The alleged leader of the Zizians, a fringe vegan transgender cult, has been connected to six killings nationwide, including the murder of a Border Patrol agent. Jack "Ziz" LaSota, 34, along with Michelle Zajko, 33, and Daniel Blank, 26, were arrested on charges including trespassing, obstructing and hindering, and possession of a handgun in a vehicle, according to Maryland State Police. LaSota, deemed a flight risk and a danger to public safety, was denied bail. Prosecutors highlighted LaSota's apparent leadership role in the "Zizians," an extremist group linked to multiple homicides.
The group gained notoriety after followers were implicated in the January killing of U.S. Border Patrol Agent David Maland near the Canadian border. LaSota's history with law enforcement dates back to at least 2022. Originally from Alaska, LaSota reportedly espoused extremist views in an archived blog called "Sinceriously." LaSota identified as transgender and used female pronouns.
LaSota's supposed death in a boating accident in August 2022, as reported in a Fairbanks, Alaska, newspaper obituary, was later revealed to be a hoax. LaSota resurfaced at a crime scene in California in November 2022. The motive for faking his death remains unclear.
In Vallejo, California, LaSota and associates occupied a property owned by 80-year-old Curt Lind. A dispute escalated into violence, with Lind being attacked with a samurai sword but managing to fatally shoot one of his assailants, Emma Borhanian, in self-defense. LaSota was present but not charged. Tragically, Lind was later stabbed to death in January 2025, with Zizian member Maximilian Snyder arrested for the murder. Snyder had reportedly applied for a marriage license with Teresa Youngblut, who is linked to the border agent's killing.
Richard and Rita Zajko were found murdered in their Pennsylvania home on New Year's Eve 2023. Their daughter, Jamie Zajko, another LaSota follower, became a person of interest. LaSota and Daniel Blank, another Zizian, were arrested at a Pennsylvania hotel in connection with the investigation but later released. LaSota subsequently missed court appearances and was wanted by authorities.
In the Vermont incident, German national Felix "Ophelia" Bauckholt and Youngblut exchanged gunfire with Maland during a traffic stop, resulting in the deaths of Bauckholt and Maland. Youngblut was injured and faces charges. The FBI also conducted an investigation in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, a location previously linked to the Zizians.
The Zizians, founded by LaSota, exhibit cult-like characteristics, including a focus on sexual identity, restrictive diets, and emotional control, according to cult expert Dar Dixon. These factors, combined with potential sleep deprivation, can create an environment ripe for manipulation and violence.
