Introduction to the Case
A man accused of faking his death and fleeing the United States to avoid sexual assault allegations was convicted in a second rape trial on Wednesday, according to public court records.
The Verdict
Nicholas Alahverdian, 38, was found guilty of raping his ex-girlfriend on Sept. 13, 2008. It was the second rape conviction for Alahverdian, who has been identified and charged by authorities in Utah as Nicholas Rossi, in a matter of months.
Previous Conviction
In August, a Salt Lake City County jury found Alahverdian, a former advocate for foster youth in Rhode Island, guilty of raping his 24-year-old former fiancée in December 2008. He was sentenced to five years in prison.
Defense and Appeal
Alahverdian pleaded not guilty in both cases and has denied any wrongdoing in media interviews. His defense attorney, Utah County public defender Daniel Diaz, said they planned on appealing the conviction and declined to comment further.
Investigation and Charges
In a probable cause statement in the Utah County case, Alahverdian’s ex-girlfriend, identified in court papers as K.P., stated that the pair dated briefly after meeting on MySpace in the summer of 2008. She told authorities she broke up with Alahverdian after he became increasingly aggressive and failed to repay her money he’d borrowed.
The Alleged Crime
The statement alleged that Alahverdian raped the woman when she went to his home to retrieve the money on Sept. 13, 2008.
She had a sexual assault kit completed the next day, the probable cause statement said. Authorities have stated that Alahverdian was not identified as a suspect until a decade later because of a testing backlog.
Faking Death and Fleeing
In 2020, Alahverdian was charged with rape in connection with K.P.’s allegations. That same year, an obituary claimed that he died at age 32 from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Two years later, Utah authorities announced they were seeking to extradite a man living in the United Kingdom whom they believed to be Alahverdian. Utah’s Department of Public Safety accused Alahverdian of fleeing the United States and of living in Scotland under the name Arthur Knight.
Deception and Extradition
In a 2022 “Dateline” interview, Alahverdian claimed to be an Irish orphan-turned-businessman. He appeared in a wheelchair and spoke with a British accent.
“I do not prefer to be called Arthur Knight,” he told “Dateline.” “I am Arthur Knight.”
In January 2024, he was extradited to the United States and subsequently acknowledged his true identity. He has said he changed his name to Arthur Knight to protect himself against what he described as “credible threats” from his time working as a foster youth advocate.
Conclusion
The conviction of Nicholas Alahverdian in his second rape trial marks a significant development in a case that has involved deception, fleeing, and ultimately, justice. The details of the case highlight the importance of persistence in investigations and the commitment to bringing perpetrators to account for their actions.
FAQs
- Q: Who is Nicholas Alahverdian?
A: Nicholas Alahverdian, also known as Nicholas Rossi, is a 38-year-old man who has been convicted in two separate rape trials. - Q: What were the charges against Alahverdian?
A: Alahverdian was charged with raping his ex-girlfriend in 2008, among other allegations. - Q: Why was Alahverdian not identified as a suspect until a decade later?
A: Authorities stated that Alahverdian was not identified as a suspect until a decade later because of a testing backlog. - Q: Did Alahverdian fake his own death?
A: Yes, in 2020, an obituary claimed that Alahverdian died at age 32 from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, but it was later discovered that he had faked his own death and was living in the United Kingdom under an assumed name. - Q: What is the current status of Alahverdian’s case?
A: Alahverdian has been convicted in two rape trials and is facing prison time for his crimes. His defense team has planned to appeal the convictions.
