Cult Leader Linked to Six Killings Held Without Bail

CUMBERLAND, Md. (AP) — The leader of a cultlike group known as the Zizians, which is linked to six killings in three states, was ordered held without bail on Tuesday by a Maryland court. Jack LaSota, 34, a blogger from Berkeley, California, was arrested Sunday along with Michelle Zajko, 32, of Media, Pennsylvania, and Daniel Blank, 26, of Sacramento, California.

LaSota faces multiple charges, including trespassing and possession of a handgun in a vehicle. The judge expressed concerns regarding LaSota’s potential flight risk and danger to public safety, calling the group “an extremist organization” connected to several violent incidents.

During a virtual bail hearing at Allegany District Court in Cumberland, Prosecutor James Elliott emphasized LaSota’s leadership role in the Zizians, noting her past instances of faking her own death, which he cited as indicative of a flight risk. LaSota, known online as Ziz, requested pretrial release, stating she was homeless and lacked transportation. She also expressed concerns over her dietary needs, claiming she could starve without a vegan diet.

The Zizians are implicated in several violent events, including the death of a U.S. Border Patrol agent during a shootout in Vermont on January 20, and five other killings across California, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. Notably, the group is also associated with the deaths of Zajko’s parents in Pennsylvania in December 2022.

The arrests in Frostburg, Maryland, stemmed from reports by a resident who described three individuals as suspicious after they parked two box trucks on his property and requested permission to camp. Responding officers discovered firearms and ammunition during the arrests, further heightening concerns about the group’s activities.

LaSota, along with Zajko and Blank, was found dressed in black. Police recovered a rifle from one truck and a handgun from the vehicle’s floorboard. Zajko resisted arrest and was also found in possession of a firearm. These incidents raised alarms about the potential for further violence linked to the group.

In an ongoing investigation, police noted that firearms linked to LaSota and her associates were purchased by individuals connected to previous homicides involving the Zizians, including the January 20 murder of employee David Maland and a landlord in Vallejo, California. Maximilian Snyder, one such associate, is charged with the stabbing death of a Vallejo landlord who had survived previous attacks.

The Zizians have been described as a collection of computer scientists and individuals with anarchist beliefs who met online. Their writings have delved into themes of radical veganism, artificial intelligence, and theories on human cognition that have begun to merge with violence.

Rebecca Francoeur-Breeden, a public defender representing LaSota, remarked on her educational background, asserting, “This is a very, very bright person we’re dealing with,” but did not comment on the charges or the violent connections made against LaSota or her associates.

None of the three defendants responded to accusations during the audio appearance, and legal representatives for Zajko and Blank were unreachable for comments. The trio is expected to remain in custody pending further court proceedings.