The Zizians: A Cultlike Group Faces Joint Trial in Maryland
Three members of a violent, cultlike group known as the Zizians are set to face trial together on charges of trespassing, gun possession, and drug-related offenses. The group, which has drawn attention for its radical beliefs and ties to multiple crimes, is now under scrutiny after police discovered them camping in box trucks in a remote area of western Maryland.
The Zizians have gained notoriety for attracting individuals with anarchist ideologies, particularly those in the tech and computer science fields. Over recent years, the group has been linked to six killings across three states, raising concerns among law enforcement and local communities.
Initially, the Maryland cases were scheduled for separate trials. However, the defendants requested a joint proceeding, despite concerns from their attorneys. A judge ultimately approved the request following a court hearing on Tuesday afternoon.
Jack “Ziz” LaSota, the alleged leader of the group, along with her associates Michelle Zajko and Daniel Blank, were arrested in February after a man reported that suspicious individuals had parked two box trucks on his property and asked to camp there for a month. The trucks were found in a remote wooded area near the Maryland-Pennsylvania border, a region known for its small towns and mountainous terrain.
LaSota, a transgender woman, entered the courtroom on Tuesday carrying a brown paper bag filled with documents. Throughout the hearing, she and Zajko frequently interrupted the proceedings to address the judge directly, disregarding traditional courtroom protocols. These interruptions added to the already unusual nature of the case, which involves federal investigations despite being prosecuted at the state level.
Key Issues in the Courtroom
One of the main topics discussed during the hearing was the timeline of the legal proceedings. After the trio was arrested in February on charges of trespassing and illegal gun possession, prosecutors filed a superseding indictment last month with additional allegations, including possession of LSD.
Defense attorneys argued that prosecutors are attempting to delay the case while federal authorities continue their investigation into the Zizians. George McKinley, who represents Zajko, claimed that the delays may be an effort to “put something together in another jurisdiction.”
Zajko also told Allegany County Circuit Court Judge Michael Twigg that she believes the delays are meant to prevent the death penalty from being carried out in another case — referring to Teresa Youngblut, another alleged member of the group who was arrested in connection with the January shooting death of a border patrol agent in Vermont.
Allegany County State’s Attorney James Elliott denied the accusations of intentional delays, stating that federal investigators only recently provided his office with test results confirming the presence of LSD, which led to the new charges. He also criticized LaSota and Zajko for addressing the court directly, arguing that it would prolong the proceedings.
Legal Challenges and Federal Charges
LaSota faces a separate federal charge of being an armed fugitive. According to federal prosecutors in Maryland, she possessed several firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Zajko, meanwhile, faces federal firearms charges in Vermont due to her alleged involvement in the purchase of weapons connected to the border patrol agent’s killing.
In January 2023, police questioned Zajko after her parents were found shot to death in their Pennsylvania home. Although she has not been charged in their deaths, LaSota was arrested on obstruction and disorderly conduct charges after police contacted her again at a Pennsylvania hotel. Pennsylvania state police records describe Blank as Zajko’s housemate in Vermont.
The exact reason the trio ended up in the remote mountains of western Maryland remains unclear. Their presence in the close-knit rural community left locals confused, and police noted that they were wearing black tactical gear.
Defenses and Ongoing Legal Battles
Zajko recently filed a handwritten motion arguing that the box trucks were not on private property. Her motion includes a detailed sketch showing the trucks parked along a public dirt road, as well as claims that the man who reported their presence to police never saw Blank.
Blank’s attorney, Rebecca Lechliter, argued during the hearing that what started as a trespassing case was being exaggerated. She plans to continue advocating for Blank’s release from jail pending trial.
As the joint trial approaches, the legal battle surrounding the Zizians continues to unfold, highlighting the complex interplay between state and federal authorities, as well as the challenges of prosecuting individuals linked to extremist groups.
