The leader of a cultlike group, Jack LaSota, also known as “Ziz,” was arrested in Maryland on charges of trespassing and other crimes. LaSota has been linked to multiple killings, including the fatal shooting of a Border Patrol officer in Vermont. LaSota, along with two associates, Michelle Zajko and Daniel Blank, were arrested and are being held in a local jail. It is unclear if they have legal representation.
LaSota, a computer programmer, was previously reported to have died in a boating accident in 2022, but has since been linked to violent attacks. LaSota’s associates have been involved in a stabbing and a homicide, allegedly to prevent a witness from testifying. Authorities found LaSota at the scene of the attack, three months after her reported death. Zajko’s parents were found shot dead in their Pennsylvania home in January 2023, leading to charges against LaSota for obstructing the investigation.
Another follower of LaSota, Ophelia Bauckholt, was fatally shot in an exchange of gunfire with Border Patrol agents in Vermont during a traffic stop. Bauckholt allegedly pulled out a firearm, leading to her shooting by agents. One person riding with Bauckholt, Teresa Youngblut, has pleaded not guilty to firearms charges. Authorities have identified Zajko as a person of interest in the shooting of the Border Patrol agent. Investigation into the circumstances of the shooting is ongoing.
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