**Mask Off: Nicholas Rossi's Transformation from Fugitive to Courtroom Drama**

**Rossi, initially presenting himself as a victim of false identity, reveals a different story in court as he prepares for upcoming rape trials in Utah.**

Nicholas Rossi, known as Arthur Knight during a protracted legal battle, first gained notoriety in the UK after his arrest in December 2021. I encountered Rossi at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in February 2022, where he was adamantly fighting extradition to the US over serious rape charges. Despite being confined to an electric wheelchair, dressed immaculately in a three-piece suit, and struggling with an oxygen mask, he insisted this was all a mix-up, professing to journalists his innocence while eagerly collecting their business cards.

His antics soon became a spectacle, as exemplified by his dramatic exit from the court when he accidentally tipped over his wheelchair while attempting to board a taxi. After our initial interaction, I received a call from him that evening, a raspy voice introducing himself as "Arthur." This initiated an extensive effort to uncover the reality behind his intricate narratives that continues to this day, explored in my podcast for the Strange But True Crime series on BBC Sounds.

The name Nicholas Rossi first came into the spotlight when he was apprehended on a Covid ward in a Glasgow hospital, recognized by staff from an Interpol wanted notice. While the American authorities sought his extradition, Rossi claimed he was actually Arthur Knight, an Irish orphan, adamant that he had no ties to the United States. Weeks later, he invited me to a BBC studio to narrate his life story, alongside his wife, Miranda. He claimed a troubled upbringing in Dublin, a tumultuous escape to London during his teenage years, and life as a market vendor, but failed to substantiate these claims with crucial documents like a birth certificate or passport.

Conversations with those who knew him draw a stark contrast to his assertions. Notably, Mary Grebinski identified him as the individual who had assaulted her in college, leading to his conviction and labeling as a sex offender. His ex-wife, Kathryn Heckendorn, provided further insight into a tumultuous marriage marred by neglect and abuse. These voices chipped away at the carefully constructed persona he had created.

Nicholas Rossi, originally named Nicholas Alahverdian, grew up surrounded by tumult, facing adversity within the care system and later claiming fame as a child welfare advocate. His supposed death in 2020 was even publicly mourned, prompting officials to honor his memory. However, authorities soon suspected that the fugitive was alive and well, evading justice in the UK after the FBI began looking into credit card fraud allegations against him.

The legal proceedings in Scotland were anything but straightforward. Rossi’s courtroom theatrics and eccentric claims prolonged the process, often resulting in a chaotic atmosphere that amused and perplexed observers. His assertions included bizarre tales of being tattooed while unconscious and accusations against hospital personnel of collusion. Meanwhile, Scottish sheriffs dismissed his alternative identity as nothing more than implausible fiction.

Despite the mounting evidence and judicial approval of his extradition to the US, Rossi steadfastly maintained his fabricated narrative until a sudden admission in court changed the game. During a bail hearing last October, he abruptly acknowledged his real identity, finally conceding that he was indeed Nicholas Alahverdian. His claim of needing to hide from death threats raised questions about the previous insistence on his false persona.

Now, as he prepares for two imminent rape trials in Utah, the charade seems to have unraveled, leaving the serious nature of the allegations front and center in the ongoing saga of Nicholas Rossi. As this case progresses, the peculiar blend of intrigue and absurdity is tempered by the gravity of the charges he faces, casting a long shadow over the antics of the man who once posed as Arthur Knight.