A girl kidnapped and held captive in a makeshift cell by a person posing as an undercover police officer punched her solution to freedom, the FBI has mentioned.
Negasi Zuberi, 29, allegedly snatched the unnamed sufferer off a road in Seattle on 15 July earlier than driving her round 450 miles to his rented house in Klamath Falls, Oregon – a seven-hour journey – and locking her within the storage.
“This woman was kidnapped, chained, sexually assaulted and locked in a… cell,” Stephanie Shark, assistant particular agent accountable for the FBI’s area workplace in Portland, Oregon, mentioned in a press release.
“Police say she beat the door with her hands until they were bloody in order to break free.”
Now officers are searching for different potential victims after linking Zuberi to sexual assaults in not less than 4 different states.
The girl’s “quick thinking and will to survive may have saved other women from a similar nightmare,” Ms Shark added.
Investigators say Zuberi – who additionally used the names Sakima, Justin Hyche and Justin Kouassi – solicited the lady, recognized solely as Adult Victim 1, to have interaction in prostitution alongside Aurora Avenue in Seattle, an space identified for intercourse work.
He allegedly claimed to be an undercover police officer, displaying a badge earlier than pointing a stun gun at her and inserting her in handcuffs and leg irons.
He then put her into the again of his automobile earlier than driving house – stopping to sexually assault her on the best way, the sufferer mentioned.
The inside the cell the place the lady was held captive in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Pic: AP
Victim realised ‘she would doubtless die’ if she did not attempt to break away
Adult Victim 1 was put within the cell constructed from cinder blocks (concrete breeze blocks) – with metallic bars on the door.
She mentioned she “briefly slept and awoke to the realisation she would likely die if she did not attempt to escape”.
“She repeatedly punched the door with her own hands,” mentioned Klamath Falls Police Captain, Rob Reynolds.
“She had several lacerations on her knuckles.”
The girl broke a few of the door’s welded joints to create a small opening which she climbed out of, Capt Reynolds added.
She flagged down a passing driver who alerted police.
Zuberi allegedly fled after the lady escaped however was arrested by state police in a parking lot in Reno, Nevada, a number of hours in a while 16 July.
The girl punched her method out of the makeshift cell after ‘realising she would doubtless die if she did not attempt to escape’. Pic: AP
He was in his automobile holding one in every of his youngsters and speaking to his spouse, who was standing exterior, when officers arrived.
He initially refused to get out of the automobile however finally surrendered.
Zuberi has been charged with interstate kidnapping and transporting a person throughout state traces with intent to have interaction in prison sexual exercise.
If convicted, he may face life behind bars.
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Investigators say a handbag belonging to Adult Victim 1 was discovered throughout a search of Zuberi’s house, along with handwritten notes, one labelled “Operation Take Over”.
The notes included a listing 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”.
Another doc confirmed a sketch of an underground construction utilizing concrete blocks, foam insulation and waterproof concrete.
Zuberi allegedly fled the scene however was arrested in Nevada. Pic: AP
Defendant rented house from metropolis’s mayor
The home, on a residential road, is regarded as owned by Portland Mayor, Carol Westfall and her husband, Kevin, in line with property data.
They evicted Zuberi following his arrest.
The Westfalls mentioned: “We are shocked and dismayed by what has occurred.
“We applaud the actions of the lady who helped seize this particular person and stop him from committing additional atrocities.”
Zuberi is feared to have drugged women’s drinks in an attempt to gain control of them, the FBI said.
The bureau is setting up a website asking anyone who believes they could be a victim of Zuberi to come forward.
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Content Source: information.sky.com