‘Transgender vegan cult leader' arrested in US over six deaths

Telegraph

18-02-2025

The alleged leader of a 'transgender vegan cult' linked to six deaths across the United States has been arrested in Maryland .
Jack LaSota, 34, was arrested on Sunday with Michelle Zajko, 33, who is reportedly another member of the group, known as 'Zizians'.
The group has been tied to the killing of David Maland, a US border patrol agent, and five other deaths in Vermont, Pennsylvania and California.
Zizians are reported to include computer scientists, some of whom have allegedly worked for Google and Nasa.
Members, most in their 20s and 30s, are said to have met online, and reportedly developed radical views on topics such as veganism, gender identity and artificial intelligence.
LaSota and Ms Zajko face multiple charges including trespass, obstructing and hindering, and possession of a handgun.
A bail hearing for the the two was scheduled for 11am local time Tuesday at Allegany District Court, in Cumberland.
US officials have offered few details of the country-wide investigation, which intensified after Mr Maland was shot dead on Jan 20.
The 44 year-old was killed in a shoot-out after he pulled over a car in Coventry, Vermont, a small town about 20 miles from the Canadian border.
LaSota published a dark and sometimes violent blog under the name 'Ziz'. One post described a theory that the hemispheres of the brain could hold separate values and genders and 'often desire to kill each other'.
The alleged leader uses she/her pronouns and has railed against perceived enemies, including so-called rationalist groups, which discuss theories about human cognition and artificial intelligence online.
The Associated Press said LaSota had not responded to multiple emails in recent weeks. Daniel McGarrigle, LaSota's attorney, declined to comment when asked if his client was connected to any of the deaths.