Arr, a scurvy dog from Scotland be insistin' he be not the scoundrel accused o' rapin' in Utah!
2024-02-06
Arr! Nicholas Rossi be havin' no luck! His plea to halt his voyage from Scotland has been denied, and now he be facin' charges o' rape in Utah. But he be swearin' 'tis a tale o' mistaken identity! Quite the predicament, says I!
In a comical twist, a man accused of faking his own demise to evade rape charges appeared in an online court hearing from jail, vehemently denying his involvement in the case. Nicholas Rossi, also known as Nicholas Alahverdian, missed two court dates in January without explanation, prompting Utah 4th District Judge Derek Pullan to authorize jail officials to use reasonable force to ensure Rossi's appearance. During the hearing, Rossi sported an oxygen mask and sat behind a green gas tank for added effect.When questioned about the charging document accusing him of raping a woman in Utah back in 2008, Rossi, in a raspy voice with a British accent, claimed he was not Nicholas Rossi. He insisted his true identity was that of Arthur Knight, an Irish orphan who never set foot on American soil.
The defendant had previously made similar claims during a court hearing in January after being extradited from Scotland, where he was arrested in 2021. Rossi had escaped the radar as a suspect in the Orem rape case for approximately ten years due to a backlog of DNA test kits at the Utah State Crime Lab. Additionally, he faces another felony charge in Salt Lake County for allegedly raping an ex-girlfriend in 2008.
Rossi's legal woes extend beyond Utah, as he also faces multiple complaints in Rhode Island and Ohio for domestic violence, sexual abuse, and fraud. Having grown up in foster homes in Rhode Island, Rossi returned to the state before allegedly faking his death and fleeing the country. However, authorities and his former foster family were skeptical of his demise, and an obituary published online was met with doubt.
This peculiar saga took an unexpected turn when Rossi was recognized at a Glasgow hospital in Scotland during COVID-19 treatment, leading to his arrest in 2021. Despite his extradition appeal being denied, Rossi continued to persist with his alternate identity, leaving many intrigued to uncover the truth behind this eccentric case.