A family attempting to sue the Los Angeles Police Department for the death of their daughter in 1986 are unable to do so. According to The Associated Press, Nels and Loretta Rasmussen, the parents of Sherri Rasmussen, were recently denied their last chance at suing the department for one of its officers allegedly killing Sherri over two decades ago. The parents contended that former LAPD Det. Stephanie Lazarus was to blame for the murder, and that she was stalking Sherri in the weeks leading up to her death. Before Sherri married her husband John Ruetten, Lazarus was involved in a romantic relationship Ruetten. Sherri's parents believe her murder was the result of an act of jealousy.

Investigators initially believed Sherri was killed by two armed robbers., However, flaws in their theory were found in 2005 when police officers discovered DNA on Sherri's body that was traced to a female attacker. DNA evidence at the crime scene was also later traced to Lazarus, the AP reported. Following Lazarus' arrest in 2009, Rasmussen's parents sued the department for emotional distress, stating that if it handled the investigation properly, it would have been easier to determine what happened in their daughter's murder.

John Taylor, the family's attorney, told the source the outcome of the investigation would have most likely been different if the family sued decades ago.

"It would have been impossible for them to bring a lawsuit at that time," he stated. "Had the Rasmussens gone into court in the '90s and sued the LAPD, LAPD would have come forward and said, 'We're just trying to solve this murder.'"

According to the AP, the judge tossed out the case because the parents filed the lawsuit too late.

The Los Angeles Times reported Lazarus was not able to leave jail due to the fact she was unable to post her $10 million bail bond.