A convicted rapist who attempted to feign his death and escape the United States to evade arrest has been sentenced to jail. Nicholas Rossi, who has maintained his innocence for 17 years since committing the crimes, was apprehended in Scotland, 13 years after the assaults, following his flight from the US. Prior to his capture, an online obituary falsely reported Rossi’s death from non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
After a trial in Salt Lake City, Utah, District Judge Barry Lawrence handed down a five-year prison term to Rossi, aged 38, highlighting the trail of fear and suffering he caused in 2008. One of the victims testified in court, emphasizing the need for safety, accountability, and recognition of the lasting damage.
Deputy Salt Lake County District Attorney Brandon Simmons described Rossi as a repeat offender who uses rape as a means of control, posing a threat to the community. Despite the opportunity to speak in his defense, Rossi, also known as Nicholas Alahverdian, continued to assert his innocence before being convicted and jailed for one of the assaults. He is set to be sentenced for the second rape incident in Utah in November.
It took over a decade to secure convictions against Rossi, with authorities in Utah initiating a search for him in 2018 after identifying him through a DNA rape kit linked to the case from 10 years prior. Rossi was part of a group of rape suspects charged as Utah worked to clear its backlog of rape kits. Despite claims of his death, Rossi was arrested in Scotland in 2023 while receiving medical treatment for Covid-19, identified by his distinct tattoos and an Interpol notice.
Following a lengthy legal battle, Rossi was extradited to Utah in January 2024, maintaining his innocence by claiming he was an Irish orphan named Arthur Knight framed for the crimes. Investigators uncovered numerous aliases Rossi utilized over the years to evade capture. In his initial trial, Rossi’s defense counsel refuted the rape allegations and urged jurors not to draw conclusions from his international travels. Nonetheless, Rossi was found guilty of the rape charge and sentenced accordingly.