Sophia Negroponte, Yousuf Rasmussen.Photo: Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office (2)
Sophia Negroponte, the 29-year-old daughter of Bush administration officialJohn Negroponte, was found guilty of second-degree murder Tuesday in the 2020 stabbing death of her friend.
First responders pronounced Rasmussen dead at the scene and took Negroponte into custody, where she reportedly told police that she did not remember attacking Rasmussen, but remembered arguing over a “silly issue” and later removing a knife from Rasmussen’s neck.
“Yousuf was a kind and gentle soul, a loving person who brought our family and his many friends great joy in his 24 years of life,” Rasmussen’s family said in a statement this week. “We will carry him with us forever.”
The Negroponte familytoldThe Washington Postthat they are discussing a possible appeal with their attorneys.
President George W. Bush and John Negroponte.Charles Dharapak/AP Photo
Negroponte is one of five children that John and Diana Negroponte adopted from Honduras.
John, now 83, enjoyed a lengthy career in politics dating back to the Reagan administration, over time serving as the U.S. ambassador to Honduras, Mexico, the Philippines, Iraq and the United Nations.
Under President George W. Bush, he served as the nation’s first director of national intelligence and eventually became the deputy secretary of state.
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“Neither the prosecutors nor perhaps the jury took into sufficient consideration the complexities and mitigating circumstances of the case — Sophia’s past trauma and other factors that led to a very troubled existence. She’s had severe alcohol use disorder,” John toldThe Washington Postafter the jury announced its verdict.
“We love and care for this young lady very, very much,” he added. “We don’t want to see her life wasted in prison.”
John, who sat in the second row of the courtroom every day of the trial, according to thePost, said his daughter has been living with him and Diana and has been sober nearly three years now, suggesting that she stopped drinking shortly after Rasmussen’s death.
source: people.com
