Stephanie Lazarus is depicted in a sketch by Mona Shafer Edwards during her 2012 murder trial in Los Angeles. Edwards first finds a feature that is prominent — anything from a hair style to lips ...

The sketch went viral online after media reports dubbed it “the worst police sketch of all time.” The face — round with big almond eyes and a line for the lips — looked more Muppet than man.

The police sketch artist surrenders his mind to the memories of a victim. The artist’s hand, mind and the product on the page are decided by the thoughts and words of another person. “We work ...