Police arrest apparent leader of Zizian group tied to killing of U.S. border agent near Canada
Radical group also tied to 5 homicides in Vermont, Pennsylvania, California
The apparent leader of the Zizians has been arrested in Maryland along with another member of the radical online group, Maryland State Police said Monday.
Jack Lasota, 34, was arrested Sunday along with Michelle Zajko, 33, of Media, Pa. They face multiple charges, including trespassing, obstructing and hindering, and possession of a handgun in the vehicle.
A bail hearing for the two is scheduled for 11 a.m. ET Tuesday at Allegany District Court.
The Zizians, who've been referred to as cult like, have been tied to the killing of U.S. Border Patrol agent David Maland near the Canadian border on Jan. 20 and five other homicides in Vermont, Pennsylvania and California.
Maland, 44, was killed in the shootout following a traffic stop in Coventry, Vt., a small town about 32 kilometres from the border.
Officials have offered few details of the cross-country investigation, which broke open after Maland was killed. Interviews by The Associated Press and a review of court records and online postings tell the story of how a group of young, highly intelligent computer scientists, most of them in their 20s and 30s, met online, shared anarchist beliefs and became increasingly violent.
Their goals aren't clear, but online writings span topics from radical veganism and gender identity to artificial intelligence (AI).
LaSota detailed theories in blog
In the middle of it all is Ziz, who appears to be the leader of group members who call themselves Zizians. She has been seen near multiple crime scenes and has connections to various suspects.
LaSota published a dark and sometimes violent blog under the name Ziz and, in one section, described her theory that the two hemispheres of the brain could hold separate values and genders and "often desire to kill each other."
LaSota, who used she/her pronouns, and in her writings says she is a transgender woman, railed against perceived enemies, including "rationalist" groups, which operate mostly online and seek to understand human cognition through reason and knowledge. Some are concerned with the potential dangers of AI.
LaSota, 34, has not responded to multiple Associated Press emails in recent weeks, and her lawyer, Daniel McGarrigle declined to comment when asked whether LaSota is connected to any of the deaths. Before her weekend arrest, she missed court appearances in two states and bench warrants have been issued for her arrest.
Reached on Monday, McGarrigle would only confirm he has represented LaSota but wouldn't confirm her arrest or any details of the latest case.