$10 Million Bail Too Much for LAPD Detective Accused of Murder?

Stephanie Lazarus is a 26 year Los Angeles Police Department veteran detective. She is also accused of having murdered Sherri Rae Rasmussen, a Van Nuys woman and wife of her then boyfriend, back in 1986. Apparently, DNA from Stephanie Lazarus’s saliva was found in a bite mark to the victim. 

Lazurus being held in lieu of a $10 million dollar bail. But Stephanie’s brother, Steven Lazarus, is outraged by the high bail amount, claiming that even celebrity defendant’s such as Robert Blake and Phil Spector had bail amounts set at only $1 million.

Why is this bail so high? Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Robert Perry has set the bail that high claiming he believed the defendant would flee if it was any lower.  Further, the Judge claimed that the defendant would have access to weapons if she was free, making her a risk to others and herself.

Lazarus’ attorney agrees with her brother that the bail is high, stating, “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’s basically preventative detention.”

In my experience as a bondsman, this is large bail is not unusual. By law, bail is set based on first and foremost based on threat to the public, followed closely by likelihood of returning to court. I also agree with the attorney, the bail is so high that the judge is aware Lazarus won’t be able to post bail.

The  LAPD veteran handled art forgery cases at her job. Now, she is charged with capital murder and has been arrested by her fellow detectives who, coincidentally, worked right across the hall.

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