Man who faked death to avoid rape charges caught in Colorado Springs

A 55-year-old man with two dozen felony sexual abuse charges pending in Scotland apparently faked his own death earlier this year in Monterey, California, but he was arrested Friday in Colorado Springs.

According to our sister station in Monterey , Kim Vincent Avis (AKA Ken Gordon-Avis) was wanted for the charges out of Scotland, and he’ll soon face an extradition hearing in the Springs.

Avis made the news after his son reported in February that his father went swimming at Monastery Beach in California and then never returned. Police and the Coast Guard scoured the area but weren’t able to find Avis’ body.

Officials investigated and learned that he had the 24 pending sexual abuse charges from Edinburgh, Scotland. After speaking with Avis’ ex-wife, investigators became suspicious of the drowning report and found that Avis’ son wasn’t telling the truth.

For months, local deputies worked with the U.S. Marshals Service, Interpol, and authorities in Scotland to secure an arrest warrant for Avis.

According to our news partners at KION, Avis was arrested in Colorado Springs sometime last week by U.S. Marshals. It’s not yet clear how Avis ended up in the Springs or how investigators learned he was in Colorado.

Details about the alleged sexual assaults haven’t been made available.

Avis’ son has since returned to Scotland.