Man who 'kept woman prisoner in tiny cell' charged with kidnapping another woman

01 October 2023 , 13:32

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Authorities are asking victims to come forward as they believe Zuberi is linked to crimes in other states (Image: AP)

A man accused of kidnapping a woman before driving her hundreds of miles to his home and locking her in a makeshift cell is facing fresh charges of kidnapping and rape in a separate case involving alleged crimes two months earlier.

An indictment returned by a grand jury in Klamath County, Oregon, says on or around May 6, Negasi Zuberi kidnapped a victim, referred to as Jane Doe. He kidnapped her in Klamath County in order to rape her, the indictment said, while also alleging that he knowingly injured her by using or threatening to use weapons including a handgun and a stun gun.

Zuberi, 29, was indicted on 11 counts, including first-degree rape, sexual abuse and kidnapping. Court records show the indictment was filed with the Klamath County Circuit Court last week.

Zuberi had created the cinder block cell in his garage (AP)

He is already facing charges of interstate kidnapping and transporting an individual across state lines with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, related to the incident that led to his arrest in July. He has pleaded not guilty to those charges. Prosecutors in the federal case say he solicited a woman on July 15 to engage in prostitution along Aurora Avenue in Seattle, an area known for sex work. Zuberi allegedly told the woman he was an undercover officer, showing her a badge.

He then pointed a stun gun at her and put her in handcuffs and leg irons before putting her in the back of his vehicle, according to the criminal complaint. Zuberi drove around 450 miles to his home in Klamath Falls, which took around seven hours with the victim alleging he stopped on the journey to sexually assault her.

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Negasi Zuberi allegedly posed as an undercover officer when he kidnapped a woman (AP)

Zuberi drove the woman 450 miles from Seattle to his home in Oregon (AP)

When they arrived at the house, she was locked in the garage in a makeshift cell constructed out of cinder blocks, the FBI said. Assistant special agent in charge of the FBI's Portland field office said: "This woman was kidnapped, chained, sexually assaulted and locked in a ... cell. Police say she beat the door with her hands until they were bloody in order to break free."

The woman managed to escape by breaking some of the homemade door's welded joints. She had been able to create a small opening, just big enough for her to crawl through. After she escaped, she flagged down a motorist for help. Police went to the house where they found handwritten notes with plans for an apparent dungeon 100 feet below ground, according to authorities.

The interior of the makeshift cell allegedly used by Zuberi (AP)

A search of Zuberi's home uncovered a purse belonging to the victim, together with handwritten notes, one labelled 'Operation Take Over'. The notes included a list saying "Leave phone at home" and "Make sure they don't have a bunch of ppl (sic) in their life. You don't want any type of investigation".

Zuberi fled and was arrested by state police in Reno, Nevada, on July 16. He was in his car holding one of his children and talking to his wife, who was standing outside, when officers turned up. Initially, he refused to get out of the vehicle, but eventually complied and surrendered. The FBI said it was looking for any further victims after he was linked to violent sexual assaults in other states.

Fiona Leishman