Keep Bailing

An LAPD detective accused of murdering her ex-boyfriend’s wife in 1986 is being held on a $10 million dollar bail. The brother of the accused says it is an atrocious amount and demands that it be lowered.

Stephanie Lazarus, 49, a 26 year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department, is accused in 1986 of shooting and bludgeoning Sherri Rae Rasmussen.

Steven Lazarus, the brother of Stephanie, spoke to media last Friday after a pretrial saying that her bail needs to be lowered because it is an illogical price when compared to celebrity defendants, such as Robert Blake or Phil Spector who were only held on a $1 million bail during their trials.

In June of 2009, Lazarus was arrested after the evidence in the case was re-examined by cold case detectives as they matched a saliva sample from Lazarus to bite marks on the victim.

Lazarus’ bail was set at $10 million by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge, Robert Perry, under the suspicion that she would flee if the bail amount was lower.

Lazarus’ attorney also felt the bail amount was set at an unfair amount. He said, “It’s ridiculous. Phil Spector gets $1 million bail? Robert Blake gets $1 million bail? They’ve got the money to go anywhere. Who has $10 million cash? It is basically preventative detention.”

If Lazarus is freed, she’d be able to access weapons which could be a risk to herself and others, according to Judge Perry. He said the case was “unusual” and says that there is imperative evidence that if able to, Lazarus would flee if she’s released on bail.

Is her bail too high as her brother claims? Bail amounts are set based on threat to society and likelihood of return to court. Judges have significant latitude in setting high bail. Apparently, this judge felt the bail is justified.

According to friends, family and colleagues at the preliminary hearing, they all stated Lazarus was deeply in love with John Ruetten, whom she had dated for a while before he married Rasmussen.

Lazarus pleaded not guilty to the capital murder in May of 2009, however she was arrested June 5, 2009 and has remained in custody ever since.

Lazarus is being held at the Lynwood Jail, also known as the the Century Regional Detention Facility, which is Los Angeles County’s women’s jail. She faces a life sentence is found guilty.