Utah Man Who Faked Death Faces R*pe Trial

A man who allegedly faked his death to avoid rape charges in Utah is now facing trial. Nicholas Alahverdian, also known as Nicholas Rossi, is accused of sexually assaulting two women in Utah in 2008. He has pleaded not guilty.

Rossi, 38, was arrested in Scotland in 2021 after being reported dead in 2020. He tried to avoid extradition by claiming he was an Irish orphan named Arthur Knight. Prosecutors say he used at least a dozen different names over the years to evade authorities.

At the trial, Rossi appeared in a wheelchair with an oxygen tank. One alleged victim identified him in court, saying he looks “a little heavier, a little older” but mostly the same.

The woman testified that Rossi became controlling and abusive during a short relationship in 2008, which started after she responded to a personal ad he posted on Craigslist. She said he forced her to have sex, took financial advantage of her, and prevented her from leaving.

Rossi’s lawyers argued that the woman’s claims were motivated by long-standing resentment over financial matters, while prosecutors said he used charm to manipulate a vulnerable young woman.

Rossi faces another rape trial in September for a separate case in Utah County. Authorities originally identified him in Scotland when hospital staff recognized his tattoos. He was extradited to Utah in January 2024.