Nicholas Alahverdian
Nicholas Alahverdian (July 11, 1987 – February 29, 2020)[4] was an American author, political scientist and child welfare activist.
Nicholas Alahverdian | |
|---|---|
 Alahverdian with Vice President Mike Pence | |
| Born | Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | February 29, 2020 (aged 32)[1] Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Harvard University[2] |
| Occupation | Author, political scientist |
| Children | 2 |
He exposed alleged abuse and negligence in the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth & Families.[5] After his legislative advocacy, at the age of 14 he was sent to facilities in Nebraska and then to Florida where he was allegedly abused.[6][7]
Alahverdian died on February 29, 2020 of non-Hodgkin lymphoma at the age of 32.[1][8][9] However, there are questions about the authenticity of this claim.
Faked death
There is a lot of controversy over his death with some people questioning if it was actually faked. On July 2020, Rhode Island State Police looked into whether Alahverdian's reported death was real; no conclusion was reached by January 2021. The investigation occurred due to claims that Alahverdian was still alive, plus a warrant against Alahverdian as he was accused of failing to register in Rhode Island due to his 2008 abuse conviction.
Just before his illness and death, Alahverdian knew that the Federal Bureau of Investigation was investigating him for fraud, said his former lawyer Jeffrey Pine. The FBI's investigation happened because his foster mother Sharon Lane claimed that he opened 22 credit cards under her husband's name, spending over $200,000 which her husband now owed. Pine was suspicious whether Alahverdian really died, because his illness and death were reported so quickly after Alahverdian learned of the FBI investigation. Lane believed that Alahverdian was still alive, because in her opinion, the obituary and memorials written about him had a writing style matching Alahverdian's.
A person claiming to be Alahverdian's widow denied that he had faked his death, but also refused to provide copies of his death certificate to the media. According to a Rhode Island pastor, he had been contacted by a person claiming to be Alahverdian's widow, who had requested the holding of a mass in tribute to Alahverdian.[10] The pastor said that a Rhode Island policeman told him not to hold the event, and that the policeman also said that Alahverdian had faked his death, with the person claiming to be Alahverdian's widow possibly being Alahverdian himself using a "device that can change people's voices".[10] A person claiming to be Alahverdian's widow, 'Louise', also sent an email in January 2021 to The Providence Journal, which included criticism of people who had past connections to Alahverdian, including the victim of Alahverdian's offenses, the police officer who took Alahverdian's case, the judge who oversaw Alahverdian's case, and Alahverdian's former foster parents.[10]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Buteau, Walt (March 3, 2020). Child welfare activist, DCYF critic loses battle with cancer. https://www.wpri.com/target-12/child-welfare-advocate-dcyf-critic-loses-battle-with-cancer/. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
- ↑ Buteau, Walt. "CBS News". wpri.com. WPRI CBS News. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
- ↑ "Dreading and Hoping All by Nicholas Alahverdian". Barnes & Noble. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Nicholas Alahverdian, R.I. child welfare activist, dies at 32. March 4, 2020. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/nicholas-alahverdian-ri-child-welfare-activist-dies-at-32/ar-BB10KSRM/. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
- ↑ Klepper, David (August 11, 2015). "State under fire for exporting foster children". The Newport Daily News.
- ↑ Haas, Brian (October 23, 2004). "Woman admits to molesting teen at youth center". The Bradenton Herald.
- ↑ Alahverdian, Nicholas (April 7, 2011). "Nicholas Alahverdian v. Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth & Families". Retrieved November 22, 2019.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Klamkin, Steve. Child abuse victim Alahverdian loses his cancer fight. https://www.997wpro.com/2020/03/02/child-abuse-victim-alahverdian-loses-his-cancer-fight/. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
- ↑ "Rhode Island child welfare reform advocate dies of cancer". NBC 10 News. 3 March 2020. https://turnto10.com/news/local/rhode-island-child-welfare-reform-advocate-dies-of-cancer. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Mooney, Tom (February 1, 2021). If Nick Alahverdian isn't dead as some believe, who's the widow 'Louise'?. https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2021/02/01/catholic-church-cancelled-memorial-service-request-state-police/4326482001/. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
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