Zizians' Leader and Associates Arrested Amid Multi-State Homicide Investigations

Jack 'Ziz' LaSota and two associates face charges in Maryland as authorities connect the group to six deaths and a series of violent incidents across the U.S.

The Zizians, a group led by Jack 'Ziz' LaSota, are linked to six deaths, including a U.S. Border Patrol agent, and multiple violent incidents from 2022 to 2025.
LaSota, Michelle Zajko, and Daniel Blank were arrested in Maryland after trespassing on private property and are now being questioned about crimes in multiple states.
Authorities allege the group has roots in the rationalist and vegan movements, with members often espousing extremist ideologies and targeting perceived injustices.
Zajko is under federal investigation for allegedly purchasing firearms later used in a fatal Vermont shootout and is a person of interest in the 2022 murder of her parents in Pennsylvania.
The group's activities have drawn scrutiny for their cult-like dynamics, blending intellectual discourse with radical actions that have escalated into violence.

San Francisco Chronicle

USA TODAY