A man named Nicholas Rossi, who was accused of faking his own death and fleeing to Europe to escape rape charges in the United States, has died after being transported to a hospital from a Utah prison. The Utah Department of Corrections confirmed his death on Friday, stating that Rossi died on Thursday night due to “complications of an existing medical condition after choosing to discontinue medical treatment.” He was 38 years old.
Rossi had been serving at least 10 years in prison in Utah following convictions in 2025 for two sexual assault cases. Authorities were unable to disclose specific details regarding his health issues, but it was reported that during court appearances, he had appeared in a wheelchair and required supplemental oxygen.
Also known as Nicholas Alahverdian, Rossi was extradited to Utah from Scotland in 2024 after being on the run. His criminal activities came to light when he was identified through a decade-old DNA rape kit as part of a police investigation in Utah. After being charged, an online obituary falsely reported his death on February 29, 2020, from non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which raised skepticism among police in Rhode Island, where he was originally from, along with his former attorney and foster family.
In 2021, Rossi was arrested in Scotland while he was being treated for COVID-19. His capture was facilitated when hospital staff recognized his distinctive tattoos, including the emblem of Brown University, which he did not actually attend. Throughout the legal proceedings, Rossi claimed that he was an Irish orphan named Arthur Knight and asserted that he was being framed. Investigators determined that he utilized at least a dozen aliases over the years to evade capture.
The circumstances surrounding Rossi’s death have prompted reactions from both his victims and family, who have been informed by authorities. Richard Piatt, a spokesperson for the Utah Department of Corrections, emphasized the confidentiality around Rossi's medical treatment prior to his death, highlighting the complex and tragic nature of this case. Rossi's life and subsequent death drew significant attention due to the unusual circumstances surrounding his fugitive status and the serious accusations against him.
