Seattle, WA

Oregon man who kidnapped a Seattle woman and kept her in a makeshift cell gets life sentence

Published

1 year ago

January 18, 2025

Oregon man who kidnapped a Seattle woman and kept her in a makeshift cell gets life sentence

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — An Oregon man has been sentenced to life in federal prison after being convicted of kidnapping and sexually assaulting two women in separate instances, including locking one in a cinder block cell.

Negasi Zuberi, 31, was sentenced Friday in federal court in Medford, Portland television station KGW reported. A federal jury convicted him in October on charges of kidnapping, transportation for criminal sexual activity, being a felon in possession of a weapon and attempting to break out of jail when he tried to smash through his cell window in August 2023.

“This is not a man who deserves to be around others,” a victim said at the hearing. “He shows blatant disregard and lack of care for human life.”

The Associated Press does not usually name people who have been sexually assaulted.

“Negasi Zuberi is a serial predator who committed acts of evil. He hunted women,” assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey Sweet said before Zuberi was sentenced.

In July 2023, Zuberi solicited a woman to engage in prostitution along Aurora Avenue in Seattle, authorities said. He told the woman he was an undercover officer, showed her a badge, pointed a Taser at her and placed her in handcuffs and leg irons before putting her in the back of his vehicle.

He then drove hundreds of miles to his home in Klamath Falls, Oregon, and locked the woman in a cinder block cell in his garage, according to the FBI. After the woman escaped after repeatedly banging on the cell door until it broke open, Zuberi fled and was arrested in Reno, Nevada.

Federal authorities later linked him to a second kidnapping in May 2023, in which he was convicted of abducting a woman outside a Klamath Falls bar. Prosecutors said he threatened her with a Taser, handcuffed her in the back of his vehicle and sexually assaulted her.

Zuberi had pleaded not guilty and continued to claim he was innocent during the sentencing hearing.

He waived his right to testify during the 11-day trial. He attempted to testify on the trial’s last day but was denied because he earlier waived that right.

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Seattle, WA

COUNTDOWN: Five weeks until you can help West Seattle Food Bank ‘Nourish & Flourish.’ Special guest revealed!

Published

10 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

COUNTDOWN: Five weeks until you can help West Seattle Food Bank ‘Nourish & Flourish.’ Special guest revealed!

Five weeks from tonight – on Saturday, May 2 – you can help the West Seattle Food Bank “Nourish and Flourish” by being part of its annual dinneer and auction, as an attendee and/or sponsor. This week, a special guest was revealed – here’s the WSFB announcement:

The West Seattle Food Bank (WSFB) is pleased to announce that Seattle comedian Scott Losse will join this year’s Nourish & Flourish gala as a special guest, bringing humor and heart to an evening dedicated to community, compassion, and impact.
Losse — recently featured as an “Undisputable Champion of Comedy” in The Stranger — is known for his sharp, relatable takes on life in the Pacific Northwest and his ability to connect audiences through both humor and honesty.
At Nourish & Flourish, Losse will provide a moment of levity during the program, helping to balance the evening’s powerful stories of need and resilience with laughter—an essential ingredient in bringing communities together.
“This event is about nourishing hope,” said Robbin Peterson, Development Director at West Seattle Food Bank. “Scott’s ability to help people laugh, even in challenging times, reflects exactly what community looks like— showing up for one another with both compassion and joy.”
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Losse’s connection to West Seattle Food Bank is deeply personal. His wife Janelle was inspired to pursue a career in social services and nonprofit work after volunteering as a child alongside her grandmother — who was one of WSFB’s volunteers in the early years of the food bank.
“That legacy of service — passed from one generation to the next — is exactly what we see every day at the food bank,” Peterson added. “It’s neighbors helping neighbors, steadfastly across time.”
Nourish & Flourish will take place on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 4105 in SODO, bringing together 300 community members for an evening of storytelling, fundraising, and celebration. Proceeds support WSFB’s vital programs, including food access, housing stability, and essential services for thousands of neighbors across West Seattle.
In 2025 alone, West Seattle Food Bank distributed more than 2.25 million pounds of food, served over 23,000 individuals, and helped keep hundreds of families housed.
Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available at:
westseattlefoodbank.org/nourish-and-flourish or bit.ly/NAF2026
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WSB is media sponsor of Nourish & Flourish. See you there!

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Seattle, WA

Main Card Results | UFC Seattle

Published

22 hours ago

March 28, 2026

Press Room

UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs Pyfer Results | Main Card Winners, Highlights & Interviews From Seattle

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Seattle, WA

Report: Seattle Seahawks hiring ex-UW Huskies coach

Published

1 day ago

March 28, 2026

Press Room

Report: Seattle Seahawks hiring ex-UW Huskies coach

The Seattle Seahawks are hiring former UW Huskies offensive coordinator Jimmie Dougherty as an offensive assistant, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Friday.

What Bump makes of Seahawks’ visit with RB Najee Harris

This will be the first NFL job for the 47-year-old Dougherty, who has spent the past 24 seasons coaching at the college level. He was with the Huskies during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, serving as the team’s passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2024 and offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2025. Dougherty was not the play-caller for UW under head coach Jedd Fisch.

Dougherty left his position at UW in February.

Dougherty also coached at UW from 2009-2012 as wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator under Steve Sarkisian.

Dougherty’s previous college stops include Illinois Wesleyan, San Diego, San Jose State, Michigan, UCLA and Arizona. While at Michigan as an offensive assistant in 2016, he coached alongside Seahawks special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh and under then-head coach Jim Harbaugh. Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald coached under Jim and alongside Jay when he was Michigan’s defensive coordinator in 2021.

Dougherty played quarterback in college at the University of Missouri from 1997-2001 and was the starter in 1999.

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• Seahawks keep key part of offense with JSN’s record-setting extension
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