CRIME, POLICE + COURTS
Man accused of faking his own death to evade rape charges officially identified in Scotland
SALT LAKE CITY — A judge in Scotland ruled last week that a man arrested there last December is the same man charged with rape in Utah. Authorities also believe the man faked his own death to evade prosecution.
Nicholas Rossi, also known as Nicholas Alahverdian and several other aliases, is charged with felony rape in Utah County.
Authorities believe Rossi raped a woman he met on Myspace in 2008. Authorities believe Rossi has assaulted more people.
Rossie also has outstanding fraud charges in Ohio.
Rossi was arrested last year in Glasgow after his DNA came up as a match for a rape kit from the 2008 case.
Rossi was found in Scotland while being treated for COVID-19. Authorities said he was living under the name “Arthur Knight.”
The legal identification of Rossi clears the way for extradition proceedings against him.
In a Facebook post about the identification, Utah County Attorney David Leavitt said the county will fully prosecute Rossi’s case if he is extradited back to the U.S.
Rossi’s extradition hearing is scheduled for March 2023.
Samantha Herrera contributed to this story.
Related: Second man arrested in connection to 7-11 Millcreek shooting
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