BALTIMORE (AP) — A leader of a group linked to six murders across three states is set to appear in court in Maryland on Tuesday. Jack Lasota, alongside Michelle Zajko and Daniel Blank, was arrested in Frostburg, Maryland, and now faces several charges, including trespassing and possessing a handgun in a vehicle.
Their arrest is part of a larger investigation involving a cultlike group known as the Zizians. This group has been associated with the death of U.S. Border Patrol Agent David Maland in January and five other homicides in Vermont, Pennsylvania, and California. Maland was killed during a traffic stop in Coventry, Vermont.
Lasota, Zajko, and Blank are currently held at a county detention center. Maryland State Police are working closely with federal authorities on this case.
Details about the group are somewhat murky but involve online gatherings of young individuals who share radical ideas. Many of these members are computer scientists with anarchist views. Their online writings cover diverse topics, including veganism and gender identity. Yet, they also hint at growth in violent tendencies.
At the core of this group is Jack Lasota, who operates under the pseudonym “Ziz.” In her dark blog, she discusses theories about the human brain that imply a struggle between opposing values. Lasota identifies as a transgender woman and has spoken out against various groups that seek rational understanding of cognition, particularly those involved with artificial intelligence.
Despite multiple attempts to contact her, Lasota has not responded to media inquiries. Her attorney, Daniel McGarrigle, has chosen not to comment on her alleged involvement in the murders, though he confirms he has represented her before. Both Zajko and Blank are also under scrutiny, with Blank previously detained in connection with the investigation into Zajko’s parents’ death.
The ongoing investigation raises many questions about the group’s motives and the chilling nature of their activities.
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Maryland State Police, Daniel Blank, Michelle Zajko, David Maland, Maryland, Jack Lasota, Allegany District Court, Vermont, Cumberland, Maryland, Allegany County
