BEHIND THESE SEEMINGLY NORMAL FAMILY HOMES LIE SECRET HELL HOLES WHERE WOMEN WERE HELD CAPTIVE
On 15 July, an unnamed woman escaped from a tiny soundproofed cell where she had been held captive after being kidnapped earlier that day. She had used her “survival instinct” to free herself from the 5ft-by-10ft breeze block cell, which was hidden in a garage in Klamath Falls, Oregon, repeatedly punching the metal door until the welds broke. “She was then able to peel down the metal screen to the point where there was a small opening in the centre of the screen door, and she was able to squeeze through it,” Klamath Falls Police Captain Rob Reynolds later told the press.
After escaping, she scaled a 6ft fence before flagging down a passing motorist, who called 911. Her alleged kidnapper, 29-year-old Negasi Zuberi, was inside the house with his wife and two young children when the escape happened. The woman was able to give police enough information to identify Zuberi as the suspect the following day. “It was impressive, especially because she is not from this area and doesn’t know anything about our town,” Captain Reynolds said. “She didn’t have anything to write with. I’m assuming she did it by memory.” Zuberi was later arrested after a stand-off at a Reno store with his wife and children. He has been charged with kidnapping, and pleaded not guilty.
The woman alleges that Zuberi approached her in Seattle, 450 miles away. Posing as an undercover police officer, he pointed a Taser at her and put her in handcuffs and leg irons before forcing her into his SUV. He allegedly sexually assaulted her throughout the seven-and-a-half-hour journey. When they reached his home, he drove the vehicle into the garage, forced her into the cell with only a bottle of water and a blanket and told her to sleep. “When she woke up, she realised she was in harm’s way and knew she needed to get out,” said Captain Reynolds.
During a search of Zuberi’s rented home, where he had been living for around six months, investigators are reported to have found a notepad with sketches of what they believe was an underground bunker made from concrete blocks and foam insulation. Captain Reynolds said, “That led us to believe this was pre-planned.” Police also believe Zuberi has “a history of violence” against women and are looking into other potential victims. He is thought to have several aliases and moved frequently, having lived in ten different states in the past eight years. He even appeared on TV show Judge Judy using an alias, where he sued the mother of his children for throwing a bottle at him. “We do have indications that he has a history of v
