Potential Death Penalty Charges Loom for Vermont Shooting Suspect

BURLINGTON, Vermont — A defense attorney for Teresa Youngblut anticipates that his client will soon face charges that could carry the death penalty, linked to the fatal shooting of a U.S. Border Patrol agent earlier this year. Steven Barth, the federal public defender representing the 21-year-old Youngblut, made this statement during a hearing at U.S. District Court in Burlington on Tuesday afternoon.

Barth indicated he expects federal prosecutors to file death penalty-eligible charges against Youngblut in the “short order,” but declined to comment further during the hearing or afterward when approached by reporters.

Acting U.S. Attorney for Vermont Michael Drescher also refrained from commenting following the hearing. Youngblut, along with Felix Bauckholt, was stopped by federal agents on Interstate 91 in Coventry in January, resulting in the deaths of Bauckholt, a German national, and David “Chris” Maland, the Border Patrol agent.

Youngblut has been charged with two federal offenses: one for using a firearm while assaulting a federal agent and the other for firearms use during a violent crime. She has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody without bail. Authorities have not directly charged her with firing the shot that killed Maland.

A report by U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirms Youngblut fired during the incident but does not specify who fired the fatal shot. Youngblut and Bauckholt are said to have connections to a group known as the “Zizians,” associated with violent incidents in several states, including California and Pennsylvania.

Earlier this year, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi called for a revival of the federal death penalty, citing Youngblut’s case among others as eligible for pursuit. Federal prosecutors indicated in May that they would be exploring additional charges related to the shooting.

During the hearing, Youngblut sat quietly between her attorneys, wearing a maroon shirt and white pants. Her attorney previously filed a sealed motion to close the courtroom, citing concerns about media coverage and its effects on a future jury pool, but this request was denied by Judge Christina Reiss.

New felony charges were filed last week against three other individuals linked to the Zizians, with additional counts related to illegal drug trafficking and firearms offenses. These developments continue to unfold as authorities further investigate the ongoing case surrounding the events of January.