Former US Ambassador’s daughter, 27, is charged with murder after ‘stabbing man, 24, to death


Former US Ambassador to the UN’s daughter, 27, is charged with murder after ‘stabbing man, 24, to death during an argument’ at a home in Maryland

  • Police in Montgomery County, Maryland, arrest Sophia Negroponte, 27
  • Investigators say she fatally stabbed Yousuf Rasmussen in a Rockville home 
  • Authorities say stabbing took place after the two, who knew each other, argued
  • Sophia Negroponte is one of five adopted children of John Negroponte
  • John Negroponte was US Ambassador to the UN and Deputy Secretary of State under George W. Bush
  • He and his wife adopted five children when he was ambassador to Honduras 

The daughter of a former US Ambassador to the UN has been charged in the stabbing death of a Maryland man after an argument on Thursday night.

Sophia Negroponte, 27, was arrested by authorities in Montgomery County who say that she killed 24-year-old Yousuf Rasmussen in a home in Rockville.

According to investigators, Sophia and Rasmussen knew each other. 

Negroponte is the daughter of John Negroponte, who was US Ambassador to the UN under George W Bush from September 2001 to June 2004.  

Sophia Negroponte, 27

Yousuf Rasmussen

Yousuf Rasmussen

Sophia Negroponte (left), 27, was arrested on Thursday and charged in the fatal stabbing of Yousuf Rasmussen (right), 24, in a home in Rockville, Maryland, according to authorities

Police say Sophia Negroponte stabbed Rasmussen after an argument on Thursday night

Police say Sophia Negroponte stabbed Rasmussen after an argument on Thursday night

Police say Sophia Negroponte stabbed Rasmussen after an argument on Thursday night

Sophia Negroponte is the adopted daughter of John Negroponte, a former US Ambassador to the UN. John Negroponte is seen above in Bogota, Colombia, in May 2019

Sophia Negroponte is the adopted daughter of John Negroponte, a former US Ambassador to the UN. John Negroponte is seen above in Bogota, Colombia, in May 2019

Sophia Negroponte is the adopted daughter of John Negroponte, a former US Ambassador to the UN. John Negroponte is seen above in Bogota, Colombia, in May 2019

‘Sometime during the night, they were involved in a disagreement with each other while inside the home,’ a Montgomery County police spokesperson told WTOP.

Police have yet to provide bond information.

John Negroponte, who is currently teaching at the University of Virginia, also served as US Ambassador to Iraq from June 2004 until March 2005, then Director of National Intelligence until February 2007, and Deputy Secretary of State until January 2009.

He had previously served as ambassador to countries including Honduras, Mexico, and the Philippines under Bill Clinton, George H W Bush and Ronald Reagan.

Negroponte and his wife, Diana Negroponte, adopted five girls during their time in Honduras – Sophia, George, John, Alexandra, and Marina.