Fugitive serial sex offender Nicholas Rossi, who faked his own death and escaped to Scotland, has died in a US hospital. The Utah Department of Corrections (UDC) confirmed that the 38-year-old had been battling chronic, degenerative conditions. A spokesman revealed that Rossi passed away in a local hospital on Thursday after he chose to remove himself from the care that was being provided, according to the BBC.
Death Confirmed
A UDC spokesman stated: 'Rossi was pronounced dead at a local hospital on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 20:32. Rossi died from complications of an existing medical condition after choosing to discontinue medical treatment.' The spokesman added that the notification followed communication with Rossi's family and his victims.
Arrest in Glasgow
Rossi was apprehended in Glasgow in December 2021 while receiving treatment for Covid at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. Medical staff recognized his distinctive tattoos from an Interpol wanted notice. Rossi, however, insisted he was an Irish-born orphan named Arthur Knight who had never visited America, sparking worldwide intrigue in his case.
Convictions in Utah
Towards the end of last year, he received a sentence of five years to life following the first of two sexual assault convictions in Utah. A Salt Lake County jury convicted him of a 2008 rape after a three-day trial in August. His accuser and her parents gave evidence during the hearing. Rossi was subsequently convicted of a second sexual assault on a 21-year-old woman in Orem, Utah, and received another sentence of five years to life on Tuesday, 4 November. The sentences were ordered to run consecutively.
Details of the Assaults
Rossi's former partner alleged she terminated their relationship due to his violent conduct and his refusal to repay money he had borrowed from her. Rossi, who presented himself in court using his alternative name Nicholas Alahverdian, lured the woman to his residence in September 2008 on the false promise of returning her money, but instead sexually assaulted her.
Investigation and Extradition
The case was initially closed before a rape kit underwent retesting in 2018, which identified Rossi as the perpetrator – but by then he had staged his own death and absconded to the UK. Detectives traced him across multiple states, and ultimately across international borders before locating him in Scotland. Rossi maintained he was a case of mistaken identity for several years before his eventual extradition in January 2024, following protracted legal proceedings in Edinburgh.
Final Admission
He ultimately acknowledged his real identity in a Utah court in October 2024, asserting he had absconded to avoid 'death threats'. Rossi stated his intention to challenge both convictions.
