A Maryland court has sentenced Sophia Negroponte, the daughter of the first U.S. director of national intelligence, to decades in prison after she was found guilty of killing her longtime friend during a drunken argument. The case, which has gone through the legal system twice, ended with a second conviction and the same prison sentence as the original trial.
Woman Sentenced for Killing Best Friend
Sophia Negroponte, 33, was sentenced to 35 years in prison on Friday after being convicted of second-degree murder. She was found guilty of killing her longtime friend, 24-year-old Yousuf Rasmussen, during a violent incident in February 2020.
The sentencing was handed down by Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Terrence McGann.
Negroponte had been convicted of the same charge in November 2025 after a retrial. Prosecutors said the punishment reflects the seriousness of the crime and the evidence presented during both trials.
Case Went Through Two Trials
This case has taken several years to reach its final outcome.
Negroponte was first convicted of second-degree murder in January 2023 and sentenced to 35 years in prison two months later. However, her conviction was overturned in January 2024 by an appeals court.
The court ruled that certain statements presented to the jury during the trial were unfair and could have influenced the verdict.
After the decision, the case was retried without the disputed evidence. In the second trial, another jury again found Negroponte guilty of second-degree murder.
Fatal Incident Inside Maryland Airbnb
The deadly incident occurred in February 2020 inside an Airbnb carriage house located on West Montgomery Avenue in Rockville, Maryland. The location is a suburb just outside Washington, D.C.
On the night of the incident, Negroponte, Rasmussen, and another friend were drinking together. Prosecutors said the group had been socialising when the situation escalated into an argument.
According to authorities, Negroponte became intoxicated and argued with Rasmussen twice during the evening.
At one point, Rasmussen decided to leave the house but returned shortly afterward after realizing he had forgotten his phone inside.
Prosecutors said that when he returned, Negroponte had armed herself with a kitchen knife.
Argument Escalated Into Deadly Stabbing
When Rasmussen reentered the house, the argument reportedly continued.
According to prosecutors, Negroponte stabbed him multiple times during the confrontation. One of the stab wounds severed Rasmussen’s jugular vein, which proved fatal.
During the trial, prosecutors presented body camera footage from responding officers. In the footage, a male witness described the moment the situation turned violent.
The witness said several friends had been drinking together before a fight began between Negroponte and Rasmussen.
According to the witness, he attempted to calm the situation before Negroponte suddenly grabbed a knife from a drawer and stabbed Rasmussen during the struggle.
Appeals Court Overturned First Conviction
Negroponte’s original conviction was overturned by Maryland’s appellate court because of issues related to testimony presented to the jury.
Judges ruled that certain statements made by police officers during her interrogation should not have been shown to jurors.
Those statements included opinions from investigators suggesting that they did not believe parts of Negroponte’s story. The court said those comments could unfairly influence jurors because witnesses are not allowed to give opinions about a defendant’s credibility.
In addition, a forensic psychiatrist who testified during the trial made comments suggesting that the defendant might not be trustworthy because she was facing criminal charges.
The appeals court ruled that this type of testimony could prejudice a jury and should not have been allowed.
Because of these issues, the court ordered a new trial.
Second Trial Ends With Same Verdict
The case was retried last year without the disputed evidence. After reviewing the case again, a second jury reached the same conclusion and convicted Negroponte of second-degree murder.
Following the sentencing, Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy said the outcome reflected the seriousness of the crime and the consistent findings from two juries.
He stated that the 35-year sentence was appropriate given the circumstances of the case.
Victim’s Family Remembers Him
After the original conviction, Rasmussen’s family released a statement remembering him as a kind and caring person.
They described him as someone who brought happiness to family members and friends throughout his life.
The family said they will continue to carry his memory with them and thanked supporters from around the world who offered prayers and encouragement during the difficult legal process.
Background of the Defendant
Sophia Negroponte is the daughter of John Negroponte, the first U.S. director of national intelligence. The position was created following the September 11 attacks to coordinate intelligence agencies across the United States.
Her father also served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and later as ambassador to Iraq.
Sophia Negroponte was one of five children adopted by John and his wife, Diana Negroponte, during the 1980s when he served as U.S. ambassador to Honduras.
