Summary: 40 Years Later: The Murder of Sherri Rasmussen – Part 1

Podcast: Murder: True Crime Stories
Host: Carter Roy
Guest: Vanessa Richardson
Date: February 17, 2026

Main Theme

This episode marks the 40th anniversary of the murder of Sherri Rasmussen. Host Carter Roy, joined by Vanessa Richardson, revisits this infamous Los Angeles case, exploring Sherri’s promising life, her marriage to John Rutten, the shadow cast by his former lover Stephanie Lazarus, and the unsettling circumstances that led to Sherri’s death. The episode focuses on the personal histories and relationship dynamics that set the stage for one of LA’s most notorious cold cases—one that challenged perceptions of love, obsession, and police bias.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Sherri Rasmussen’s Accomplished Life (06:04–09:23)

• Sherri’s Upbringing: Raised in a loving, successful family in Tucson, Arizona, Sherri was academically gifted, skipping two grades and graduating high school at 16. (06:04)
• Career Achievements: By 23, she was an ICU nurse specializing in cardiac care, later becoming head nurse at UCLA Medical Center and director of critical care at Glendale Adventist. Her colleagues respected her poise and her courage—such as disarming a grieving man at work with empathy. (07:54–08:25)
  • Quote – “Without hesitating, Sherry went out to the lobby and gave the man a hug. In a matter of minutes, she talked him down and persuaded him to give her the gun.” – Carter Roy [08:25]

The Start of a Romance and an Inescapable Love Triangle (09:23–13:59)

• Meeting John Rutten: Set up by a matchmaking friend, Sherri meets and quickly falls for John. They became engaged after a year—John bought her a BMW instead of a ring as a symbol of commitment. (09:47)
• Stephanie Lazarus: John’s lengthy, complicated “friends with benefits” relationship with Stephanie Lazarus, an ambitious LAPD officer, complicates things. Stephanie sees their relationship as much deeper than John admits. (11:05–13:59)
  • Quote – “If you asked John, he would have said that Stephanie wasn’t really his ex. She’d been more like a friend with benefits. But Stephanie didn’t see it that way. She believed the two of them were soulmates.” – Vanessa Richardson [11:05]
  • Stephanie’s unresolved feelings and inability to let go of John play a critical role in the story.

Escalation: Obsession, Confrontation, and Harassment (13:59–26:04)

• Stephanie’s Manipulations:
  • Stephanie struggles to accept John’s engagement, writing in her diary about her depression. She tries to win him back, culminating in an emotional night that ends with her convincing John to have sex “one final time,” which he hides from Sherri. (17:13–17:56)
    • Quote – “She continued telling him she loved him and begged him to have sex with her one final time. John convinced himself that sleeping with her was the only way to calm her down.” – Vanessa Richardson [17:56]
  • Stephanie confronts Sherri at work, lies about continuing a relationship with John, and threatens, “If I can’t have him, no one can.” – (18:42)
  • Stephanie writes fervent letters to John’s mother and makes uninvited visits to Sherri and John’s home—one time under the pretense of returning skis, another while in LAPD uniform. (22:57, 29:27)
• Sherri and John’s Marital Strains: Financial quarrels add tension. Sherri, practical and private, struggles to forgive John for his infidelity and is wary of Stephanie’s ongoing presence. She reveals to friends uncertainty about marrying John, though they go through with the wedding in November 1985. (24:46–26:04)

Final Weeks: Growing Fear and Isolation (28:51–32:13)

• Sherri Feels Stalked:
  • Stephanie’s harassment becomes bolder: she shows up inside their condo unannounced and seems to follow Sherri around LA, even at the gym and dry cleaners. (29:27–30:25)
    • Quote – “Sherry told friends she thought she was being followed. Whenever she went to the gym, Stephanie just happened to be at the same one.” – Carter Roy [30:25]
  • Sherri wants to report Stephanie but doubts LAPD would take her seriously, fearing escalation due to Stephanie’s position as an officer.
• A Cry for Help: During a visit to her parents, Sherri privately hints to her father about a major, unsolved problem, promising to explain everything if it isn’t resolved soon. This cryptic confession would become tragically important. (31:32)

The Murder: February 24, 1986 (32:13–36:02)

• The Day of the Crime:
  • John leaves early for work; Sherri stays home, feeling unwell. Later, her garage is found open and her BMW is missing. (33:20)
  • Attempts to reach her fail; neighbors find her purse, and John returns home to a chaotic scene—garage door open, broken glass, and Sherri’s body in the living room. (35:14)
• Significance: The episode closes on John discovering Sherri dead, the scene set for the investigation to come and the unresolved questions about police response and the role of John’s past.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “People’s lives are like a story. There’s a beginning, a middle and an end. But you don’t always know which part you’re on. Sometimes the final chapter arrives far too soon.”
  — Carter Roy [01:53]

• "Stephanie didn’t hold back. She told Sherry that she and John were still seeing each other and still sleeping together. She warned Sherry that if she couldn’t have him, no one else could either."
  — Vanessa Richardson [18:42]

• “Sherry wanted to report the incident, but she believed the LAPD wouldn’t take her seriously since Stephanie was one of their own.”
  — Carter Roy [30:25]

• "She couldn’t tell him what it was, but she said she was going to call him if she couldn’t solve it in the next two weeks... That was the last time they saw their daughter alive."
  — Vanessa Richardson [31:32]

Timeline of Critical Events

• [07:25] Sherri becomes a nurse; excels at UCLA Medical Center.
• [09:47] Sherri meets and starts dating John Rutten.
• [11:05] Introduction of Stephanie Lazarus and her fixation.
• [17:56] John’s final night with Stephanie; he hides it from Sherri.
• [18:42] Stephanie confronts and threatens Sherri at her workplace.
• [22:57] Multiple unwanted visits from Stephanie to the couple's home.
• [24:46] Sherri and John’s relationship strains amid infidelity and financial disputes.
• [29:27] Stephanie’s intimidation escalates; she enters the couple’s home in uniform.
• [31:32] Sherri’s unspoken warning to her father during a visit.
• [32:13]–[36:02] The morning and evening of February 24, discovery of Sherri’s murder.

Tone

Serious, empathetic, and investigative, the episode maintains a respectful, detailed exploration of Sherri’s life and the warning signs that led to tragedy. The conversational style between Carter Roy and Vanessa Richardson blends warmth, personal insight, and chilling suspense.

Next Episode Tease

The hosts promise to explore the initial investigation, the missteps that hindered justice, and the haunting questions—40 years later—about who was protected, who wasn’t, and why this case still matters.

For more in-depth analysis, tune in to Part 2, where the hosts dissect the aftermath, investigation, and lasting legacy of Sherri Rasmussen’s case.