close friends. I mean, tell me whats this all about?


She wasnt under arrest. She sat down voluntarily to speak with the investigators.


But it wasnt voluntary, it was a trap. She sits down and suddenly the detectives are saying to her, Do you know who John Ruetten is?


You know, I dont It was kind of a weird relationship. I mean, we dated. Um, I cant say that he was my boyfriend. I dont know that he considered me his girlfriend. Um, we just, you know,

10:31:30:19it just didnt work out. I mean, I dont know what to tell you. It was, like, I went out with other guys.


She thought, well perhaps theyre solving this old case and, since I was mentioned in the case file, they think that I might know something about it.


The detectives did a brilliant job of keeping her guessing in that interview, acting as if they didnt know very much about the case.

10:31:54:01NARRATOR

DETECTIVES QUESTIONED STEPHANIE FOR OVER AN HOUR.


Its about nine now.


Had you ever met his wife?


I may have.


Do you know do you remember her name or anything?


She pretended like she didnt remember Sherris name.


Yes.


Lets put this in perspective here for normal people. If someone asks you about somebody who was your teen rival from high school, you know that persons name, but she was casually, Oh I dont know

10:32:26:05what cant remember the name.


Shelly, Sherri. Something maybe like, you know, like I said its been so many years and


From all the years, as far as you can remember, do you remember ever talking to her?


Well, its just I said earlier, you know, I mean, I may have. You know, I may have talked to her.

10:32:49:09NARRATOR

EVENTUALLY SHE REMEMBERS CONFRONTING SHERRI AT THE HOSPITAL.


The conversion lasted a few minutes. I cant even remember. It wasnt like we went out to lunch, or anything.


Right, but there was no, like, arguments or fights, or it didnt get heated or anything like that?


I dont think so. Not that I recall, no. I mean, I couldve said, Okay, well if hes dating you, he keeps calling me. Why dont you tell him to knock it off or whatever


It was like watching them paint her into a corner.


And you could see her, you know, start to twitch almost.


Shes probably thinking in her head, am I giving background information to these detectives, or am I under suspicion and you can see her figuring all of that out whilst shes talking to these investigators.

10:33:33:00NARRATOR

FINALLY, STEPHANIE DOES FIGURE IT OUT.


So you, off hand, you dont recall ever going into her house and having words and physically, you know


No.


attacking her, her attacking you.


No.


Nothing like that?


No. I mean, thats no. If youre doing this as an interrogation, youre saying, Hey, Im a suspect, well, now I got a problem with, you know, now youre accusing me of this. Is that what youre saying?


Were trying to figure out what happened Stephanie.


At any point in that interview she couldve said, this interviews over, Im leaving, but she chose not to do that. Was that a mistake on her part? Maybe it was a tactical mistake on her part.


Ive been doing this a long time.


Yeah we know.


Okay and now I know it sounds like youre trying to pin something on me.


No.


Now I got that sense.

10:34:22:06

NARRATOR

Several of Stephanies LAPD collEAGUES SEE NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT HER RESPONSES IN THE INTERROGATION.

10:34:28:23Susan MeyerI didnt see anything wrong with that interview. I thought she looked good and she looked like someone who was pretty much caught off guard and not understand what was going on.

10:34:39:00Sherri Rasmussen (Archive)

Its not ringing a bell.


Shes doe-eyed. To me, she looks like a rat in a trap.


I mean, I dont know what else to tell you.


Okay. Thanks for your time.

10:34:51:10NARRATOR

WHEN STEPHANIE LAZARUS LEAVES THE INTERROGATION ROOM, SHE IS IMMEDIATELY ARRESTED. TWO MINUTES LATER SHE RETURNS IN HANDCUFFS.


Stephanie, you know you have the right to remain silent. Do you understand?


Yes.


Anything you say may be used against you in court. Do you understand?


Yes.


You have the right to the presence of an attorney before and during

10:35:13:01


10:35:13:18NARRATOR

UP NEXT.


We told this jury that the evidence in this case consisted of a bite, a bullet, a gun barrel and a broken heart.

10:35:24:00GRAPHICS ON SCREEN:trueCRIME


10:35:28:00END OF PART 3

CLOCK INFO:

NO CLOCK SCREEN

10:36:00:00PART 4

10:36:00:01

GRAPHICS ON SCREEN:true

CRIME


10:36:05:07NARRATOR

ON JUNE 5TH 2009 VETERAN LAPD DETECTIVE, STEPHANIE LAZARUS IS ARRESTED FOR THE MURDER OF SHERRI RASMUSSEN.


This murder case was buried for 17 years. The great thing is that theres no Statute of Limitation on murders and the truth does come out.

10:36:24:16NARRATOR

THREE DAYS LATER SHES CHARGED WITH CAPITAL MURDER. IF CONVICTED, SHE FACES THE DEATH PENALTY.

10:36:32:1110:36:32:23

GRAPHICS ON SCREEN:JUNE 5,2009

WILLIAM BRATTONChief, Los Angeles Police Dept.

William Bratton (Archive)

The investigation revealed that she had had a previous relationship with the victims husband prior to the murder.


When you first heard of your sisters arrest what was your reaction?

10:36:43:2410:36:44:08

GRAPHICS ON SCREEN:STEVEN LAZARUSStephanie Lazarus brother

Steven Lazarus

If I sit here and think about it too strongly, Ill breakdown because, you know, its horrific. I mean, Steph is just this wonderful person. Sitting there in an orange jumpsuit it wasnt registering. And she,

10:36:57:14honestly, did not know what was going on.

10:37:00:17NARRATOR

THE COURT SETS A STAGGERING AMOUNT FOR HER BAIL - $10,000,000.00. HER FAMILY CRIES FOUL.


You can take a Phil Spector or a Robert Blake, those people are pretty wealthy both of those guys were charged with a similar crime. Both of those individuals had $1,000,000.00 bail set in their case.

10:37:21:1610:37:23:15


Shannon Presby

Reasonable bail is not necessarily bail that a Defendant can meet; it is bail that will assure their appearance at trial. If you have DNA that shows theres no other person on this planet that couldve

10:37:38:06committed this crime, if it were me in your position, I would run.


So why did they set such a high bail?


I think that they didnt wanna her out.


Why didnt they want her out?

10:37:50:1610:37:51:22

GRAPHICS ON SCREEN:CAROL LAZARUSStephanie Lazarus mother

Carol Lazarus

Because she is probably, without a doubt, the best investigator that department has ever had and if she was out, she couldve worked with the team to investigate the whole crime.


Stephanies family, my heart bleeds for them, because they truly wanna believe that she is not guilty and I get that. You never wanna think somebody, one of your own, is guilty of something

10:38:18:17so horrible.

10:38:23:20NARRATOR

IN FEBRUARY 2012, THE TRIAL OF STEPHANIE LAZARUS BEGINS. THE STAR WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION, STEPHANIES OWN DNA.

10:38:34:2410:38:38:01

GRAPHICS ON SCREEN:ADALBERTO LUPERPrivate investigator for the defense

Adalberto Luper

I already knew what the prosecution would ultimately trying to show in trial, which was the DNA and the DNA evidence, whether its 17 sextillion, or whatever, makes it very difficult to overcome no

10:38:52:09matter what avenues you go.


An analyst took a reference sample from her mouth that matched four hundred and two quadrillion to one.


Four hundred and two quadrillion to one.


Four hundred and two quadrillion to one.


I dont know what quadrillion is, but I think that means shes the only person who couldve possibly done this.

10:39:10:11NARRATOR

BUT AT THE TRIAL, DEFENSE ATTORNEY MARK OVERLAND POINTS OUT THAT THE ENVELOPE CONTAINING THE ORIGINAL SAMPLE FROM THE CRIME SCENE WAS FOUND

10:39:18:02RIPPED OPEN, THE TUBE STICKING OUT.

10:39:21:16Adalberto Luper

When they discover it in the coroners office, he found the vial, the envelopes are torn, vials up above the torn portion and theres no seal on it, so it comes the argument becomes, well, that it was

10:39:39:16tampered with, so that was a gaff.

10:39:44:0610:39:49:05

GRAPHICS ON SCREEN:SUSAN MEYER

Los Angeles Police Dept. (Ret.)

Susan Meyer

The chain of evidence was broken. Obviously, that envelope has been tampered with. You can never convince me that that DNA was collected at the scene of the crime.


Are you suggesting that somebody actually put your sisters DNA into that tube?


I mean, is there any question that Im suggesting that? Thats exactly what Im suggesting.


Why would somebody do that?


She had officers fired. She did other things that resulted in officers being punished criminally.

10:40:17:09NARRATOR

STEPHANIE ONCE WORKED IN THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS DIVISION INVESTIGATING FELLOW POLICE OFFICERS. ITS QUITE POSSIBLE SHE MADE ENEMIES.


Is it really that much of a stretch to say, could someone be so vindictive to go after somebody.


If there was a disgruntled co-worker in the LAPD who had it in for Stephanie Lazarus, is it possible to take her DNA and add it to an old test-tube?


Absolutely not. You have Sherris DNA, right, cause its her skin, then you also have the saliva of the biter, the suspect.


You cant tamper with that and add to that later?


Its just like adding anything, if you have two profiles and you add a profile, youre gonna have a third profile and it would not have made any sense.


I really grappled with the idea that theres a possibility that someone could have tampered with this evidence. That theres a possibility that Stephanie Lazarus couldve been framed, but the

10:41:21:01DNA evidence ultimately brings us to two people, Sherri Rasmussen and Stephanie Lazarus as being the only two people that were there at the time of this murder and I dont see any way around it.

10:41:36:23NARRATOR

DURING THE TRIAL PROSECUTORS LAY OUT WHAT THEY THINK REALLY HAPPENED IN UNIT 205 ON FEBRUARY 24TH 1986. SOME TIME AFTER HER HUSBAND LEFT FOR WORK


Honey?

10:41:48:0910:41:48:16


NARRATOR

SHERRI RASMUSSEN WAS SURPRISED


Honey?

10:41:51:14NARRATOR

NOT BY TWO BURGLARS


What are you doing in my house?

10:41:55:14NARRATOR

BUT BY STEPHANIE LAZARUS.


Did she intend to kill Sherri when she came in that day? Was she intending to confront her and then things got out of control? Those are questions for which there are no answers.


I think that she went over to see Sherri

10:42:12:07Sherri Rasmussen (Actress)Why are you here?


knew that Sherri was ill, knew that she was gonna give it one more try


one more confrontation, woman to woman kind of a thing, that got outta hand. I think that

Stephanie didnt realise how combative Sherri would become.

10:42:39:09


10:42:40:20NARRATOR

THE TWO WOMEN HAD A PROLONGED STRUGGLE.

10:42:48:10NARRATOR

THEN, AT SOME POINT, STEPHANIE DREW HER GUN.

10:42:52:0910:42:55:22


Shannon Presby

Sherri tried to move the gun away from her, probably grabs Stephanies right arm. At that point the Defendant bit Sherri on the left inner forearm and that bite, likely, is what made Sherri let go of the gun.

10:43:13:02NARRATOR

SHERRI STRUGGLED TO GET AWAY, BUT STEPHANIE DRAGGED HER BACK.


It was at that point that she was struck in the face with this heavy, ceramic vase.

10:43:23:04


10:43:25:19NARRATOR

THE BLOW, LIKELY, STUNNED SHERRI ALMOST TO THE POINT OF UNCONSCIOUSNESS.


We know that Sherri is lying now on the carpeted living room area and we know, essentially, that she is unable to resist. The Defendant had time to find a blanket, wrap her firearm in a blanket, point it at

10:43:48:12Sherris chest and fire three times. [GUN SHOTS].

10:43:51:08


10:43:57:24NARRATOR

AS FOR THE BURGLARY SUGGESTED BY THE ORIGINAL LEAD DETECTIVE ON THE SCENE, IT WAS FAKED BY A KILLER WHO KNEW HOW TO STAGE A CRIME SCENE.


As a police officer she knows she gonna be a prime suspect. She had a relationship with Sherris husband, so in order to mislead the original investigators, she took two stereo components and

10:44:22:20placed them at the base of the stairs and she took a drawer from an end table and spilled its contents onto the floor in an effort to make this look like an interrupted burglary.

10:44:46:01NARRATOR

ON MARCH 7TH 2012, MORE THAN 26 YEARS AFTER THE KILLING

10:44:51:08Jury Foreperson

We the jury find the Defendant, Stephanie

10:44:53:20NARRATOR

STEPHANIE LAZARUS

10:44:55:02Jury Foreperson guilty

10:44:55:20NARRATOR

IS CONVICTED OF THE FIRST DEGREE MURDER OF SHERRI RASMUSSEN. THE JUDGE SENTENCES HER TO 27 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON. IF STEPHANIE LAZARUS WAS A

10:45:07:08DECENT, COMPASSIONATE PERSON FOR MOST OF HER LIFE, THAT DOESNT MAKE HER INCAPABLE OF MURDER.


The line dividing good and evil runs through the heart of every human being.

10:45:19:13NARRATOR

AS FOR THE MAN WHO BROUGHT SHERRI AND STEPHANIE TOGETHER, JOHN RUETTEN, HE IS CONSPICUOUSLY ABSENT FROM THE TRIAL.


The fact that he did not want to be present at the trial to see justice done, why is that? Because he feels guilty. He cant stand it and he said so himself, in as much, in his victims impact statement.

10:45:44:1410:45:45:12

GRAPHICS ON SCREEN:FROM JOHN RUETTENS TESTIMONY


The fact that Sherris death occurred because she met and married me brings me to my knees. I do not know, and fear I will never know, how to cope with this appalling fact.

10:46:00:18

NARRATOR

THE MIND IS A STRANGE PLACE. STEPHANIE LAZARUS WAS ABLE TO COMMIT A HORRIFIC ACT OF VIOLENCE

10:46:08:16NARRATOR

AND THEN LOCK IT AWAY SOMEWHERE DEEP. IT SEEMS SHE JUST FORGOT ABOUT IT. SHE WENT ON TO HAVE A LIFE, A CAREER AND RAISE A FAMILY. SHERRI RASMUSSEN DIDNT

10:46:20:07HAVE THAT OPTION, BUT IN THE END, SPEAKING FROM THE GRAVE, SHE BROUGHT HER KILLER TO JUSTICE.

10:46:31:13

END CREDITS (rolling over dialogue):

HostAPHRODITE JONES

Executive Producer

LLOYD FALES

Co-Executive Producer

APHRODITE JONES

Series Producer

BRUCE KENNEDY

Producer

PAUL SPILLENGER

Editors

ALESSANDRO BARNETT

DAVID KIRKMAN

MARION DELARCHE

Associate Producer

KATE WALKER

Director of Photography

AJ RICKERT-EPSTEIN

Sound Recordist

JENNIFER RICCIARDI

Line Producer

ROBYN ALCOCK

Technical Operations Manager

JONATHAN DAMOUR

Post Production Supervisor

BRANDT GASSMAN

Assistant Editors

GINA GIRODIER

DAVID SCORCA

Production Assistants

KEVIN WALTERS

AARON EPSTEIN

DANI HIRAVY

Casting Director

ERIN BROWNE

Graphic Designers

DISCOVERY CREATIVE

Post Production Facility

TECHNICOLOR/POSTWORKS

Online Editor

SEAN R. SMITH

Assistant Online Editor

MICHELLE CHERIPKA

Audio Mixer

JARED SEIDMAN

Archival Footage

DATELINE NBC

DISCOVERY ACCESS

NBC NEWS ARCHIVES

Executive Producer

KNUTE WALKER

Executive Producer

BENJAMIN RINGE

Executive-in-Charge of Production

SHARON SCOTT

For Investigation Discovery

Executive Producer

EUGENIE VINK


Producer

KEILA WOODARD


Senior Vice President of Production

SARA KOZAK


President and General Manager

HENRY SCHLEIFF

Produced by Peacock Productions

for Investigation Discovery

MMXII DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, LLC

True Crime With Aphrodite Jones S3 Ep 02 930056TX

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