Death of Nicholas Rossi
Nicholas Rossi, the American convicted rapist who faked his death and fled to Scotland to avoid prosecution, has died in a hospital in the United States.
The Utah Department of Corrections reported that the 38-year-old had been suffering from "chronic, degenerative conditions." A department spokesman stated that Rossi passed away in a local hospital on Thursday after
"he chose to remove himself from the care that was being provided."
Convictions and Sentencing
Rossi was found guilty in 2024 of raping two women in Utah in 2008, following two separate trials. He received two consecutive sentences ranging from five years to life imprisonment.
Fleeing to Scotland and Arrest
In 2021, Rossi fled to Scotland in an attempt to evade justice but was apprehended in the Covid ward of a Glasgow hospital. Hospital staff recognized his mugshot and distinctive tattoos from an Interpol wanted notice. Despite this, Rossi claimed to be an Irish-born orphan named Arthur Knight who had never been to the United States.
Claims and Legal Proceedings in Scotland
Rossi gave an interview to the BBC maintaining his false identity but was unable to provide a birth certificate or passport to support his claims.
Throughout a series of hearings at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, Rossi, who typically attended in an electric wheelchair while wearing an oxygen mask, a hat, and a three-piece suit, insisted he was a victim of mistaken identity.
He was eventually extradited to the US in January 2024, more than a year after the court confirmed his true identity as Nicholas Rossi.
Convictions in the United States
In August and September 2024, Rossi was convicted in separate trials for the 2008 rapes of two women in Utah.
Background and Earlier Life
Born Nicholas Alahverdian in Rhode Island in 1987, Rossi spent part of his teenage years in care and later became a child welfare campaigner.
Reports of his death had surfaced in 2020; however, authorities suspected he had fled to the UK after discovering that the FBI was investigating him for alleged credit card fraud.
Identification and Legal Challenges
Rossi's online activities eventually led police to the Glasgow hospital where he was identified by staff. He claimed that his distinctive tattoos were inflicted while he was unconscious in the hospital as part of a framing attempt.
During his court appearances in Edinburgh, Rossi regularly wore an oxygen mask.
He dismissed several lawyers before a sheriff ruled in 2023 that he was indeed Nicholas Rossi, describing his mistaken identity claim as
"implausible" and fanciful.
After failing to overturn this ruling, Rossi was returned to the United States in January 2024. Several months later, during a bail hearing in Salt Lake City, he admitted his true identity.
Ongoing Coverage
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