Introduction to the Case
The leader and two members of a cultlike group that has been connected to six killings in three states face new gun charges in Maryland.
Authorities have described Jack LaSota, who is also known as Ziz, as the apparent “leader of an extremist group” called the Zizians who follow her online writings on veganism, gender identity and artificial intelligence. The group has been linked to killings in Vermont, Pennsylvania and California. A cross-country investigation into LaSota and the Zizians broke open in January when one member of the group died and another was arrested after the shooting death of U.S. Border Patrol Agent David Maland in Vermont.
Background on the Group and Its Activities
LaSota, Michelle Zajko and Daniel Blank were charged with trespassing, obstructing law enforcement and illegal gun possession last month after a Frostburg, Maryland, man told police that three “suspicious” people parked box trucks on his property and asked to camp there. Their trials had been scheduled to begin in Allegany County District Court on Monday, but their cases were transferred Wednesday to the county’s higher-level circuit court after new indictments were handed up.
New Charges and Penalties
LaSota now faces nine charges, Zajko faces 14 and Blank faces 12. The new charges, which include carrying concealed and loaded handguns, are misdemeanors. The possible maximum penalties for each charge range from three months of incarceration for trespassing and up to five years for some of the gun charges. Initial court appearances are scheduled for April 8.
Connection to Previous Crimes
Members of the Zizian group have been tied to the death of one of their own during an attack on a California landlord in November 2022, the landlord’s subsequent killing in January, and the deaths of a Pennsylvania couple in between. The Pennsylvania victims were Richard and Rita Zajko, the parents of Michelle Zajko.
Investigation and Arrests
A Maryland prosecutor has said two guns Zajko purchased were recovered in connection with the shooting death of Maland, the Border Patrol agent killed in a shootout during a traffic stop in Vermont in January. Teresa Youngblut, who was driving the car and is accused of firing at Maland, has pleaded not guilty to federal firearms charges. Felix Bauckholt, a passenger in the car, also was killed.
Interconnections Within the Group
Bauckholt and LaSota were living together in North Carolina as recently as this winter, according to their landlord, who also was renting a duplex to Youngblut in the same neighborhood. Youngblut also had applied for a marriage license with Maximilian Snyder, who is charged with killing landlord Curtis Lind in California.
Conclusion
The new gun charges against the leader and members of the Zizian group mark a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the group’s activities. As the case unfolds, it is likely that more information will come to light about the group’s inner workings and the extent of their involvement in the various crimes with which they have been linked.
FAQs
- Q: Who is the leader of the Zizian group?
A: The leader of the Zizian group is Jack LaSota, also known as Ziz. - Q: What are the new charges against LaSota and the group members?
A: The new charges include carrying concealed and loaded handguns, among others, and are misdemeanors. - Q: What is the connection between the Zizian group and the killings in Vermont, Pennsylvania, and California?
A: Members of the Zizian group have been tied to the deaths in these states, including the killing of a U.S. Border Patrol Agent and a Pennsylvania couple. - Q: What are the possible penalties for the new charges?
A: The possible maximum penalties range from three months of incarceration for trespassing to up to five years for some of the gun charges.
