Salt Lake City — A man accused of faking his death and fleeing the U.S. to avoid rape charges in Utah denied at a court appearance Tuesday that he is the suspect and, in an apparent British accent, called allegations that he wasn't giving his true name "complete hearsay."
Nicholas Rossi, whose legal name is Nicholas Alahverdian, is charged with the rape of a 21-year-old woman in Orem, Utah, in 2008, prosecutors said. He wasn't identified as a suspect until about a decade later due to a backlog of DNA test kits at the Utah State Crime Lab.
Rossi, 36, was extradited from Scotland earlier this month.
At the time, reports CBS Salt Lake City affiliate KUTV, the prosecutor who first filed charges against Rossi conveyed his "heartfelt respect and gratitude to law enforcement agencies worldwide for their unwavering commitment to seeking justice for the victims." Former Utah County Prosecutor David O. Leavitt said, "Now, it is Utah County's turn to stand up for the victims and honor the years of diligent work."
A man appeared in court via video conference while wearing an oxygen mask. During the initial court appearance, he did not enter a plea. At times, he was difficult to understand and had to lift up the mask to be heard.
A deputy attorney stated that the man, who has not admitted his name or birthdate since returning to Utah, is facing objections. The man objected to the attorney's statement, claiming it was hearsay.
In the Orem case, the man is currently being held without the option of posting bail. A detention hearing has been scheduled for January 26.
The judge informed the man that a lawyer would be appointed for him. The man claimed to already have an attorney, but stated that the attorney did not receive notice of the hearing.
The man, who grew up in foster homes in Rhode Island, gained attention for criticizing the state's Department of Children, Youth and Families. Four years ago, he told the media that he had late-stage non-Hodgkin lymphoma and only had weeks to live. An obituary published online even claimed that he passed away on February 29, 2020.
Prosecutors revealed that the man has used at least 10 different aliases over the years.
Authorities announced that in December 2021, a fugitive's escape from the law came to an end when he was apprehended at a hospital in Glasgow, Scotland. The arrest took place after someone recognized him while he was receiving treatment for COVID-19. The individual, who identified himself as Arthur Knight, an Irish orphan, vehemently denied ever setting foot on American soil.
The fugitive claimed that he had been framed by authorities who took his fingerprints while he was in a coma, with the intention of connecting him to Rossi. Throughout the legal proceedings, he consistently appeared in court in a wheelchair, wearing an oxygen mask, and speaking with a distinct British accent.
Following a lengthy court battle, Judge Norman McFadyen of Edinburgh Sheriff Court ruled in August that the extradition could proceed. The judge described Rossi as "extremely dishonest and deceitful, displaying evasive and manipulative behavior."
