Federal prosecutors are planning to bring additional charges against a woman detained in Vermont after the shooting death of a Border Patrol agent. Theresa Youngblut has been in jail since agent David Maland was killed on Jan. 20. She already faces charges related to the use of a firearm during the incident, in which Maland and another person were killed near the Canadian border. The current charges do not directly accuse Youngblut of firing the shots that killed Maland.
Federal investigators have not disclosed further details of the case. A previous investigation by USA TODAY linked the violent encounter to multiple homicides across the country, allegedly connected to a California-based group called the Zizians. In a recent court filing, Youngblut’s defense team requested more time to prepare for upcoming court appearances due to expected new charges and extensive evidence disclosures from the prosecutors.
The Zizians, led by Jack “Ziz” LaSota, have been linked to at least six deaths nationwide. The group’s beliefs and practices center around consciousness, decision-making, and veganism. LaSota and two others were arrested in Maryland earlier this year on trespassing and firearms charges. Michelle Zajko, arrested with LaSota, is also facing charges related to purchasing the guns used in the confrontation that led to Maland’s death. Zajko is under investigation for the deaths of her parents in Pennsylvania.
Youngblut, who was set to marry an incarcerated man from Washington state, was confronted by investigators in Vermont while carrying firearms and wearing tactical gear. The investigators had received reports of their activities in a rural area and mistakenly believed Bauckholt’s visa had expired.
The case continues to unfold as federal authorities indicate the possibility of new charges in the ongoing ‘Zizian’ investigation in Vermont.
