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Big Twist in Case of Man Who Allegedly Faked Own Death and Went on the Run · Murder Files Unsealed

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Okay, so get ready for this. We are diving into
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  a story. Well it's stranger than fiction definitely. So just
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  picture this guy accused of some serious crimes and then.
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  Speaker 2: Poof, he vanishes like off the face of the earth, right.
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  Speaker 1: Exactly gone. But did he really disappear? I mean is
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  that even possible?
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  Speaker 2: Well, that is the big question, isn't it.
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  Speaker 1: That's what we're going to try to figure out.
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  Speaker 2: Today, unraveling the mystery.
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  Speaker 1: The case of Nicholas Rossi, a man.
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  Speaker 2: Who authorities believe went to extreme, maybe even absurd lengths
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  to escape justice.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah. I mean we're talking fake, deaf, new identities.
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  Speaker 2: International manhut, the whole nine yards.
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  Speaker 1: It's crazy, and we're going deep into all of it,
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  deep dive using a Dateline episode called The Man of
• 0:44
  Many Faces, which is a pretty fitting title, wouldn't you say?
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  Speaker 2: Oh? Absolutely? I mean, talk about a story that lives
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  up to its name.
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  Speaker 1: It's like peeling back the layers of an onion, and
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  each layer is more bizarre than the last.
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  Speaker 2: It's really a wild ride.
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  Speaker 1: So before we get into all the twists and turns,
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  just to set the stage, is facing a number of charges.
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  Speaker 2: Including allegations of sexual assault, and fraud.
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  Speaker 1: Pretty serious stuff.
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  Speaker 2: Right, and this case spans multiple countries, involves questions of identity.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah, and it really does have it all. Fake death,
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  international manhunts, you name it.
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  Speaker 2: It's a real head scratcher.
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  Speaker 1: So to kick things off, let's start with an obituary
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  that appeared in twenty twenty.
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  Speaker 2: Okay, so this obituary announces the death of Nicholas Alaverdian,
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  supposedly from non Hodgkin lymphoma.
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  Speaker 1: Seems pretty straightforward, right.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, A sad but not uncommon occurrence unfortunately.
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  Speaker 1: But and here's the kicker. What if I told you
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  that this obituary, the supposed ending, was actually just the
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  beginning of the story.
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  Speaker 2: Ah, now things are getting interesting, right. So enter Father
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  Bernard Healey, a Rhode Island pastor. He gets a call
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  from Alaverdin's supposed widow.
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  Speaker 1: About holding a funeral mass.
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  Speaker 2: Right, seems pretty normal.
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  Speaker 1: So far, standard procedure exactly.
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  Speaker 2: But shortly after he gets another call.
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  Speaker 1: Oh this is where things take.
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  Speaker 2: A turn, this time from the State Police, and they
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  drop a bombshell. They tell Father Healy that they believe
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  Alaverdian faked his own death and it's actually on the.
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  Speaker 1: Run, probably in Europe.
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  Speaker 2: Can you imagine being that pastor Yeah, getting those two
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  calls back to back.
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  Speaker 1: I mean, talk about a plot twist.
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  Speaker 2: As like something out of a movie.
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  Speaker 1: So now the authorities are thinking, Okay, this guy is alive,
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  he's out there somewhere, and the hunt is on. An
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  international man hunt.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, not an easy task, especially when you're dealing with
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  someone who's probably trying to blend in, avoid detection.
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  Speaker 1: Change their appearance, maybe even their name exactly.
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  Speaker 2: They're basically trying to become a ghost.
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  Speaker 1: And eventually authorities believe they've found their man.
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  Speaker 2: But of course there's a twist, right.
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  Speaker 1: Always a twist. This time the man they find is
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  claiming to be Arthur Knight.
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  Speaker 2: An innocent Irish orphan.
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  Speaker 1: With an Irish accent to boot.
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  Speaker 2: They even have an audio clip of him denying being
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  Nicholas Alaverdian.
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  Speaker 1: Oh we have to hear this.
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  Speaker 2: Let's roll the clip right here. It is.
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  Speaker 1: Wow, he's really committed to that accent.
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  Speaker 2: It's quite the performents, isn't it.
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  Speaker 1: It makes you wonder how often do investigators encounter situations
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  like this where the suspect is so vehemently denying their identity.
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  Speaker 2: It happens more often than you might think. I'll tell you, really,
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  people will go to great lengths to avoid capture.
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  Speaker 1: I guess that makes sense. I mean, if you're desperate,
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  you'll try anything, right.
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  Speaker 2: It's all about survival at that point.
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  Speaker 1: So how do investigators deal with this? How do they
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  separate fact from fiction?
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  Speaker 2: They have to look beyond the performance, so.
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  Speaker 1: To speak, focus on the tangible evidence.
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  Speaker 2: Fingerprints, DNA, things like.
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  Speaker 1: That, things that can't be faked exactly.
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  Speaker 2: They need hard proof.
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  Speaker 1: And in this case, there's something else that comes into play.
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  Speaker 2: Ah, yes, the tattoos.
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  Speaker 1: Tattoos. How do tattoos fit into all of this?
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  Speaker 2: Well, you see, our alleged Irish orphan might have overlooked
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  a few permanent markings on his body.
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  Speaker 1: So you're saying that even though he went to all
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  this trouble to disappear, he forgot about his tattoos.
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  Speaker 2: It seems that way that's a.
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  Speaker 1: Pretty big oversight, especially if those tattoos him back to
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  his previous identity.
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  Speaker 2: It's a detail that could unravel his whole carefully constructed facade.
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  Speaker 1: So are we about to find out that Arthur Knight
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  is really Nicholas Alaverdian In disguise.
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  Speaker 2: That's where this story takes us. Next, those tattoos become
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  a key piece of the puzzle.
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  Speaker 1: This is getting good. I can't wait to hear what
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  happens next.
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  Speaker 2: Well, you'll have to stay tuned to find out.
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  Speaker 1: Don't worry, we'll be right back after a quick break
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  to dive deeper into this wild case.
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  Speaker 2: Trust me, you won't want to miss it.
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  Speaker 1: Okay, So we left off with this guy, you know,
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  allegedly Nicholas Rossi, going through all this trouble to vanish.
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  Speaker 2: Shaking his own death, new identity, the whole shebang.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah, and then bam, those tattoos show up.
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  Speaker 2: Talk about a plot twist. I mean, it's like something
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  out of a spy movie or something.
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  Speaker 1: Right, It's like, come on, man, you really thought you
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  could just erase your past like that. Tattoos are permanent.
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  Speaker 2: It's a classic example of how even the most elaborate
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  schemes can well, they can fall apart because of those
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  tiny little details.
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  Speaker 1: And in this case, those tattoos, those tiny details, they
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  become pretty damning evidence.
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  Speaker 2: Oh absolutely. I mean it's hard to argue that you're
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  not who people say you are when you've got those markings.
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  You know, right there on your skin.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah, it's like your body is literally betraying you exactly.
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  Speaker 2: It's like a walking, talking billboard of your past.
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  Speaker 1: So I imagine this really throws a wrench in Rossi's plans.
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  Speaker 2: Oh you bet. I mean, remember he was fighting extradition
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  back to the US to face those charges against him.
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  Speaker 1: Right, So, legally speaking, do those tattoos change things? Like
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  what kind of impact does this have on the case.
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  Speaker 2: It's definitely a game changer for the prosecution. Oh so, well,
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  up until that point, Rossi, he was able to maintain
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  a certain level of.
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  Speaker 1: Plausible deniability, like, oh, I'm just this innocent, Irish guy.
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  You've got the wrong person, exactly.
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  Speaker 2: But those tattoos, they blow that whole story out of
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  the water.
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  Speaker 1: It's visual evidence right there, plain as day.
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  Speaker 2: It directly links him to Nicholas Elverdian, no doubt about it.
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  Speaker 1: It makes you wonder what was going through his mind
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  when those tattoos were discos Oh.
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  Speaker 2: I can only imagine probably a mix of panic and uh, well, disbelief.
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  Speaker 1: I guess, like, did they really just find me out
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  because of my tattoos?
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  Speaker 2: I mean, talk about a face paul moment.
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  Speaker 1: So Before we get too caught up in Rossi's side
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  of things, I want to circle back to Mary Gribinski.
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  Speaker 2: Oh yeah, one of Rossi's alleged to victims.
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  Speaker 1: You mentioned earlier that she revealed some new information in
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  that dateline episode.
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  Speaker 2: Oh yeah, this is where things get even more interesting.
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  Speaker 1: Okat, lay on me.
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  Speaker 2: So Mary claims that Rossi actually contacted her after his
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  supposed death.
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  Speaker 1: Wait, hold on, are you serious? The guy who supposedly died,
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  he reached out to one of his alleged victims while
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  he was on.
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  Speaker 2: The run, That's what she says.
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  Speaker 1: But why, I mean? That seems incredibly risky.
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  Speaker 2: It does, doesn't it. If he was so committed to
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  disappearing starting this whole new life, why contact someone who
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  could potentially expose him.
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  Speaker 1: It's baffling, right, Like he wanted to get caught.
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  Speaker 2: Well, it's hard to say for sure what his motives were,
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  but it's a question that investigators would definitely want an
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  answer to.
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  Speaker 1: So from your perspective, what are some possible explanations for
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  this kind of behavior.
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  Speaker 2: Well, it could be a sign of his manipulative nature,
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  you know, maybe trying to silence her or discredit her accusations.
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  Speaker 1: Like a way to control the situation exactly.
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  Speaker 2: Or maybe it was a lapse in judgment, a moment
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  of weakness where he just let his guard down.
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  Speaker 1: Oh so like he just slipped up.
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  Speaker 2: It happens.
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  Speaker 1: So what does this mean for the case legally speaking?
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  I mean, does this alleged contact with Mary have any implications?
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  Speaker 2: It could, especially if there's any evidence to back up her.
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  Speaker 1: Claim, like phone records, emails, anything like that exactly.
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  Speaker 2: And remember he was fighting extradition, right.
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  Speaker 1: So this new information could strengthen the prosecution's.
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  Speaker 2: Case, make it harder for him to avoid facing those charges.
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  Speaker 1: It's like every time he tries to slip away, something
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  else pops up and pulls him right back.
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  Speaker 2: In, Like he's caught in this web of his own making, speaking.
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  Speaker 1: Of webs, This whole situation, it's just so complex.
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  Speaker 2: It really is a lot of moving parts.
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  Speaker 1: So is there anything else about Mary's involvement that we
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  should know well?
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  Speaker 2: Her story, her testimony. It's crucial because it provides that
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  personal perspective on the alleged crimes, you know, and Rossi's
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  alleged attempts to manipulate and control those around him.
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  Speaker 1: Right, So it's not just about the facts of the case,
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  but also the impact it had on people's lives exactly.
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  Speaker 2: And that brings us back to the prosecutor, David Leavitt.
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  Speaker 1: Remember he called Mary's revelation a game changer.
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  Speaker 2: Well, this is why. If Rossi was actually in contact
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  with her after he supposedly died, it shows a consciousness
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  of guilt, like.
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  Speaker 1: He knew what he was doing was wrong.
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  Speaker 2: Right, and that he was actively trying to manage the
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  situation even while pretending to be dead.
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  Speaker 1: It completely undermines his whole innocent victim narrative exactly.
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  Speaker 2: And that's a powerful piece of evidence for the prosecution.
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  Speaker 1: So it seems like with each new revelation, the walls
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  are closing in on Rossi.
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  Speaker 2: But here's the thing. Mary's story, as compelling as it is,
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  it's not the only bombshell dropped in that dayline episode.
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  Speaker 1: Okay, you've got to be kidding me. There's more. What
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  else could possibly happen in the story?
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  Speaker 2: Well, there's one more twist, and trust me, it's the
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  wildest one yet.
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  Speaker 1: All right, spill the beans. What is it? Okay, So
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  you were saying there's another twist, something even wilder than
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  everything we've already heard.
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  Speaker 2: Oh yeah, this one, this one's gonna blow your mind.
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  Speaker 1: All right, I'm ready to hit me with it.
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  Speaker 2: So while Rossi is fighting extradition claiming to be this
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  innocent Irish orphan, right right, he also claims to have
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  been the victim of this bizarre attack.
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  Speaker 1: And attack What are we talking like? Did someone try
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  to silence him that quiet? Or was it connected to
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  the allegations against him, maybe some kind of revenge plot?
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  Speaker 2: No, no, it's what's much stranger than that.
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  Speaker 1: Okay, now I'm really intrigued. What happened?
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  Speaker 2: So, according to Rossi, while he was in the hospital
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  in Scotland, Okay, someone came into his room and.
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  Speaker 1: Assaulted him, all right with what a weapon?
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  Speaker 2: With a pineapple?
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  Speaker 1: Wait? A pineapple like the fruit?
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  Speaker 2: Yes, a pineapple?
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  Speaker 1: And sorry, did you say he was attacked with a pineapple?
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  Speaker 2: I did? He claimed the assailant used the spy he
• 10:00
  leaves to stab him.
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  Speaker 1: I mean, I've heard of using a pineapple as a
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  like a makeshift weapon, but to actually scab someone with it,
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  it sounds ridiculous, right, it does, It really does.
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  Speaker 2: But you know, we're talking about a guy who allegedly
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  faked his own death. And created this whole new persona.
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  Speaker 1: So I guess at this point nothing should.
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  Speaker 2: Surprise us exactly, but the Pineapple attack, it's just it's
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  another level of bizarre.
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  Speaker 1: So what was the reaction to this claim? Did anyone
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  believe him?
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  Speaker 2: Well, as you can imagine, people were skeptical to say
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  the least. The police investigated, but they couldn't find any
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  evidence to support his story.
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  Speaker 1: Like purity footage or witnesses.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, the Dayline episode actually shows footage from the hospital
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  security cameras and there's no sign of anyone entering or
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  leaving his room around the time of the alleged attack.
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  Speaker 1: Oh so it's not just that his story sounds far fetched,
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  but there's literally no proof to back it up.
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  Speaker 2: Right, it's just his word against well against reality based.
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  Speaker 1: So do you think he really thought he could get
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  away with those or was he just grasping at straws.
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  Speaker 2: It's hard to say what his motivation was.
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  Speaker 1: Maybe he thought it would make him look like a victim.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, maybe he was trying to garner some sympathy or
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  cast doubt on those other allegaies like oh.
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  Speaker 1: Look at me, I'm being targeted and harassed.
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  Speaker 2: But to be Honest, it seems more like a desperate
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  attempt to deflect attention from the mounting evidence against him.
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  Speaker 1: So this pineapple incident it's not helping his case.
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  Speaker 2: Not at all. It just adds another layer of absurdity
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  to this whole thing.
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  Speaker 1: It really does. It's like, what's next?
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, where do you even go from a pineapple attack? Hmmmm?
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  Speaker 1: So after all the twists and turns, the fake death,
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  the new identity, the tattoos, Mary's testimony, and now this
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  pineapple incident, where does Rossi stand now?
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  Speaker 2: Well? As the Dayline episode concludes, he's back in the
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  United States.
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  Speaker 1: Oh so they finally extradited him.
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  Speaker 2: Yep, he's awaiting trial.
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  Speaker 1: And those charges against him they're pretty serious, right.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, with all the evidence that's come to light, it's
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  looking pretty likely that he'll be facing some consequences for
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  his actions.
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  Speaker 1: I guess you could say it's a kind of poetic justice.
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  How so well he went to such extreme lengths to
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  escape accountability, you know, faked his own death, created this
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  whole new life. And yet and yet it's those seemingly
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  small details that might bring him down.
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  Speaker 2: The tattoos, the phone calls, even a pineapple.
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  Speaker 1: It's like something out of a Oh, it's just unbelievable.
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  Speaker 2: It's a reminder that the truth has a way of
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  coming out no matter how hard you try to hide.
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  Speaker 1: It, and in Rossi's case, it seems like the truth
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  was hiding in plain sight all along.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, sometimes the most obvious clues are the ones we overlook.
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  Speaker 1: Well, this has been a wild ride, to say the least.
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  Speaker 2: Definitely a case he'll stick with you.
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  Speaker 1: If you're interested in learning more, check out that Dateline
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  episode The Man of Many Faces.
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  Speaker 2: You'll get to hear from the people involved, see the
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  evidence firsthand.
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  Speaker 1: It's a really captivating story, and it raises some interesting
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  questions about identity deception and the lengths people will go
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  to to escape their past.
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  Speaker 2: That reality can be stranger than fiction, that's for sure.
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  Speaker 1: All Right, Well, that's it for our deep dive into
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  the baffling world of Nicholas Rossi, or should we say
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  Arthur Knight, or maybe even the pineapple stapping victim.
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  Speaker 2: Who knows what other identities he has up his sleeve.
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  Speaker 1: Until next time, stay curious, stay informed, and remember sometimes
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  the most outlandish stories are the ones ripped straight from
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  the headlines.
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  Speaker 2: And as always, thanks for listening,