The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Portland Field Office is asking for the public’s help in identifying potential victims of a violent sex assault offender who has lived in at least 10 states, after a woman, kidnapped in Seattle, Washington, escapes captivity in Klamath Falls.
He then posed as an undercover police officer, pointing a taser at her and placed her in handcuffs, leg irons and put her in the back seat of his car. He then traveled roughly 450 miles with the woman, sexually assaulting her during the trip.
According to court records, on Saturday, July 15th, 29 year old Negasi Zuberi traveled from his home in Klamath Falls, Oregon, to Seattle, Washington, where he solicited the services of a prostitute.
According to the victim, once Zuberi arrived at his home in Klamath Falls, Oregon, he moved the victim into a makeshift cell that he had constructed in his garage made of cinder blocks and a metal door installed in reverse so it could not be opened from the inside.
Once Zuberi left, the victim says she repeatedly banged on the door and was able to break the door open and escape the room. She was able to flag down a passing motorist who called 9-1-1.
Klamath Falls Police Department obtained a search warrant for Zuberi’s residence and found the makeshift cell described by the victim.
29 year old Negasi Zuberi, (aka Sakima, Justin Hyche and Justin Kouassi), fled Klamath Falls and was located in Reno, Nevada, before being taken into custody after a brief standoff with local police.
“According to the complaint, this woman was kidnapped, chained, sexually assaulted, and locked in a cinderblock cell. Police say, she beat the door with her hands until they were bloody in order to break free. Her quick thinking and will to survive may have saved other women from a similar nightmare,” says Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Stephanie Shark with the FBI Portland Field Office. “We are fortunate that this brave woman escaped and alerted authorities. Through quick law enforcement action we were able to get Zuberi in custody the next day. While she may have helped protect future victims, sadly we have now linked Zuberi to additional violent sexual assaults in at least four states and there could be more.”
Zuberi has lived in ten states over the last ten years and FBI investigators have reason to believe there could be additional sexual assault victims.
The FBI’s investigation has extended to multiple states where Zuberi previously resided between August of 2016 and today. Those states could include: California, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Utah, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Alabama, and Nevada.
Victims may know Zuberi by the name “Sakima” and it is believed he may have used several different methods to gain control of his victims; including by drugging their drinks and impersonating a police officer.
The victims are often threatened with retaliation if they notify the police.
