Van Nuys is a neighbourhood in the central San Fernando Valley region of the city of Los Angeles, California. And it was there that newlyweds Sherri Rasmussen and John Ruetten lived in a condo together, on Balboa Boulevard.

Sherri Rasmussen was born on the 7th of February 1957. Her parents were Nels and Loretta Rasmussen. The middle daughter of three, Sherri was known as a gentle, kind and caring woman. Strikingly beautiful. Her compassion for others drove her to study nursing at the age of 16. By the age of 29, she was the director of critical care at Glendale Adventist Hospital. Sherri was well respected and known for her caring approach to her job.

John Ruetten was born in Eugene, Oregon in September 1958. He excelled at basketball growing up, and he continued that passion at UCLA where he studied engineering. He was a charming, handsome and athletic student. He graduated in 1982 and a few years later secured a job as a mechanical engineer at a disk drive manufacturer.

John & Sherri met at a party in the Spring of 84. John was immediately attracted to Sherri. As soon as he met her, he got her number from a mutual friend.

They went on a date and instantly hit it off.

John moved into Sherri’s condo on Balboa Boulevard, and they married on the 23rd of November 1985, friends and family described them as utterly in love.

But tragedy was waiting.