Nicholas Rossi, a US man who authorities say faked his own death and fled to the United Kingdom to avoid rape charges, has been sentenced to at least five years in prison. The sentencing on Monday marks a significant step in a case that involved an international manhunt and highlighted issues with rape kit backlogs.
On Monday, October 20, 2025, a Utah judge sentenced Rossi to a prison term ranging from five years to life for a 2008 rape conviction. District Judge Barry Lawrence described Rossi as ‘a serial abuser of women’ and ‘the very definition of a flight risk’ before imposing the sentence. This was Rossi’s first sentencing after being convicted in August of raping one woman and facing another conviction in September for a separate incident. The judge emphasized the severity of the crimes and the need for accountability.
Rossi was convicted in two cases involving rapes that occurred in northern Utah in 2008. The first conviction came after a three-day trial in August, where the victim and her parents testified. In September, he was found guilty in a second case. The crimes came to light years later when Utah authorities identified Rossi through DNA evidence from a decade-old rape kit as part of a state-wide effort to clear its backlog. This backlog had delayed justice for many victims, and Rossi’s case became a prominent example of its resolution.
The investigation into Rossi began in 2018 when he was charged after DNA from a 2008 rape kit matched his profile. Months after being charged, an online obituary claimed Rossi died of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in February 2020, but doubts were raised by police in his home state of Rhode Island, along with his former lawyer and foster family. This led authorities to suspect he had faked his death to evade capture, initiating a cross-border search.
Rossi was arrested in Scotland in 2021 while receiving treatment for COVID-19. Hospital staff recognized his distinctive tattoos, including a Brown University crest, from an Interpol notice. He was extradited to Utah in January 2024 after a protracted legal battle during which he insisted he was an Irish orphan named Arthur Knight and not Nicholas Rossi. Investigators say he used at least a dozen aliases over the years to avoid detection, adding layers of complexity to the case.
During the trial and sentencing, Rossi maintained his innocence, appearing in court in a wheelchair and using an oxygen tank. He stated, ‘I am not guilty of this. These women are lying.’ His public defenders argued for parole, but prosecutors emphasized the risk he posed to community safety. Rossi did not testify in his own defense during the trial, and the judge ultimately sided with the prosecution’s call for a substantial prison term.
The victim in the case for which he was sentenced spoke in court, describing the lasting impact of the assault. She said Rossi left a ‘trail of fear, pain and destruction’ and emphasized that her statement was a plea for safety and accountability, not vengeance. Her testimony, along with that of other victims, underscored the emotional and psychological toll of the crimes, highlighting the importance of victim advocacy in such cases.
Rossi is scheduled to be sentenced in November for the second rape conviction. Utah law allows sentences to be given as a range, and a parole board will determine if and when he is released. The five-years-to-life sentence is the maximum range for a first-degree felony rape charge in the state, reflecting the gravity of the offenses. This case also involves additional fraud charges in Ohio and prior sex-offender registration failures, indicating a pattern of criminal behavior.
This case underscores the challenges in prosecuting sexual assault cases and the importance of clearing rape kit backlogs. Rossi’s attempt to evade justice by faking his death and fleeing internationally demonstrates the lengths some offenders will go, but also the effectiveness of cross-border law enforcement cooperation. It serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to support victims and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable, regardless of how they try to escape justice.