| Crime |
On February 13, 2020, officers responded to an emergency call at a residence. When they arrived, they found Yousuf Rasmussen on the floor with his neck cut. Sophia Negroponte was lying on top of the victim covered in blood. Ms. Negroponte was charged with murder and convicted in 2023. In 2024, her first conviction was overturned. |
| Evidence |
Investigators collected a knife sheath as evidence. |
| DNA |
The Montgomery County Police Crime Laboratory generated DNA data from the knife sheath. |
| Match |
The laboratory was unable to interpret the DNA data due to mixture
complexity. |
| TrueAllele |
On the same data, TrueAllele calculated an inclusionary match statistic of 30.8 trillion to the victim. The computer statistically excluded the defendant with a match statistic of one over 298. The false exclusion error rate was 1 in 41.5 thousand. |
| Cybergenetics |
On November 13, 2025, Cybergenetics analyst William Allan testified in the re-trial before a Montgomery County jury about the TrueAllele DNA results. |
| Outcome |
On November 20, 2025, the jury found the defendant guilty of second degree murder. In early 2026, the judge sentenced her to 35 years in prison. |
