In Cumberland, Maryland, three individuals associated with a notorious cultlike faction known as the Zizians are set to be tried jointly on charges including trespassing and illegal gun and drug possession. Members of this group, who share anarchist views, connected through online platforms and have been linked to a series of six killings across three states over recent years.
The defendants, consisting of Jack “Ziz” LaSota, Michelle Zajko, and Daniel Blank, were apprehended in February after allegations surfaced about their peculiar activity on a private property in a secluded woodland area near the Maryland-Pennsylvania border. They had purportedly parked two box trucks on someone’s land in a sparsely populated, mountainous region.
During a court session, LaSota arrived, accompanied by a paper bag overflowing with documents, and disrupted typical courtroom procedures by speaking out directly to the judge. The defendants collectively petitioned for a combined trial, which the judge agreed to despite reservations expressed by their legal representatives, citing unusual circumstances influenced partly by findings from an ongoing federal investigation, even though the trial itself is under state jurisdiction.
Discussion during the hearing primarily revolved around the scheduling of the legal proceedings. Local prosecutors made a move to introduce new charges like LSD possession to a preexisting indictment, sparking accusations from the defense that authorities were intentionally stalling the trial. Federal involvement is presumed ongoing, given that some Zizians remain under scrutiny elsewhere.
Defense lawyers contend the delays aim to forestall potential capital punishment for another group member linked to the fatal shooting of a border patrol officer in Vermont. Maryland prosecutors, however, refuted these allegations, attributing the timeline extension to newly received evidence results.
LaSota, facing additional federal charges, along with Zajko and Blank, had been wearing tactical-style clothing at the time of their arrest. Allegany County State’s Attorney James Elliott expressed frustration over deviations from standard procedural conduct during the hearing.
Further legal complications arise from incidents involving potential Zizians elsewhere. Alleged connections have been made between Zajko and firearm purchases relevant to the Vermont shooting case, as well as questioning related to the suspicious deaths of her parents in Pennsylvania. Blank, known to reside with Zajko in Vermont, also awaits key developments in his legal proceedings. Meanwhile, Zajko has lodged assertions challenging the legal basis of the trespassing accusations against her.
In the close-knit community of western Maryland, their presence has yielded confusion and consternation among local residents, compounding the broader law enforcement efforts to pin down movements and actions of the Zizians. While Blank’s attorney argues for a more measured approach to the accusations, believing the matter has been exaggerated, the community and authorities alike await further revelations in this complex case.