Police Arrest Leader of Cultlike ‘Zizian’ Group Linked to Multiple Killings in US
Maryland state police have arrested Jack LaSota, 34, the apparent leader of the cultlike group known as the Zizians, along with group member Michelle Zajko, 33, of Media, Pennsylvania. Both face multiple charges, including trespassing, obstruction, and possession of a handgun in a vehicle. A bail hearing is set for Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Allegany District Court.
The Zizians have been linked to the killing of U.S. Border Patrol agent David Maland in Vermont last month, as well as five other homicides in Pennsylvania, California, and Vermont. Maland, 44, was killed on January 20 in a shootout after a traffic stop in Coventry, a small town near the Canadian border.
Authorities have released limited details about the investigation, which gained momentum following Maland’s death. However, a review of court records and online activity paints a picture of a group of young, highly intelligent computer scientists who met online, embraced anarchist beliefs, and gradually turned violent. Their motivations remain unclear, though their writings cover topics ranging from radical veganism and gender identity to artificial intelligence.
At the center of the group is “Ziz,” a figure with connections to multiple crime scenes and various suspects. LaSota, who used she/her pronouns and identified as a transgender woman, ran a blog under the name Ziz, writing extensively about philosophy, identity, and violence. In one post, she theorized that the brain’s hemispheres could hold separate genders and might “desire to kill each other.”
LaSota frequently railed against perceived enemies, including online rationalist groups that explore human cognition and the risks of artificial intelligence. Authorities have not confirmed her direct involvement in the killings, and she has not responded to multiple inquiries from the Associated Press.
Before her arrest, LaSota had missed court appearances in two states, leading to bench warrants. Her attorney, Daniel McGarrigle, declined to confirm her arrest or comment on any connection to the deaths.
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