A 21-year-old woman from Washington state has been charged in relation to the deadly shooting of a U.S. Border Patrol agent in Vermont. This incident involved her and a German national who also died in the roadside confrontation that was monitored by authorities for several days prior to the event.
The FBI confirmed Teresa Youngblut’s arrest on Friday, following the tragic loss of Border Patrol Agent David Maland and Felix Bauckholt in Coventry, located about 20 miles from the Canadian border. Youngblut faces charges for allegedly using a deadly weapon while assaulting a border agent and for discharging a firearm during this assault.
Details from an FBI affidavit submitted to U.S. District Court offer some context about the tragic events leading up to the confrontation; however, many aspects remain unclear.
Before the fatal shooting, Youngblut and Bauckholt were residing at a hotel in Lyndonville, approximately 30 miles south of the shooting scene. Reports indicate that a hotel employee alerted law enforcement after noticing the couple donned in black tactical gear, with Youngblut armed. When approached by investigators, they claimed to be searching for property in the area but were not forthcoming with details.
On the day of the shooting, authorities observed the pair walking in Newport, wearing similarly tactical attire. They also noted Bauckholt exiting a Walmart with packages of aluminum foil just hours before the incident. Further investigation revealed that the contents of their car included foil-wrapped cellphones.
The confrontation on the highway occurred when a border agent stopped their vehicle on Interstate 91 for an immigration inspection. Initial records indicated that Bauckholt had an expired visa, but it was later verified that his visa was in fact current. During the encounter, Youngblut allegedly exited the vehicle and opened fire on Agent Maland and other officers without warning, while Bauckholt attempted to draw a weapon but was fatally shot.
Following the shootout, investigators searched their vehicle and discovered various items including a ballistic helmet, night-vision goggles, respirators, ammunition, shooting range targets, two-way radios, and a collection of electronic devices, as well as travel and lodging information for various states.
Very little is known about Youngblut aside from her name, age, and home state. Attempts to reach her family members have been met with reluctance to comment, and multiple neighbors have also refrained from discussing her situation. The public defender’s office assigned to her case has not responded to inquiries for more details.
As for Agent Maland, his family has requested privacy during this distressing time, expressing gratitude for the public’s support. They described him as a committed public servant who chose to remain on the front lines rather than accept promotions. Maland was also a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and had dedicated nine years to his role as a border patrol agent, serving in various locations including Texas before being assigned to the northern border.
This incident has left many unanswered questions, but the investigation continues as authorities seek to understand the events that led to this tragic confrontation.
