Nicholas Rossi Receives 5-Year to Life Sentence in Salt Lake County Rape Case

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Editor’s Note: This article discusses topics of rape and sexual assault, which some readers may find distressing. We urge caution and remind readers that support is available through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or their website.

In Salt Lake County, Utah, Nicholas Rossi, who was extradited from Scotland, has been sentenced to a prison term ranging from five years to life. This decision follows his conviction on rape charges dating back to 2008.

Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill expressed, “Although the wheels of justice may have turned slowly, the conviction and subsequent sentencing of the defendant reflect the severe impact on the survivor. She can find solace in the fact that he has been held accountable.” Gill extended gratitude to prosecutors Brandon Simmons and Clint Heiner, alongside victim advocate Cami Heng, for their unwavering commitment to this case. He also acknowledged the collective efforts of local, national, and international partners that facilitated Rossi’s accountability.

Rossi, also known by his legal name Nicholas Alahverdian, allegedly staged his own death to evade the rape charges he faced in both Salt Lake and Utah Counties. Throughout the proceedings, Rossi maintained that prosecutors had misidentified him, claiming instead to be Arthur Knight.

The trial in Salt Lake County, centered on the assault of a 24-year-old woman in December 2008, commenced on August 11. It concluded swiftly on August 13, with the jury delivering a guilty verdict for first-degree felony rape.

He has now been sentenced to five years to life at the Utah State Correctional Facility for this crime.

After being found guilty of rape in Salt Lake County, on Sept. 24, Rossi was found guilty of rape for a second time in Utah County. His sentencing in that case is scheduled for Nov. 4.

Background

Court documents state that in Dec. 2008, Rossi trapped the 24-year-old woman in his bedroom, not allowing her to leave, and committed the assault.

Rossi had met the victim online in 2008, and they dated between Nov. and Dec. of that year. During the trial, the victim, now 41, testified that while they were dating, Rossi constantly borrowed money from her and pressured her to marry him.

According to a press release from the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office, Rossi bought them wedding rings. He also became verbally abusive. After an argument while they were at the Gateway mall in Salt Lake City, the victim took off her wedding ring and got into her car.

Rossi then began screaming and hitting the car, but eventually, he got into the car, and the victim drove him home. At his home, he refused to get out of the car and said that he would call the police and say that she hit him.

The victim testified that he eventually convinced her to come inside his home, where she attempted to end the relationship. He trapped her in the bedroom and then raped her.

“We are grateful to the survivor in this case for her willingness to come forward, years after this attack took place. We appreciate her patience as we worked to bring the defendant back to Salt Lake County so that this trial could take place and she could get justice. It took courage and bravery to take the stand and confront her attacker to hold him accountable,” Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said.

Faking his death

Reportedly, in 2020, Rossi told a media outlet that he had late-stage cancer and an obituary was later published online, according to the Associated Press. The obituary claimed he died on Feb. 29, 2020, but he was later arrested for an unrelated incident in Glasgow while he was being treated for COVID-19.

Following that arrest, he was recognized as a fugitive and extradited from Scotland to the U.S. in 2023.

In addition to the Utah charges, Rossi also faces charges related to sexual assault, harassment, and possible kidnapping in Rhode Island, Ohio, and Massachusetts.

Victim statement

The victim, 41, now happily married with three dogs, said she was 24 when the alleged rape took place. She was reportedly living with her parents at the time and working at a credit union.

A car accident at the time left her with a traumatic brain injury and she was in the ICU for seven days. By mid-Nov., she was dancing again. She met Rossi online, through his post in the personal section of Craigslist.

She said she was going to be alone for her birthday that year, so they decided to meet up. They spent the first date hanging out at Rossi’s apartment in Orem.

“He was very charming and seemed very interested in school and politics and music. He was very nice to me,” she said.

The would go out a few times a week. She said they spent a lot of time at the Apple Store because Rossi liked their products. At one point, he was going to get evicted from his apartment and she gave him $1,000. She said it made up almost all her savings at the time.

“He was constantly borrowing money from me,” she said.

She spent another $2,000 on engagement rings, which she said was Rossi’s idea. Things went downhill quickly, she said.

“He started to become very controlling and dictated how I dressed,” she said.

One night at the Gateway Mall, Rossi allegedly said something to her that caused a fight.

“That was the first time I had ever seen such rage in his eyes,” she said. “I was just sitting in the car hoping he’d stop so that I could leave.”

It was that night when Rossi raped her in his bedroom. She said she was petrified, unsure of what else he was capable of.

After she left, she decided she could never see him again in person and changed her phone number to cut off contact. They would stop all communication shortly after.