A woman with alleged ties to a cult-like group known as the Zizians is set to appear in federal court. She faces charges related to the death of a U.S. Border Patrol agent in Vermont during a January traffic stop. Authorities claim Teresa Youngblut fired the fatal shot, resulting in a shootout that also claimed the life of her companion, Felix Bauckholt, and injured another agent.
The Zizians, followers of computer scientist Jack LaSota, are described as a group with shared anarchist beliefs that escalated to violence. Their online origins and shared interests in veganism, gender identity, and artificial intelligence are now overshadowed by a string of violent incidents linked to the group.
Youngblut has pleaded not guilty to charges of using a deadly weapon against law enforcement and discharging a firearm during an assault. Tuesday’s court appearance in Burlington is a discovery hearing, a pre-trial process where both sides exchange evidence. Neither the defense nor the prosecution is offering pre-hearing comment.
Vermont authorities had been monitoring Youngblut and Bauckholt for several days before the shooting. The pair had checked into a hotel dressed in tactical gear and carrying firearms. The added detail that Bauckholt was a German citizen with an unknown immigration status further complicated the situation.
The Vermont shooting is just one of several violent incidents attributed to the Zizians. The group has been connected to the deaths of a California landlord and a Pennsylvania couple, as well as the death of one of their own members during an attack on the landlord. This case highlights the escalating danger posed by groups radicalized online.
The upcoming hearing will be a crucial step in uncovering the full extent of the Zizians’ activities and the role Youngblut played in the tragic death of Border Patrol Agent David Maland. The case underscores the increasingly complex challenges law enforcement faces in dealing with online radicalization and the resulting violence.
