Zizian leader Jack LaSota: Who is transgender, vegan cult head linked to border agent killing?

A bizarre and disturbing story has unfolded across the United States, involving a radical group known as the “Zizians,” led by Jack “Ziz” LaSota, a 34-year-old transgender individual who has been linked to a series of violent crimes, including the murder of a U.S. Border Patrol agent. LaSota, along with two associates, Michelle Zajko, 33, and Daniel Blank, 26, was arrested in Maryland on Sunday and charged with multiple offenses, including trespassing, obstructing law enforcement, and possession of a handgun in a vehicle. Prosecutors have described LaSota as the leader of an extremist cult that has been tied to at least six killings nationwide. The case has shocked authorities and the public alike, revealing a tangled web of violence, deception, and radical ideology.

LaSota’s journey into extremism appears to have begun years ago, as evidenced by his writings in a now-archived blog titled “Sinceriously.” In these posts, LaSota expressed radical views, often blending violence with philosophical musings. For instance, in a February 2019 entry titled “Punching Evil,” LaSota suggested that there would be “no moral obligation not to perform self-defense” if “the state has been seized by vampires.” In another post from November of that year, titled “Good Group and Pasek’s Doom,” LaSota wrote about conflicting hemispheres and the desire to kill each other, frames of game theory, and decision theory. These writings reveal a deeply troubled individual with a penchant for violence and a warped worldview. LaSota, who identifies as transgender and uses female pronouns, also expressed a fascination with the Star Wars franchise, often referencing Sith-inspired attire and even claiming that police targeted him for wearing “religious” black robes.

LaSota’s life took a dramatic turn in 2022, when a brief obituary was published in the Daily News-Miner in Fairbanks, Alaska, announcing his death in a “boating accident.” However, LaSota’s supposed demise was short-lived. In November 2022, he was found alive and well at a crime scene in California, leaving authorities and even his own parents baffled as to why he had faked his own death. This bizarre incident was just the beginning of a series of events that would tie LaSota and his followers to a string of violent crimes across the country. One of these incidents occurred in Vallejo, California, where LaSota and his associates were involved in a squatting dispute with an elderly man named Curt Lind. The situation escalated when Lind was attacked with a samurai sword, but he managed to shoot two of his attackers, killing one of them, Emma Borhanian. Despite being handcuffed at the scene, LaSota was not charged in connection with the incident.

The Zizians’ violent activities continued to unfold in the following years, leading to a series of tragic events that would ultimately link LaSota and his followers to the murder of U.S. Border Patrol Agent David Maland in January 2025. Maland, a dedicated public servant and Air Force veteran, was killed in a shootout near the Canadian border in Vermont. The incident involved two members of the Zizians, Felix “Ophelia” Bauckholt, a German national, and Teresa Youngblut. Bauckholt and Maland were killed in the exchange of gunfire, while Youngblut was injured and now faces criminal charges. The investigation into Maland’s murder has shed light on the Zizians’ activities and the extent of their radical ideology, which appears to be a toxic mix of veganism, transgender identity, and authoritarian control.

Experts have described the Zizians as a cult-like group that employs manipulative tactics to control its members. Dar Dixon, a cult expert and podcast host, has analyzed the group’s behavior, noting that it combines elements of sexual identity, restrictive diet, and emotional manipulation to exert control over its members. Dixon, referencing cult expert Steven Hassan’s BITE Model of Authoritarian Control, explained that such groups often use sleep deprivation, emotional control, and isolation to break down individuals and reshape their beliefs. The Zizians’ emphasis on veganism, for instance, serves as a form of behavioral control, limiting members’ dietary choices and reinforcing their dependence on the group. This combination of factors creates a toxic environment in which members are gradually stripped of their autonomy, making them vulnerable to manipulation and exploitation.

As the investigation into the Zizians continues, authorities are working to uncover the full extent of the group’s activities and the motivations behind their violent actions. LaSota, who was held without bail in Maryland due to concerns about his flight risk and danger to public safety, faces multiple charges related to his involvement in the group. The case has also raised questions about the broader societal factors that may have contributed to the rise of such extremist groups, particularly in the context of the internet and social media, where radical ideas can spread quickly and find fertile ground in vulnerable individuals. The Zizians’ story is a stark reminder of the dangers of authoritarian manipulation and the importance of recognizing the warning signs of cult-like behavior before it escalates into violence.