The daughter of a former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations stands on trial for first-degree murder in a Rockville Circuit Court.
30-year-old Sophia Negroponte is accused of stabbing 24-year-old Yousuf Rasmussen to death at a residence on the 400 block of W Montgomery Avenue in Rockville on Feb. 13, 2020.
Negroponte is the daughter of former United States Ambassador John Negroponte.
According to the original charging documents, police were initially called to the “small apartment house” located in the rear of a “main house” by a witness. The witness reported an altercation between Negroponte and Rasmussen shortly after 11:00 p.m.
According to the documents, Negroponte was laying on top of the victim, covered in blood yelling “I’m sorry” when police arrived on the scene.
Rasmussen was found with cutting/stab wounds to the neck and chest area and was pronounced dead on the scene. Negroponte had cuts to her hand.
After further investigation, it was determined the witness, Negroponte, and Rasmussen were at the residence having drinks, watching television, and listening to music.
At some point, Negroponte and the victim had a heated argument. Rasmussen decided to leave but quickly returned for his phone.
While the victim searched for his phone, documents state that Negroponte then went into a kitchen drawer and pulled out a knife.
The witness alleges Negroponte lunged at Rasmussen aggressively. Although the victim tried to protect himself, he fell to the floor with blood coming from his neck area.
Charging documents also state Negroponte made a statement after being arrested where she agreed she and Rasmussen were “arguing over a silly issue, and that things calmed down before they amped up again”. She then went on to acknowledge the witness had nothing to do with the fatal stabbing.
Negroponte told police she only remembered removing the knife from the victim’s neck and laying on top of him yelling for him not to die
The suspected murder weapon, a kitchen knife, was recovered just outside the residence.
Court proceedings in the trial remain on the docket through Tuesday, Dec. 27.
