Negasi Zuberi : Man Poses as Cop, Kidnaps Woman, and Keeps Her in Makeshift Cell

Negasi Zuberi, a man in Oregon, was arrested for kidnapping and imprisoning a woman in a homemade jail cell made from cinder blocks. The victim fought for her life and managed to escape. Zuberi is believed to have targeted multiple women across several states, and investigators suspect there may be more victims. Zuberi has been charged with interstate kidnapping and faces a maximum life sentence in prison. Zachary Folk reported

#BreakingNews - a man by the name of Negasi Zuberi (pictured below) is behind bars for allegedly kidnapping a woman from Seattle, sexually assaulting her, and keeping her in a cinderblock cell (photo below) in Klamath Falls until her eventual escape. pic.twitter.com/1dUTCCHbGI

— Mike Benner (@MikeBennerKGW) August 2, 2023

Negasi Zuberi: Man Poses as Cop, Kidnaps Woman, and Keeps Her in Makeshift Cell | US News

Negasi Zuberi, a man from Oregon, was recently apprehended for a heinous crime involving the abduction, sexual assault, and imprisonment of a woman. Posing as a police officer, Zuberi kidnapped the victim and took her on a terrifying journey spanning over 450 miles across the United States. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) stated that the victim fought relentlessly for her life to escape the clutches of her captor. The suspect, identified as a 29-year-old man who goes by multiple aliases, including Sakima, Justin Hyche, and Justin Kouassi, has been linked to an ongoing and escalating pattern of violence against women in various states nationwide, according to FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Stephanie Shark.

During a press conference, Shark expressed her concern that there may be additional victims. The first victim, "Adult Victim 1" or AV1 in the criminal complaint, encountered Zuberi on Aurora Avenue in Seattle, an area known for sex work. After sexual intercourse, Zuberi falsely claimed to be an undercover police officer and even showed AV1 a badge. Threatening her with a taser, Zuberi moved her to the back seat of his vehicle, where he restrained her with handcuffs and leg irons. He then embarked on the long journey back to his residence in Oregon, subjecting the victim to further assaults along the way.

Upon reaching his home in southern Oregon, Zuberi imprisoned the victim in a homemade cell constructed in his garage. The victim was confined within a cinder block enclosure equipped with a metal door and a lightbulb for illumination. The victim realized her life was in grave danger in this dire situation. The criminal complaint states that she mustered her strength and resolved to escape. She bravely beat the door with her hands until they were bloody, managing to break free. Special Agent Shark commended the victim's quick thinking and will to survive, as her escape potentially saved other women from enduring a similar nightmare.

The victim successfully climbed over a fence in Zuberi's yard and flagged down a passing motorist, who promptly called 911. Zuberi was captured the following day in Reno, Nevada, where he was found sitting in a Walmart parking lot, conversing with his wife while holding one of his children. Upon confrontation by Nevada State Patrol Officers, Zuberi refused to exit the vehicle and intentionally inflicted self-harm, causing profuse bleeding. Additionally, he attempted to destroy his phone during the arrest.

Zuberi has been charged with interstate kidnapping and is currently detained in Reno. He will soon be transferred to the custody of the US Marshals, who will relocate him to a facility in Medford, Oregon. Investigations have been initiated in several states where Zuberi previously resided, including Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New York, New Jersey, Alabama, and Florida. The FBI believes Zuberi may have committed at least four other sexual assaults across these states since 2016. The agency has set up a seeking victims website to aid in identifying potential additional victims. Zuberi faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment if convicted of interstate kidnapping.