Fugitive serial sex offender Nicholas Rossi, who faked his own death and fled to Scotland, has reportedly passed away in a US hospital. The Utah Department of Corrections (UDC) confirmed the 38-year-old had been suffering from "chronic, degenerative conditions."
Details of Death
A spokesperson said Rossi died in a local hospital on Thursday after "he chose to remove himself from the care that was being provided," according to the BBC. 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: "This notification follows communication with Rossi's family and his victims."
Arrest and Identity Claims
Rossi was apprehended in Glasgow in December 2021, while a Covid patient at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, after staff recognised his distinctive tattoos from an Interpol "wanted" notice. Rossi, however, maintained he was an Irish-born orphan named Arthur Knight who had never set foot in America — a claim that sparked worldwide fascination with his case.
Convictions and Sentencing
Late last year, he was sentenced to five years to life for the first of two sexual convictions in Utah. A Salt Lake County jury found him guilty of a 2008 rape following a three-day trial in August. His accuser and her parents gave testimony throughout the proceedings. Rossi was subsequently convicted of a second sexual assault on a 21-year-old woman in Orem, Utah, and he received another sentence of five years to life on Tuesday, 4 November. The sentences were ordered to run consecutively.
Victim Testimony
Rossi's former girlfriend claimed she ended their relationship over his aggressive behaviour and his failure to repay money he had borrowed from her. Rossi, who appeared in court using his alternative name Nicholas Alahverdian, arranged for the woman to visit his residence in September 2008 on the pretext of returning her money, but instead sexually assaulted her.
Investigation and Extradition
The investigation was originally closed before a rape kit underwent retesting in 2018, identifying Rossi as the perpetrator – but he'd already fabricated his death and escaped to the UK. Investigators traced him from state to state, and ultimately country to country before he was located in Scotland. Rossi maintained he was the victim of mistaken identity for years before he was ultimately extradited in January 2024, following protracted proceedings in Edinburgh. He eventually acknowledged his genuine identity in a Utah court in October 2024, asserting he had absconded to avoid "death threats." Rossi had indicated he planned to appeal both convictions.
