‘Irish orphan’ Nicholas Rossi – his fake death, his real death and his web of lies

Last week, 38-year-old convicted rapist Nicholas Rossi died in a Utah hospital while under police custody. ­ Rossi (born Nicholas Alahverdian) operated under several aliases, including Arthur Knight, purportedly an orphan from Ireland. ­ He was first reported dead six years ago, with a Boston Globe obituary among the write-ups. But he wasn’t actually deceased. He was alive and very much aware that he was on the FBI’s radar. ­ Having fled to Scotland, Rossi became the subject of an Interpol Red Notice and increased media attention, with interviews and identities colliding as his web of lies was exposed. ­ “Nicholas Rossi was clever, but then he was very stupid in other ways,” says investigative journalist and podcaster Jane MacSorley, who has worked on the story since the beginning of 2022. ­ On this episode of The Indo Daily, host Fionnán Sheahan is joined by MacSorley, who details her own encounter with Nicholas Rossi and explores the numerous complications and contradictions of his life. ­ The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. You can see our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalismSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.