SALT LAKE CITY — Nicholas Rossi, a Rhode Island man who famously faked his own death to evade charges of rape, has been sentenced to a minimum of five years in prison. Rossi, 38, was sentenced Monday in a Utah court after being found guilty of raping two women back in 2008.
This sentencing follows nearly a decade-long pursuit of justice for the victims, who suffered traumatic experiences at the hands of Rossi. The first conviction was announced in August, while sentencing for the second conviction is scheduled for November.
District Judge Barry Lawrence emphasized the severity of Rossi’s actions during the court session, describing the indeterminate sentencing approach of Utah, which allows for a range of years to be established. The actual release date will be decided by the Board of Pardons and Parole.
During the trial, the accused refrained from testifying and maintained his innocence, claiming the victims were lying about the incidents. The jury, however, determined otherwise after considering testimonies and evidence presented over several days.
In her statement, one of the victims described the significant psychological impact Rossi's actions had on her life, saying, This is not a plea for vengeance. This is a plea for safety and accountability, for recognition of the damage that will never fully heal.
Rossi's extensive history of manipulation and deceit came to a head when investigators connected him back to Utah through a DNA match stemming from a sexual assault kit. His case, which gained notoriety due to his attempts to assume a new identity in Scotland, was a part of Utah's initiative to clear a backlog of such kits, which led to multiple breakthroughs in long-cold cases.
Rossi had been living under the alias 'Arthur Knight' when he was arrested in Scotland in 2023, receiving treatment for an unrelated health issue. Utah officials expressed relief and hope that this conviction would help in the healing process for the victims.
With sentencing hearings still to come, the repercussions of Rossi’s actions serve as a reminder of the ongoing struggle many survivors face in seeking justice and recognition.