Trans vegan cult member linked to Vermont border agent killing was person of interest in parents' murders

A subordinate of a transgender, vegan cult linked to the sidesplitting of a Vermont borderline agent was besides a idiosyncratic of involvement successful the execution of their parents.

During a wellness cheque connected Jan. 3, 2023, the bodies of 72-year-old Richard and 69-year-old Rita Zajko were recovered dormant astatine their location successful Chester Heights Borough, Pennsylvania. The Delaware County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the deaths, which occurred connected Dec. 31, 2022, arsenic homicides.

More than a twelvemonth later, the incidental remains an "active investigation" by the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP).

According to the PSP, the mates were recovered with a firearm wrong their home. The firearm "has been linked" to a idiosyncratic of involvement successful the January 2025 shooting of U.S. Border Patrol Agent David Christopher Maland.

TRANSGENDER CULT LEADER LINKED TO BORDER AGENT KILLING MAINTAINS INNOCENCE, ASKS FOR VEGAN FOOD IN JAIL

These undated photos provided by the Pennsylvania State Police amusement Richard and Rita Zajko, who constabulary accidental were changeable to decease successful their location successful suburban Philadelphia connected Dec. 31, 2022. (Pennsylvania State Police via AP)

The location successful Chester Heights, Pennsylvania, wherever Rita and Richard Zajko were murdered successful December 2022. (AP Photo – Matt Rourke)

Michelle Zajko, the girl of Richard and Rita, was linked to the firearms recovered successful Teresa Youngblut and Felix "Ophelia" Bauckholt's conveyance during Maland's shooting.

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"An probe into the borderline cause shooting revealed that the limb utilized successful the sidesplitting of the Customs and Border Patrol cause was purchased by a idiosyncratic of involvement successful the murders of Rita and Richard Zajko," a spokesperson with the PSP confirmed to Fox News Digital.

TRANSGENDER VEGAN ‘CULT’ MEMBERS ARRESTED

Michelle Zajko, 32, was besides charged with resisting apprehension and carrying a handgun. (Allegany County Sheriff's Office)

This undated image, courtesy of Joan Maland, shows U.S. Border Patrol cause David Maland, who was killed Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, pursuing a postulation halt successful Vermont. (David Maland/Joan Maland via AP)

On Jan. 20, 2025, Maland was killed during a regular postulation halt successful Coventry, Vermont, astir 20 miles southbound of the Canadian border. Youngblut and Bauckholt were successful the stopped car, opening occurrence connected the borderline agent, authorities said.

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Bauckholt was killed successful the gunfire, on with the 44-year-old borderline agent. Youngblut was taken into custody and faced weapons charges.

ZIZIAN LEADER JACK LASOTA: WHO IS TRANSGENDER, VEGAN CULT HEAD LINKED TO BORDER AGENT KILLING?

Maryland State Police said they arrested 3 members of the radical — Jack Amadeus Lasota, shown here, Michelle Jacqueline Zajko and Daniel Arthur Blank — connected Feb. 16 successful transportation with the Jan. 20 sidesplitting of U.S. Border Patrol Agent David Maland. (Allegany County Sheriff's Office)

Maland's sidesplitting enactment a spotlight connected the "Zizians," a radical that reportedly includes Youngblut, Bauckholt and Zajko and has been connected to at slightest six homicides. The group's extremity is unclear, but online writings from members span topics from "radical veganism" to transgenderism and artificial intelligence.

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Jack Lasota, 34, reportedly the group's leader, and Zajko were precocious taken into custody successful Maryland. They look aggregate charges, including trespassing, obstructing and hindering and possession of a handgun successful the vehicle.

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Attorney Daniel McGarrigle, who is representing Lasota, referred Fox News Digital to a merchandise by the firm. The merchandise highlighted that Lasota is "presumed guiltless unless and until the authorities meets its load of proving guilt beyond a tenable doubt."