A man accused of faking his death and fleeing the US to avoid rape charges in Utah made his first appearance in a US court after being extradited from Scotland. Nicholas Rossi, also known as Nicholas Alahverdian, was charged with the rape of a 21-year-old woman in Orem, Utah, in 2008. However, he wasn't identified as a suspect until about a decade later due to a backlog of DNA test kits at the Utah State Crime Lab. Rossi, now 36, was extradited from Scotland earlier this month.

During his court appearance, Rossi denied being the suspect and called allegations that he wasn't giving his true name "complete hearsay" in an apparent British accent. He identified himself as Arthur Knight Brown and provided a birthdate in British English format, listing the day first, followed by the month and year. Rossi appeared via video from jail, wearing an oxygen mask, and did not enter a plea.

Deputy Salt Lake County attorney Tamara Basuez stated that Rossi has not admitted his name or birthdate since returning to Utah. However, Rossi objected to this statement, claiming it was complete hearsay. He has been difficult to understand at times and has had to lift up his mask to be heard.

Rossi, who grew up in foster homes in Rhode Island, gained attention there as a vocal critic of the state's Department of Children, Youth, and Families. In the past, he claimed to have late-stage non-Hodgkin lymphoma and only weeks to live. An obituary published online even claimed he died on February 29, 2020. Prosecutors revealed that Rossi used at least 10 different aliases over the years.

Authorities finally arrested Rossi in December 2021 after he was recognized by someone at a Glasgow hospital while being treated for COVID-19. Rossi insisted he was an Irish orphan named Arthur Knight and had never set foot on American soil. He accused authorities of framing him by taking his fingerprints while he was in a coma to connect him to the rape charges.

After a lengthy court battle, Judge Norman McFadyen of Edinburgh Sheriff Court ruled in August that Rossi could be extradited to the US. The judge described Rossi as "as dishonest and deceitful as he is evasive and manipulative." Despite Rossi's claims of mistaken identity, the judge determined that his tattoos and fingerprints matched those of the wanted suspect featured on an Interpol notice.

Rossi's case has garnered attention due to his unusual behavior, including appearing in court in a wheelchair, using an oxygen mask, and speaking in an apparent British accent. He has dismissed his legal teams and represented himself throughout the proceedings. Rossi will next appear in court in Utah on January 26, and he has been denied bail in the Orem case. The judge has appointed a lawyer for him, although Rossi claimed to already have one who did not receive notice of the initial court appearance.