In a high-profile retrial that reopened a case previously overturned on appeal, 32-year-old Sophia Negroponte was found guilty of second-degree murder for the 2020 fatal stabbing of her friend Yousuf Rasmussen at a Maryland home. The conviction marks the second time action has been taken in the case following the dismissal of her original 2023 verdict due to improper jury evidence. She faces up to 35 years behind bars, with formal sentencing slated for February 19, 2026.
Background of the Case
Negroponte, one of five children adopted from Honduras by diplomat-turned-intelligence-chief John Negroponte and his wife during his posting in Central America in the 1980s, had been initially convicted in early 2023 and handed a 35-year sentence. That conviction was overturned after Maryland’s appellate court ruled that the jury had been exposed to disputed portions of her police interrogation and improper credibility-based testimony, necessitating the retrial.
Details of the Retrial Verdict
During the retrial held in Montgomery County Circuit Court, the jury found her guilty of depraved-heart second-degree murder rather than intentional murder—concluding she acted with extreme disregard for Rasmussen’s life but without specific intent to kill. The prosecution’s case relied heavily on eyewitness testimony that Negroponte grabbed a kitchen knife during a drunken argument and stabbed Rasmussen multiple times, including a fatal neck wound. Defense lawyers pushed a competing narrative: that Rasmussen had initiated the knife-wielding and the evidence pointed to self-defence. New DNA tests from the knife sheath bolstered their argument that Rasmussen’s DNA alone was found on the sheath, though prosecutors countered with alternate stains found on the blade bearing Negroponte’s DNA.
Looking Ahead: Sentencing and Impact
With sentencing set for February 19 2026, Negroponte stands to face up to 35 years in prison under Maryland law. The case draws attention not only because of her family’s high-profile background but also because it raises challenging questions about intoxicated altercations, knife violence and evidentiary standards in retrial settings. Both the victim’s and defendant’s families spoke outside court, underscoring the emotional weight of the outcome.
