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Man Accused of Faking death in Utah Rape Case Denies Charges

SALT LAKE CITY — A man facing rape charges in Utah appeared in court on Tuesday, vehemently denying his involvement and claiming that the accusations against him were baseless. Nicholas Rossi, also known as Nicholas Alahverdian, stands accused of raping a 21-year-old woman in Orem, Utah, back in 2008. However, Rossi, 36, who was recently extradited from Scotland, maintains his innocence and denies being the suspect in question.

Extradition and Denial

During the court appearance, Rossi, speaking in an apparent British accent, identified himself as Arthur Knight Brown and disputed the allegations against him. In an attempt to cast doubt on his identity, he provided a birthdate in British English format, which differed from his official records. Despite being difficult to understand at times due to an oxygen mask he wore, Rossi adamantly objected to the prosecutor’s claims, calling them “complete hearsay.”

Rossi’s extradition from Scotland earlier this month marked the end of his international flight from justice. The delay in identifying him as a suspect for over a decade was primarily due to a backlog of DNA test kits at the Utah State Crime Lab.

Legal Proceedings

Deputy Salt Lake County attorney Tamara Basuez confirmed that Rossi has yet to admit his true identity or provide his correct birthdate since his return to Utah. As a result, the judge set a detention hearing for January 26, during which a lawyer will be appointed for Rossi. Despite claiming to already have legal representation, Rossi’s attorney did not receive notice of the initial court appearance.

Given the seriousness of the charges against him, Rossi is currently being held in jail without the possibility of posting bail. The judge has ordered his continued detention until further legal proceedings take place.

A Controversial Figure

Nicholas Rossi, who spent his childhood in foster homes in Rhode Island, gained notoriety in the state for his vocal criticism of the Department of Children, Youth and Families. In 2018, Rossi publicly announced that he was suffering from late-stage non-Hodgkin lymphoma and had only weeks to live. An obituary published online claimed that he passed away on February 29, 2020.

Throughout the years, Rossi has used multiple aliases, further complicating the investigation into his alleged crimes. Authorities finally apprehended him in December 2021 in Glasgow, Scotland, where he was being treated for Covid-19. Rossi, however, maintained that he was an Irish orphan named Arthur Knight and had never set foot on American soil.

A Legal Battle and Extradition

After a protracted court battle, Judge Norman McFadyen of Edinburgh Sheriff Court ruled in August that Rossi’s extradition to the United States could proceed. The judge described Rossi as “dishonest, deceitful, evasive, and manipulative” in his decision.

The ongoing legal proceedings will determine whether Nicholas Rossi, or Arthur Knight Brown as he claims to be, will face trial for the rape charges he denies. As the case unfolds, the truth behind Rossi’s identity and his alleged involvement in the 2008 incident will hopefully be revealed.

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