Member of cultlike Zizian group faces new murder charge in border patrol agent's death
Teresa Youngblut, 21, of Washington state, is a member of the Zizians, a cultlike group of radical computer scientists focused on veganism, gender identity and artificial intelligence who have been linked to six killings in three states. She's accused of fatally shooting agent David Maland on Jan. 20, the same day President Donald Trump was inaugurated and signed a sweeping executive order lifting the moratorium on federal executions.
Youngblut initially was charged with using a deadly weapon against law enforcement and discharging a firearm during an assault with a deadly weapon.
But the Trump administration signaled early on that more serious charges were coming. In February, Attorney General Pam Bondi mentioned Maland's death as an example in saying she expects federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty in cases involving the murder of law enforcement officers.
Prosecutors have not yet confirmed that they will seek the death penalty based on the new charges made public Thursday, but Youngblut's attorneys recently said they had been given a July 28 deadline to offer preliminary evidence about why she should be spared such a punishment. They asked a judge last month to delay that deadline until January, but the judge declined.
At the time of the shooting, authorities had been watching Youngblut and her companion, Felix Bauckholt, for several days after a Vermont hotel employee reported seeing them carrying guns and wearing black tactical gear. She's accused of opening fire on border agents who pulled the car over on Interstate 91. An agent fired back, killing Bauckholt and wounding Youngblut.
The pair were among the followers of Jack LaSota, a transgender woman also known as Ziz whose online writing attracted young, highly intelligent computer scientists who shared anarchist beliefs. Members of the group have been tied to the death of one of their own during an attack on a California landlord in 2022, the landlord's subsequent killing earlier this year, and the deaths of a Pennsylvania couple in between.
LaSota and two others face weapons and drug charges in Maryland, where they were arrested in February, while LaSota faces additional federal charges of being an armed fugitive. Maximilian Snyder, who is charged with killing the landlord in California, had applied for a marriage license with Youngblut. Michelle Zajko, whose parents were killed in Pennsylvania, was arrested with LaSota in Maryland, and has been charged with providing weapons to Youngblut in Vermont.
Vermont abolished its state death penalty in 1972. The last person sentenced to death in the state on federal charges was Donald Fell, who was convicted in 2005 of abducting and killing a supermarket worker five years earlier. But the conviction and sentence were later thrown out because of juror misconduct, and in 2018, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison.
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Ramer reported from Concord, New Hampshire
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THE ZIZ CULT Authorities are investigating the connection between murders across the country to the 'Zizians' — a cult of highly-educated trans vegan 'rationalists.' Jack 'Ziz' LaSota 14 Jack 'Ziz' LaSota has allegedly influenced his followers to kill. The transgender leader of the group, who has posted about 'transhumanism' and other topics. Some followers say LaSota is dead, but that seems to be a plot to avoid authorities. LaSota used the name 'Andrea Phelps.' Alexander 'Somni' Leatham and Amir 'Emma' Borhanian 14 Alexander 'Somni' Leatham 14 Amir 'Emma' Borhanian Curtis Lind (victim) 14 Curtis Lind (victim) Two Zizians who are accused of attacking Curtis Lind in Solano County, Calif., because they were squatting on his property. Lind, who lost an eye in the attack, shot and killed Borhanian, but was going to testify against Leatham and another accused assailant and 'Ziz' follower, Suri Dao. Maximilian Bentley Snyder 14 Maximilian Bentley Snyder in Solano County Criminal Court for his arraignment on Jan. 28, 2025. Special to the Chronicle Snyder has been arrested for killing 82-year-old Lind to prevent him from testifying at the trial. Lind was stabbed and had his throat slit on the street outside his home in Vallejo, Calif. on Jan. 17. Teresa 'Milo' Consuelo Youngblut and Felix 'Ophelia' Bauckholt 14 Teresa 'Milo' Consuelo Youngblut allegedly shot and killed Maland. Teresa Youngblut / Instagram 14 Felix 'Ophelia' Bauckholt David Maland (victim) 14 AP Snyder was engaged to be married to Youngblut. Youngblut and Bauckholt were stopped by Border Patrol agent David Maland on Jan. 20 in northern Vermont. Youngblut allegedly shot at Maland, who was killed. Bauckholt was killed by return fire. Youngblut was arrested. Michelle Jacqueline Zajko 14 Michelle Jacqueline Zajko is a person of interest in the deaths of her parents Rita and Richard Zajko. no credit Rita Zajko and Richard Zajko (victims) 14 Rita Zajko (victim) 14 Richard Zajko (victim) Authorities say the gun Youngblut used in the border patrol attack was bought by Michelle Jacqueline Zajko — the trans nonbinary adult child of Rita and Richard Zajko, who were found killed in mysterious and unsolved circumstances in Delaware County, Pa. in early 2023. Zajko, whose blog shows connections to the Ziz cult, has not been charged with a crime. LaSota and two others face weapons and drug charges in Maryland, where they were arrested in February, while LaSota faces additional federal charges of being an armed fugitive. 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