Maryland State Police have arrested two individuals believed to be associated with a cultlike group known as the Zizians, according to a statement released Monday.
The primary suspect, Jack LaSota, 34, was taken into custody on Sunday along with Michelle Zajko, 33, a resident of Media, Pennsylvania. Both face multiple charges, including trespassing and possession of a firearm in a vehicle.
The arrests come amidst an ongoing multi-state investigation into a series of violent incidents linked to the Zizians. The group is suspected of being tied to six homicides across Vermont, Pennsylvania, and California, including the killing of a U.S. Border Patrol agent.
The slain agent, identified as David Maland, 44, lost his life in a shooting following a routine traffic stop on Jan. 20 near the Canadian border in Coventry, Vermont, authorities stated.
According to Associated Press research, including interviews and examination of court documents and online posts, the Zizians appear to be a group primarily composed of young, highly educated computer scientists in their 20s and 30s. Group members, who reportedly met online, share anarchist ideologies and have allegedly become increasingly violent.
The group’s objectives remain unclear, but their online writings cover a wide range of topics, from radical veganism and gender identity to artificial intelligence.
LaSota, who uses she/her pronouns and identifies as a transgender woman, maintained a blog under the name Ziz, which is a nickname believed to belong to the leader of the group. In one section of the blog, LaSota described a theory that “the two hemispheres of the brain could hold separate values and genders and ‘often desire to kill each other.’”
The blog also contained criticism of what LaSota referred to as “rationalist groups,” which mostly consist of online communities focused on understanding human cognition through reason and knowledge. Some of these groups discuss concerns about potential dangers associated with artificial intelligence.
Prior to the recent arrest, LaSota had missed court appearances in two states, resulting in bench warrants.
Daniel McGarrigle, identified as LaSota’s attorney, declined to comment on any potential connection between his client and the reported deaths. Following the weekend arrest, McGarrigle would only confirm his previous representation of Lasota and refused to provide any details about the current case.
A bail hearing for LaSota and Zajko is scheduled for Tuesday at 11 a.m. in Allegany District Court, according to court records.
