Local News in Brief : Woman Found Slain in Apartment Identified

Police on Tuesday identified a woman found shot to death in her ransacked Van Nuys apartment Monday as Sherri Rae Rasmussen, 29.

Homicide detectives believe Rasmussen was killed when she surprised one or more intruders who stole her automobile after beating her and shooting her once in the upper body.

Investigators were searching for the car, a silver two-door, 1985 Model 3181 BMW with the license plate 1MJK850.

Rasmussen had stayed home from work on Monday because she was ill, police said.

Her body was discovered on the living room floor when her husband returned from work about 6 p.m.