Welcome to Arrest Stories. A fugitive rapist faked his own death and fled to Scotland under a false identity, only to be caught in a Glasgow hospital while battling COVID-nineteen and ultimately convicted of multiple rapes dating back to two thousand eight. Here's what may have happened.
In September two thousand eight, thirty-eight-year-old Nicholas Rossi lured his ex-girlfriend to his apartment under the pretense of repaying borrowed money she was owed. The victim had connected with Rossi through MySpace earlier that year. When she arrived to collect the debt, Rossi prevented her from leaving and sexually assaulted her. According to reports, he "became very emotionally and verbally abusive" during the attack.
The victim went to the hospital the following day for a rape kit and sexual assault examination, telling a friend "just in case he starts doing this to other females." However, she initially hesitated to report the crime, stating "I know the statistics of rape allegations; I didn't want to put myself through that. That's why it took me a while and it took me calling my friend to decide to go."
Due to testing backlogs, DNA evidence wasn't processed until two thousand eighteen, finally linking Rossi to the assault. By then, Rossi had allegedly faked his own death in two thousand twenty and fled to the United Kingdom, living under the assumed identity of Arthur Knight.
Authorities caught up with Rossi in two thousand twenty-one when he was recognized while receiving treatment for COVID-nineteen at a Glasgow hospital, where he spent a month in intensive care. Despite claiming he was an Irish orphan who had never set foot on American soil, Rossi lost his extradition appeal and was returned to Utah in January two thousand twenty-four.
Following his extradition, Rossi faced multiple rape charges. A jury in Provo convicted him after a week-long trial, and he was subsequently found guilty of another first-degree felony rape in Salt Lake County in August two thousand twenty-five.
All suspects presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Do not take this report as factual, always verify facts. Thanks for watching Arrest Stories.