The individuals suspected of killing a Border Patrol agent in Vermont reportedly have ties to a fringe group of vegan activists on the West Coast with a history of criminal activity. German national Felix "Ophelia" Bauckholt and University of Washington student Teresa "Milo" Consuelo Youngblut were connected to Jack "Ziz" LaSota, a prominent figure in the California Bay Area, according to reports.
This group reportedly adheres to artificial intelligence theories, ethical reasoning, and veganism, as revealed by a former associate, Jessica Taylor, in an interview. Taylor explained their ideology as an "anarchist, vegan critique of society," where violence is justified as a societal norm.
Michelle J. Zajko (FBI)
Authorities are currently pursuing Michelle Zajko, also linked to this West Coast group, in connection with the killing of Border Patrol Agent David "Chris" Maland. The reason for the group's presence in Vermont remains unclear.
Law enforcement across multiple states is actively searching for Zajko, who is considered armed and dangerous. Agent Maland, a Minnesota native and Air Force veteran, was stationed at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Newport Station.
David Maland, a Minnesota native and U.S. Air Force veteran, worked as a Border Patrol agent at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Newport Station. (U.S. Border Patrol)
The incident occurred on January 20th near the Canada-Vermont border. Youngblut, 21, was apprehended at the scene. The FBI's Albany office confirmed Youngblut's arrest and expressed condolences to the Border Patrol. Maland was fatally shot during a traffic stop involving Youngblut. Bauckholt, the passenger, was also armed and was killed by federal agents after Youngblut initiated the gunfire.
Court documents indicate that Zajko purchased the handguns used in the shooting in Vermont in February 2024. She is also a person of interest in a double homicide in Pennsylvania and another in California.
A Border Patrol Agent moves a robotic device next to a Border Patrol vehicle on southbound Route 91 near Newport, Vt., where a U.S. Border Patrol agent was shot dead Jan. 20, 2025. (David McGlynn for Fox News Digital)
Maland dedicated nine years to the military and 15 years to federal service. He was a K-9 handler and had previously served on the southern border in Texas. An FBI affidavit details the events leading up to the shooting, describing a routine immigration inspection that escalated into gunfire.
Teresa Youngblut, charged by the FBI in the shooting death of U.S. Border Patrol Agent David Maland, in the office at the Newport City Inn Jan. 14, 2025, in Newport, Vt., in a still frame photograph from video released by the inn, which confirmed her identity. (Associated Press)
The FBI has confirmed Youngblut’s connections to individuals suspected of violent crimes in multiple states and is actively investigating these links. They are committed to pursuing all leads and ensuring officer safety.
