In this image made from pool video footage, Nicholas Rossi accused of faking his death and fleeing to Europe to avoid rape charges, appears at a jury trial in Salt Lake City, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. (Firecrest Films via AP, Pool)
Share this @internewscast.com
A Rhode Island man accused of faking his death and fleeing the United States to evade rape charges was found guilty late Wednesday of sexually assaulting a former girlfriend in his first of two Utah trials.

An eight-person jury in Salt Lake County found Nicholas Rossi guilty of a 2008 rape after a three-day trial in which his accuser and her parents took the stand.

Rossi, 38, declined to testify on his own behalf. He will be sentenced on October 20 and is set to stand trial in September on another rape charge in Utah County.

In this image made from pool video footage, Nicholas Rossi accused of faking his death and fleeing to Europe to avoid rape charges, appears at a jury trial in Salt Lake City, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. (Firecrest Films via AP, Pool)
An eight-person jury in Salt Lake County found Nicholas Rossi guilty of a 2008 rape after a three-day trial in which his accuser and her parents took the stand. (AP)

The woman was living with her parents and recovering from a traumatic brain injury when she responded to a personal ad Rossi posted on Craigslist. They began dating and were engaged within about two weeks.

She testified Rossi asked her to pay for dates and car repairs, lend him $1,000 so he wouldn’t be evicted, and take on debt to buy their engagement rings.

He grew hostile soon after their engagement and raped her in his bedroom one night after she drove him home, she said.

Deputy Salt Lake County District Attorney Brandon Simmons told jurors Wednesday that the woman did not consent.

“This is not romantic, this is not her mistaking things.”

The woman said her parents’ dismissive comments convinced her not to go to the police.

She came forward a decade later after seeing him in the news and learning he was accused of another rape from the same year.

Rossi’s lawyers said the woman built up years of resentment after he made her foot the bill for everything in their month-long relationship.

They argued she accused him of rape to get back at him years later when he was getting media attention, and sought to undermine her credibility with jurors.

Rossi’s accuser in the Utah County case, who testified at this week’s trial, is also a former girlfriend.

She went to police at the time of that alleged rape.

He is accused of attacking her at his apartment in Orem in September 2008 after she came over to collect money she said he stole from her to buy a computer.

When police initially interviewed Rossi, he claimed she raped him and threatened to have him killed.

Rossi grew up in foster homes in Rhode Island and returned there before allegedly faking his death.

He was previously wanted in the state for failing to register as a sex offender.

The FBI says he faces fraud charges in Ohio, where he was convicted of sex-related charges in 2008.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
A cargo plane carrying money crashed near Bolivia's capital leaving at least 15 people dead.

Tragic Bolivian Cargo Plane Crash Claims 15 Lives, Devastating Loss of Money on Board

A cargo plane carrying money crashed near Bolivia’s capital killing at least…

Taliban Expresses Willingness for Dialogue Following Pakistan’s Airstrikes in Afghan Territories

Key Points Pakistan has struck the Afghan capital, Kabul, and the city…

Taliban Expresses Willingness for Dialogue Following Pakistan’s Controversial Airstrikes in Afghanistan

Key Points Pakistan has struck the Afghan capital, Kabul, and the city…

Australia Introduces New Visa Program to Support LGBTQI+ Refugees Seeking Asylum

A decade ago, Ali and his partner made the difficult decision to…
Iran vows 'historic lesson' for US after waves of missile attacks

Iran Pledges ‘Historic Response’ to US Following Series of Missile Strikes

The United States and Israel have presented differing justifications for recent military…
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday 13 January 2026. fedpol Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

Albanese Condemns Iranian Regime’s Legitimacy Following US Airstrikes

In a statement released hours after the strikes began, ordered by US…
'Iran can end this now': World leaders react to US-Israel strikes

Global Leaders Urge Iran to Act Amidst Escalating US-Israel Tensions: A Call for Immediate Resolution

The majority of European and Middle Eastern leaders are hoping to find…

Veteran Navy Officer Mona Shindy Dismissed from Multicultural Board Following Israel-Related Social Media Posts

Former Australian Navy officer Mona Shindy is contemplating legal action against Multicultural…
The festival announced its closure on social media today.

Prominent Music Festival Abruptly Canceled Just a Week Before Scheduled Dates

Global hip-hop music festival Rolling Loud Australia has announced one week out…

Australia Issues Urgent Warning Amid Rising Tensions Following US and Israel’s Strikes on Iran

Australia has issued a stark warning about the potential for “reprisal attacks…

Australia’s Financial Crisis: Breaking Records and Impacting Lives in 2023

Key Points Investment firm collapses, superannuation issues and misleading advice were major…
Iran vows 'historic lesson' for US after waves of missile attacks

Trump’s Stern Ultimatum to Iran: Watch the Bold Warning Unfold

US President Donald Trump has claimed Iranian’s could “face death” after the…