A man accused of kidnapping, sexually assaulting, and imprisoning a woman in his Oregon garage seemed like an ordinary neighbor, according to a resident in the quiet suburban neighborhood of Klamath Falls, and not a kidnapper. Negasi Zuberi, 29, had recently moved to the area with his wife and two children. Melanie McClure, a neighbor living next door, recounted her initial encounter with him. When they met, Zuberi introduced himself as “Sakima,” stating that he had relocated from Colorado. McClure mentioned that although he was not overly friendly, he didn’t display any suspicious behavior that would suggest his alleged crimes.
However, McClure did share an incident that revealed a different side of Zuberi. A couple of months after moving in, her two dogs got into a dangerous fight in her front yard, with the larger dog choking the smaller one. In a moment of desperation, Zuberi immediately stepped in to help and resuscitated the smaller dog after it nearly lost consciousness. McClure was grateful for his assistance and thanked him with a bottle of wine and a card.
Despite living next door, McClure was unaware of Zuberi’s profession or work schedule. She described his wife as a kind and loving mother who seemed oblivious to her husband’s alleged crimes. McClure acknowledged that it was surprising to have not noticed anything unusual about Zuberi, but she reflected that anyone could hide dark secrets.
Zuberi’s landlords, Klamath Falls Mayor Carol Westfall and her husband, Kevin Westfall, expressed shock and dismay over the situation. They took immediate action by filing a residential complaint for eviction after discovering the serious allegations against Zuberi.
The accusations against Zuberi involve posing as a police officer and kidnapping a sex worker in Seattle. He allegedly sexually assaulted her while transporting her to his home in Oregon, where he held her captive in a makeshift cinder block cell. The victim bravely escaped and sought help, leading to Zuberi’s arrest.
Further investigations by the FBI revealed that Zuberi might be connected to four other violent sexual assault cases in different states. He has lived in multiple states over the past decade, and authorities suspect that he may have used various methods to target victims, including drugging drinks and impersonating a police officer.
The FBI launched an investigation website to gather information from potential victims or anyone with relevant details regarding the case. As the investigation unfolds, more information may come to light about Zuberi’s alleged crimes and his connection to other incidents.