A man whose extraordinary attempt to avoid arrest and extradition spanned continents, fake identities and even a fabricated death has died behind bars in the United States.

Nicholas Rossi, 38, died in a local hospital on Thursday night in Utah , due to 'complications of an existing medical condition', officials in the state said.

A man who was accused of faking his death and fleeing to Europe to evade rape charges in the U.S. has died