Man accused of faking his death to avoid Utah rape charges sentenced to 5 years in prison

Rape Convict Fakes Own Death to Avoid Charges, Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

A shocking case of deception came to an end Monday when a Rhode Island man accused of raping two women in Utah received a five-year prison sentence for one of his convictions. Nicholas Alahverdian, 38, had been on the run for over a decade after faking his own death and fleeing the country to avoid rape charges.

Alahverdian's plan was uncovered when he was identified through a DNA rape kit left untouched in 2008. Authorities then tracked him down to Scotland, where he was arrested while receiving treatment for COVID-19 due to distinctive tattoos that matched an Interpol notice. He was extradited to Utah and eventually confessed to the crimes.

During his sentencing hearing, the victim described how Alahverdian had left a "trail of fear, pain and destruction" in her wake. She stated that he had used rape as a tool for control, posing a significant risk to community safety.

Prosecutors argued that Alahverdian's actions were not only violent but also deceitful, using multiple aliases and evading capture for over a decade. The second conviction, scheduled for November, carries a sentence of five years to life in prison.

In court on Monday, Alahverdian maintained his innocence, stating "I am not guilty of this. These women are lying." However, his claims were met with skepticism, and he was sentenced to the maximum allowed by law.

The case highlights the devastating consequences of rape and the lengths perpetrators will go to avoid accountability. It also underscores the importance of clearing rape kits and working to bring justice to victims who have been left in the shadows for far too long.

Ugh I am literally SHAKING with rage right now thinking about this guy's audacity! Like, 10 years on the run because he wanted to avoid taking responsibility for his crimes? What kind of monster does that?! And the fact that he had to fake his own death just shows how messed up he was in the head. The DNA evidence, the tattoos, the whole nine yards... it's like he thought he was some kinda genius or something .

And can we talk about the victim for a second? I feel so much for her and the other woman who were traumatized by this guy's actions. The fact that they had to relive their experiences in court, with him still insisting on his innocence... it's just heartbreaking . And now he gets to spend 5 years of his life behind bars? It's not enough, imo.

I'm so glad justice was served, but at the same time, I wish this case didn't have to happen at all . We need more awareness and action on clearing those rape kits and supporting our victims. This case is a reminder that we still have a long way to go before we can say we're living in a society where everyone feels safe and respected .

I mean, can you believe this guy? Faking his own death to get out of a 10-year sentence is just insane . I don't think we should be surprised that he used fake IDs and aliases to evade capture - it's just how scammers operate nowadays . But what really gets me is that he thought he could outrun justice for over a decade . Newsflash, buddy: you can't hide forever! And to make matters worse, he has the nerve to claim innocence in court? Give me a break . The victim's words really hit home - this guy left her and others with "a trail of fear, pain and destruction". Just another reason why we need better systems in place to track down these predators .

honestly cant believe this guy was able to fake his own death and think he could get away with it for so long its just mind boggling how manipulative and devious he was. like, what kind of person does that? at the same time its heartbreaking for the victims who had to go through all this trauma and pain because of him. the fact that he tried to deny his guilt and claim the women were lying is just disgusting. i guess you could say justice was served in the end but it took over a decade and a lot of hard work from law enforcement

man that's just insane like what kinda person thinks faking their own death is a good idea alahverdian's gotta be one sick dude, considering how much harm he caused 2 those women he's been running from justice for over a decade & now he's paying the price but idk why he thought it was a good idea 2 lie 2 everyone about his own death lol anyway glad that the victims got some semblance of closure & justice

just read about this dude fakin' his own death 2 avoid charges, now he's gettin a 5 year sentence lol what a total scam artist thinks he can just fake ur own death & leave 2 women 2 live w/ trauma 4eva only 2 find out through dna evidence

man this is so sickening how can someone do that to people and then just laugh at it afterwards he's lucky to be getting 5 years instead of life, 10 would've been more fitting imo and what really gets me is that he was on the run for over a decade, like he thought he could just disappear? it's so frustrating that victims are still dealing with the aftermath of these crimes and there's no closure. they deserve justice and accountability, not some 5 year sentence to feel slightly less guilty

omg this is so messed up i can only imagine how scared & hurt those women must've felt alahverdian's actions are literally despicable he thought he could just fake his own death & escape accountability but the law caught up with him in the end it's a reminder that no one is above the law & we gotta keep fighting for justice & support for victims of rape

This whole thing is just so messed up... I mean, 12 years on the run? That's some crazy stuff. And to think he was gonna get away with it all if not for that DNA kit. It's like, you can't even fake your own death anymore . But seriously, the fact that he used rape as a tool for control... it's just heartbreaking.

And what really gets me is the second conviction, the one that carries a sentence of five years to life. Five years is already a long time, but five years to life? That's like, a lifetime sentence in some ways . I guess you could say he was given exactly what he deserved... a harsh punishment for his crimes.

But at the same time, you can't help but feel for the victims. They've been through so much already, and now they have to relive it all again in court. It's just not fair . The justice system is supposed to be about giving people a second chance, but in this case, I don't think he deserved one.

It's cases like this that make me appreciate the old days of justice a bit more . Remember when you could find a person and get them to confess? Now it's all about DNA kits and technology... not that bad is bad, but sometimes I just wish things were simpler .

This is just so messed up like he had no shame, no remorse at all. Faking his own death, it's just not something you can even wrap your head around . And the fact that he thought he could just escape and live a normal life is mind-blowing .

But what really gets me is the victim, she spoke so bravely in court about what happened to her, it gives me chills . I mean we need more of these stories being told, more people speaking out against this kind of violence, it's just not okay . And to the ones who are still suffering, still waiting for justice, my heart goes out to you . We got you!

omg this guy is like a real-life movie villain what's even more messed up is that he thought he could just fake his own death and live under a new identity for 10 years lol what a wild plan and now he's gonna rot in prison the DNA kit was like the ultimate plot twist and I'm so glad justice has been served to these victims who deserve so much better they're not just survivors, they're thrivers it's a huge reminder of how important it is to support and believe our rape victims we need more awareness and action on this stuff

This whole thing is just crazy ! I mean, faking your own death to avoid charges? It's like something out of a movie . But for real, 5 years in prison is a pretty standard sentence for someone who's committed such serious crimes. The fact that he was able to evade capture for so long is just mind-blowing . And can you even imagine the trauma and fear that his victims must have gone through? It's like, his actions caused a trail of destruction and pain, and now he's trying to say that the women are lying? No way, bro . This case is a total reminder that we need to keep fighting for justice and equality for everyone, especially those who've been left in the shadows. Let's keep pushing forward ! #JusticeForVictims #AccountabilityMatters #RapePrevention

this is such a messed up story... a guy fakes his own death to escape charges, like that's even an option? and he gets caught after 12 years because of a DNA test? it's crazy how technology can help bring these types of crimes to light.

and can you believe the sentence is only 5 years? considering the victims are still living with the trauma... it just feels like not enough time has passed for them to even begin healing.

this guy is literally unbelievable, faking his own death just to get out of doing some time? like what was he thinking? I mean I know he's got a history of violence and control, but come on, 5 years isn't even that harsh considering what he did. still, gotta give it to the victims who stuck it out and testified against him, their bravery is real

This case is a stark reminder of the egregious lengths some individuals will go to evade accountability for their heinous crimes . Alahverdian's actions, while shocking, are unfortunately not isolated instances - they represent a broader societal problem that necessitates a multifaceted response . The fact that he was able to evade capture for over a decade highlights the need for enhanced law enforcement efforts and international cooperation . Furthermore, the psychological trauma inflicted on his victims serves as a poignant reminder of the long-term consequences of rape and the importance of providing support services to survivors . Ultimately, this case underscores the need for collective action in preventing future cases of rape and ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable .

can't believe this dude faked his own death like, what's next? trying to escape reality? anyway, it's so sad for those two women who had to go through that trauma and pain. the fact that he used rape as a tool for control is just horrific and I'm not surprised he got sentenced to 5 years max, considering all the other charges against him but seriously, how many people are out there like him? still on the run, hiding behind fake identities? it's time we prioritize clearing those rape kits and giving justice to victims who deserve so much more

Ugh, can't believe this dude faked his own death and tried to scam the system like that . Five years is still way too lenient if you ask me, I mean, he's got some serious anger issues and a whole lot of disrespect towards women. The fact that he thought he could just leave a trail of destruction behind him and no one would catch on is just wild . What really gets me is the second conviction carrying a sentence of five years to life... 5 to life?! That's more than I pay in rent every month . Anyways, glad they were able to bring him to justice and that he can't hurt anyone else for a while .

I mean, I'm glad he got caught and whatnot, but 5 years is a pretty lenient sentence considering all that trauma he caused... . I get it, the guy did use multiple aliases and tried to flee the country, so that's some serious evasion stuff right there. But still, rape is one of those crimes where you gotta be really hard on the perpetrator, you know? It's not just about taking away their freedom, it's about making sure they can't hurt anyone else.

OMG, like, I cant even believe he tried to fake his own death!!! 5 years in prison is still so harsh tho, idk if I'd feel bad enough to cry lol but omg the DNA thing is wild! how did they figure out he was behind it? and what was with all those aliases? sounds like he was super scared of getting caught. and poor victims, that's just awful anyway, hope they can finally find some peace and justice

OMG, can you even believe this guy ?! Faking own death just to avoid charges is like, so not cool! I mean, I get that he's trying to escape his problems, but like, it's not worth committing such a heinous crime and then lying about it afterwards . The fact that he was able to evade capture for over a decade is just mind-boggling . And the way the victim described him as leaving a "trail of fear, pain and destruction" in her wake is just heartbreaking . I'm glad justice has been served, but like, five years feels kinda harsh considering what he's done? Maybe they could've gone for six or seven? Still, it's better than nothing . Anyway, can't wait to see the rest of this case unfold!