BALTIMORE – The head of a controversial group known as the Zizians, associated with a series of murders across three states, is scheduled to appear in a Maryland court on Tuesday, alongside two other individuals involved.
Jack Lasota, 34, from Berkeley, California, was apprehended on Sunday alongside Michelle Zajko, 32, from Media, Pennsylvania, and Daniel Blank, 26, from Sacramento, California. The trio faces several charges, including trespassing, obstruction of justice, hindering prosecution, and illegal possession of a handgun in a vehicle.
A bail hearing is set for the two in Allegany District Court, located in Cumberland, Maryland.
The Zizians group has been implicated in the murder of U.S. Border Patrol Agent David Maland, who was killed near the Canadian border in January, as well as five other killings occurring in Vermont, Pennsylvania, and California.
Lasota, Zajko, and Blank were taken into custody in Frostburg, Maryland, roughly 150 miles west of Baltimore. Following the arrest, they were transported to a detention center, according to a statement by the Maryland State Police.
“Maryland State Police are collaborating with federal law enforcement and the Allegany County State’s Attorney’s Office as the investigation progresses,” read the state police statement.
Agent Maland, aged 44, was fatally shot on January 20 after a traffic stop in a small town named Coventry, situated about 20 miles from the Canadian border.
Details concerning this extensive investigation remain scarce. Insights from interviews and examinations of court records, alongside online posts, reveal that a group of young, highly intelligent computer experts in their 20s and 30s formed connections online, developed anarchist ideologies, and engaged in increasingly aggressive behavior.
While their precise objectives remain ambiguous, online discussions reflect themes involving radical veganism, gender identity, and artificial intelligence.
At the core of the group is “Ziz,” the enigmatic leader, whose followers are occasionally referred to as “Zizians” in online discussions.
Lasota maintained a blog characterized by dark and often violent themes under the alias Ziz. Within her writings, she theorizes that the brain’s two hemispheres could possess separate values and identities and at times, may have a desire to annihilate one another.
Identifying as a transgender woman using she/her pronouns, Lasota has expressed hostility towards perceived adversaries, including rationalist communities that primarily disseminate knowledge through online platforms with a focus on understanding human cognition and the risks associated with artificial intelligence advancements.
Recent attempts to contact Lasota for comments via email have gone unanswered, and her attorney, Daniel McGarrigle, has refrained from discussing her involvement in any of the fatalities. Lasota is also wanted in two states due to her failure to appear in court for previous hearings.
McGarrigle confirmed on Monday that he represents Lasota but would not affirm details regarding her arrest or the current legal situation. Efforts to reach attorneys representing Zajko and Blank have proven unsuccessful.
Records from Pennsylvania state police identify Daniel Blank as a housemate of Zajko in Vermont. In January 2023, while investigating the homicides of Zajko’s parents, both Lasota and Blank were detained at a hotel where Zajko was residing. No charges were filed against Blank; however, Lasota faced charges for obstructing law enforcement and disorderly conduct.
