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Negasi Zuberi is an American convicted kidnapper and serial rapist, apprehended in July 2023 after kidnapping a woman in Seattle and transporting her to his home 450 miles away in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Authorities believe Zuberi may be linked to additional assaults across multiple states since 2016. He was convicted on October 18, 2024, for kidnapping, transporting a victim for criminal sexual activity, and illegally possessing firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon.

Criminal career

Negasi Zuberi’s criminal activities are believed to have started in 2016, spanning multiple states, including California, Washington, Utah, and Oregon. He has been linked to a series of assaults involving drugging women’s drinks and posing as an undercover officer. Zuberi used a variety of aliases, such as “Sakima”, "Justin Kouassi" and “Justin Hyche.” His most notorious crime occurred on July 15, 2023, when he allegedly kidnapped a woman, took her 450 miles to his makeshift garage in Klamath Falls, sexually assaulting her during the journey, and held her in a cinder block cell before her escape. The victim then flagged down a passerby driving a car and alerted the police. The next day, Reno Police Department officers and Nevada State Police officers located Zuberi through a GPS device in a Walmart parking lot in Reno, Nevada. There, "after a standoff during which he allegedly cut himself and started to bleed 'profusely,' Zuberi eventually surrendered to law enforcement."

When Zuberi's house was searched, handwritten plans were found detailing how and who to kidnap, and how to bury the bodies. According to prosecutors, the notes were prefaced with the phrase, "You must raise an army." Zuberi would scout for potential victims in parking lots and take “surreptitious photos” of the women and their license plates to track their cars as recently as July 2023. The note detailed the type of women Zuberi targeted: “Leave phone at home. Make sure they don’t have a bunch of ppl in their life. You don’t want any type of investigation.” Another handwritten note was found in his house that detailed how to bury the bodies, reading "dig a hole straight down 100ft.” On October 18, 2024, Zuberi was convicted of kidnapping, transporting a victim for criminal sexual activity, and illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon; his defense lawyer said he plans to appeal all convictions.

Authorities later discovered that Zuberi is responsible for sexual assaults in at least four other states across the United States. He is waiting to be sentenced and faces a possible life sentence. On October 18, 2024 he was found guilty. In January 6, 2025 Zuberi opted to represent himself on the federal court and asked for a delay on his sentencing.

References

1. ^ Sottile, Zoe (October 19, 2024). "Oregon man found guilty after police say he held a woman hostage in a cinder block dungeon". CNN. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
2. ^ Jones, Charlie (2024-10-23). "Inside rapist's vile dungeon of horror after woman's harrowing sex abuse ordeal". The Mirror US. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
3. ^ "Jury Convicts Klamath Falls Man Who Kidnapped and Sexually Assaulted Two Women and Held One in Cell". www.justice.gov. October 18, 2024. Archived from the original on October 21, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
4. ^ Harris, David (October 20, 2024). "'Dig a hole straight down 100ft:' Serial rapist guilty of kidnapping woman, driving her 450 miles to his home where he held her captive in makeshift cell as part of 'Operation Take Over'". Law & Crime. Archived from the original on November 7, 2024. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
5. Plante, Aimee (August 23, 2024). "Negasi Zuberi sketched plans to 'raise an army' with captured women, prosecutors say". KOIN.com. Archived from the original on November 7, 2024. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
6. Howard, Jerry (October 22, 2024). "Zuberi defense lawyer says he'll appeal federal kidnap, sex and weapons convictions". KDRV NewsWatch 12. Archived from the original on December 6, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
7. Whiteside, Steph (October 20, 2024). "Oregon man found guilty of kidnapping after holding woman in cell". NewsNation. Archived from the original on November 7, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
8. Howard, Jerry (2025-01-06). "Zuberi opts to represent himself for federal court sentencing, asks to extend deadline". NewsWatch 12 KDRV. Retrieved 2025-01-08.

• Living people
• American male criminals
• American people convicted of kidnapping
• American rapists
• Criminals from Oregon
• 1994 births