Authorities in Maryland have apprehended two suspects believed to be involved in a series of homicides across multiple states, including California and Pennsylvania, as well as the shooting of a U.S. border patrol agent earlier this year in Vermont. The individuals taken into custody are Jack “Ziz” Lasota, 34, and Michelle Zajko, 32. It is suspected that Zajko provided the firearms used in the shooting of Border Patrol agent David Maland near the Canadian border on Jan. 20. The Maryland State Police confirmed the arrests on Monday but refrained from providing further details.
In addition to Lasota and Zajko, a third person, Daniel Blank, 26, was also arrested. The nature of Blank’s involvement was not immediately clear, and Maryland authorities did not disclose the circumstances surrounding the arrests of the three suspects. A spokesperson for the Maryland State Police stated, “The Maryland State Police is collaborating with federal law enforcement agencies and the Office of the State’s Attorney in Allegany County as the investigation progresses.”
The FBI has acknowledged its cooperation with Maryland State Police in the investigation, but declined to comment further. The interconnected cases have garnered global attention due to the involvement of transgender individuals and vegans, a peculiar combination that has experts intrigued.
Zajko is a suspect in the shooting deaths of her parents in late 2023 in Pennsylvania, while Lasota is believed to be the leader of a small group that includes Michelle Youngblut, 21, who has been charged in connection with Maland’s death. Both Lasota and Zajko had been previously questioned by the police regarding her parents’ deaths but were never charged or arrested.
Mark Pitcavage, a senior research fellow and policy adviser at the Anti-Defamation League’s Center on Extremism, remarked, “There is substantial evidence pointing towards Jack Lasota as the mastermind behind these individuals. There are suspicions that necessitate further investigation.”
According to Maryland court records, Lasota faces charges of trespassing, obstruction, and possession of a handgun in a vehicle, while Zajko faces charges of trespassing, resisting arrest, obstruction, and carrying a handgun. Blank is facing charges of trespassing, obstruction, and hindering law enforcement. All three were arrested in a rural area of Maryland near the Pennsylvania border, approximately 230 miles west of Zajko’s parents’ residence.
The three suspects are scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday. Blank was reported missing from Pennsylvania near Zajko’s parents’ home on Dec. 15, 2022, as per Pennsylvania State Police records. Investigations have yet to reveal the precise link between the various deaths, but court documents and interviews suggest that members of the group lived in box trucks in California and North Carolina, functioning like a close-knit religious community.
There are indications that Lasota may have staged his own death, as an obituary
The article detailed a tragic incident involving the late Ophelia Backholt, a German national, who was tragically killed in the crossfire during a shootout on January 20th between Youngblut and the Border Patrol. Shedding light on the perplexing behavior exhibited by groups perceived as cults by mainstream Americans, Professor Poulomi Saha from the University of California, Berkeley, provided insights. Saha emphasized the challenges in comprehending groups like the Zizians, noting their predominantly online presence, making it difficult for outsiders, including law enforcement, to monitor the transition from mere discussions to actual actions.
Delving into the dynamics of internet culture and the all-encompassing virtual immersion it offers, Saha highlighted the emergence of connections that become apparent only in hindsight. Through her diligent observation of interconnected cases, Saha expressed the struggle in piecing together a coherent narrative to explain such phenomena, given the limited understanding of external observers regarding the internal dynamics of such groups.
Drawing parallels with similar organizations, Saha speculated that the Zizians likely succumbed to the influence of a charismatic leader who manipulated followers into committing acts they would not typically engage in. By participating in extreme behaviors, Saha elaborated on how individuals become ensnared in a group psychology that not only sanctions but also encourages increasingly radical actions. Reflecting on the gravity of the crimes attributed to the accused, Saha underscored the alarming nature of the violence involved.
The article further reported that Youngblut is currently in custody, while another individual, Max Snyder, her childhood acquaintance and licensed partner, was incarcerated in California on charges related to a fatal stabbing of a landlord who owned the property where Lasota and others resided several years prior. Court documents revealed that the landlord had previously faced attacks from members associated with the group, resulting in him shooting two individuals in self-defense, leading to the demise of one.
As the investigation into the series of peculiar murders nationwide intensifies, the article, originally featured on USA TODAY, documented the arrest of three individuals connected to the unfolding events.
