In a gripping twist of events, the daughter of a Pennsylvania couple tragically linked to a cult-like group has proclaimed her innocence in their murder. Michelle Zajko vehemently denies any involvement in the death of her parents in a heartfelt 20-page handwritten letter entitled “Open Letter to the World.” The letter, released by her attorney, seeks to clarify her position and unveil the truth behind the incidents surrounding the extremist group known as the Zizians, purportedly led by Jack LaSota, or Ziz.
“You, the public, are being lied to,” Zajko asserts in her letter. She extends an invitation for people to see beyond what’s been portrayed in the media and promises a more rational version of events involving her and her friends. Allegations against the Zizians have linked them to various killings across Vermont, Pennsylvania, and California. The group’s activities became the subject of a national investigation after a fellow member’s death and the arrest of another following the shooting of a U.S. Border Patrol Agent, David Maland, in Vermont.
Authorities allege Zajko provided the weapon used in the Vermont shooting. She, LaSota, and another associate faced arrest in Maryland, accused of multiple offenses including trespassing and illegal gun possession, after parking box trucks on private property. Despite being questioned in connection to her parents’ deaths—Rita and Richard Zajko, who were killed in their Pennsylvania home—Michelle Zajko has not been charged. LaSota faced charges of disorderly conduct following a lack of cooperation during investigations into the deaths—an incident Zajko defends as a simple misplacement of circumstance.
Zajko’s letter refutes the characterization painted by media reports, describing her and her associates as equivalents of demonic entities, akin to the infamous Manson Family. Contradicting media claims, she insists, “there were no truck-fulls of guns, no machine guns, & I didn’t murder my parents.” Meanwhile, efforts to contact Pennsylvania State Police for comments remain unresponded.
Other incidents linked to the Zizian members include incidents in California, where one group member died, and the death of a landlord, Curtis Lind, in January. Notably, Maximilian Snyder, charged with Lind’s murder, had plans to marry Teresa Youngblut, accused of the Vermont shooting. Despite these connections, Zajko distances her friends and herself from Snyder’s group.
Teresa Youngblut, facing accusations of shooting at Maland during a traffic stop, stands against federal firearm charges while pleading not guilty. Felix Bauckholt, another group member, met his end in a gunfight. Bauckholt and LaSota resided together in North Carolina, living in proximity to Youngblut before migrating to Maryland. Zajko herself resided in North Carolina prior to relocating with the group. The intricate web of events stands as an enigma, begging for clarity amongst a backdrop of sensational accusations.