The Zizians: Unraveling the Bay Area “Death Cult” and Thier Alleged Crime Spree
A string of violent incidents stretching from the Canadian border in Vermont to the tech hubs of California has put a spotlight on a group known as the Zizians. Accusations of cult-like behavior and links to multiple homicides have cast a dark shadow over this institution, raising questions about its origins, ideology, and the extent of its alleged criminal activities.
from Bay Area Intellectuals to Coast-to-Coast Killings: The Rise of the Zizians
What began as a seemingly fringe group in the Bay Area has allegedly spiraled into something far more sinister. The Zizians, described as “a fringe group of radical Berkeley pseudo-intellectuals” [[1]], are now implicated in a series of violent crimes across the United States.
A Timeline of Terror: Key Events Linked to the Zizians
- January 2025: The killing of US Border Patrol Agent David Maland near the Canadian border in Vermont.
- Recent Months: A double homicide of a wealthy Pennsylvania couple.
- Recent Months: Two knife attacks on a landlord in California.
- January 2025: A shootout in Vermont resulting in one member’s death.
These incidents, while geographically disparate, are believed to be connected through the Zizians, painting a disturbing picture of coordinated violence. Four alleged members are currently in custody facing murder charges,while three remain at large,including the group’s apparent leader,jack Amadeus “Ziz” LaSota,34,who uses she/her pronouns.
The Enigmatic Figure of Ziz LaSota: Leader or Misguided Visionary?
at the center of this unfolding narrative is Jack Amadeus “Ziz” LaSota. Described as the group’s apparent leader, LaSota’s background and online presence offer a glimpse into the possible origins of the Zizians’ alleged radicalization. According to Max Read, “The story of the Zizians, such as it is indeed, begins in 2019. Ziz, a computer engineer, graduated from the University of Alaska fairbanks in 2013 and moved to the Bay Area in 2016 with the intent of finding a job and becoming more involved in A.I. safety and alignment initiatives” [3].
LaSota’s online postings provide a chilling insight into the group’s potential mindset. They reportedly pondered scenarios where society is “stripped of morality through ‘evil people ganging up to kill off good people'” [[1]]. This raises serious questions about the group’s philosophical underpinnings and whether their goals “ultimately required sociopathy” [[1]].
Adding another layer of complexity,lasota reportedly faked her own death,with an online obituary describing her as “loving adventure,friends and family,music,blueberries,biking,computer games and animals” [[1]].This act of deception further obscures the truth and makes it difficult to ascertain the group’s true motives.
Inside the Zizian Network: Tech, Veganism, and Transgender Identity
The Zizians are not easily categorized. Some members have a background in the tech industry, including employment at Google. Many advocate for veganism and identify as transgender.This diverse background makes it challenging to understand the unifying factors that bind this group together and allegedly led them down a path of violence.
The “Rationalist Fleet”: A Tugboat and a Failed Escape Plan
Adding a bizarre twist to the story, the group is believed to have purchased a tugboat in Alaska, intending to live on it to escape the high cost of living in Northern California. This “Rationalist fleet,” now half-submerged near Pillar Point Harbor near San Jose, symbolizes the group’s failed attempt to create an alternative reality.
The group is believed to have bought a tugboat in Alaska under a plan to live on it to avoid high rents in northern California. The tugboat, part of the group’s “Rationalist Fleet”, now sits half-submerged near Pillar Point Harbor near San Jose.
The Vermont Connection: A Border Patrol Agent’s Death and a Prius Full of Clues
The death of US Border Patrol Agent David Maland in Vermont brought the Zizians into sharp focus. Teresa Youngblut, 21, faces weapons charges in connection with the killing. She was traveling with Ophelia Bauckholt, and both had connections to LaSota. Authorities had been surveilling the pair after a hotel employee reported youngblut carrying a gun.
According to SFGate [[1]], Youngblut and Bauckholt “wore all black, carried weapons openly and wrapped their phones in aluminium foil.” Their Toyota Prius contained a night vision device and laptops, and court records revealed references to LSD in Youngblut’s diary. These details paint a picture of a group operating outside the norms of society, possibly driven by a distorted worldview.
According to SFGate, they wore all black, carried weapons openly and wrapped their phones in aluminium foil.
The Search for Answers: What Drove the Zizians to Alleged Violence?
The zizians’ story is a complex and disturbing one. As investigations continue, the search for answers intensifies. What combination of factors led a group of individuals with backgrounds in tech and apparent interests in AI safety to allegedly commit acts of violence? Was it a case of misguided idealism, a descent into radicalization, or something else entirely? Only time and further inquiry will reveal the full truth behind the Zizians and their alleged crime spree.
Unraveling the Zizian Puzzle: Connections Emerge in Vermont Border Patrol Shooting
The recent shooting involving a Vermont border agent has brought to light a complex web of potential connections to violent incidents spanning multiple states. Authorities are meticulously piecing together what they’ve termed the “Zizian puzzle,” seeking to understand the relationships between individuals and events across state lines.
The Vermont Incident: A Closer Look
The incident in Vermont involved Teresa Youngblut, 21, from Seattle, who sustained injuries during the shootout. Felix Bauckholt, 26, tragically died in the same event. The specifics of who fired which shots remain under investigation. [[2]]
Youngblut faces federal charges of using a deadly weapon to assault. [[2]] According to reports, the firearm used in the Vermont shooting was acquired by another individual who is currently detained in Pennsylvania and considered a person of interest. [[[3]]
Adding another layer of complexity, “youngblut’s lawyer said through a spokesperson that they are not commenting.”
Echoes of the past: California and Pennsylvania Connections
The investigation has expanded beyond Vermont, drawing attention to prior incidents in California and Pennsylvania, potentially linking several individuals to a broader network of alleged criminal activity.
California: Protests, Evictions, and Violence
In November 2019, LaSota, along with Emma borhanian, 31; Gwen Danielson; and Alexander Leatham, 29, were arrested during a protest at a northern California retreat center. The protest targeted a rationalist group, alleging sexual misconduct within the organization.
A landlord, Curtis Lind, initiated eviction proceedings against Borhanian, LaSota, Leatham, and other tenants in 2022 due to unpaid rent.Prosecutors allege that Leatham, borhanian, and Suri Dao attacked Lind before the eviction deadline. Lind defended himself, resulting in borhanian’s death and injuries to Leatham. he survived being impaled with a sword but lost an eye. Authorities deemed his actions self-defense and charged Dao and Leatham with violent crimes.
Tragically, on January 17, the 82-year-old landlord was fatally stabbed. Maximilian Snyder, 22, described as “an Oxford-educated data scientist,” who had sought a marriage license with teresa youngblut in Washington state in November, faces murder charges in connection to this case.
Pennsylvania: A New Year’s Eve Tragedy
On New Year’s Eve 2022, rita and Richard Zajko were fatally shot in Chester Heights, Pennsylvania. Police questioned the couple’s daughter, Michelle, at her home in Vermont and later took her into custody at a Pennsylvania hotel. She was not arrested or charged. lasota was also present at the hotel and was arrested for obstructing law enforcement and disorderly conduct.
LaSota was later released on bail but failed to appear in court. Her attorney, Daniel McGarrigle, stated, “his client was ‘wholly and unequivocally innocent of the charges filed in this case'”.Bench warrants have been issued for her arrest after she missed court appearances in two states.
The FBI’s viewpoint: A Multi-state Investigation
Law enforcement agencies are actively collaborating to unravel the complexities of these interconnected cases. The FBI is playing a central role in coordinating information and resources across state lines.
Teresa Youngblut is believed to have associations with other individuals suspected of violent acts in multiple states, to include pennsylvania and California,
Sarah Ruane, a spokesperson for the FBI in Albany, New York, told USA Today.
The FBI emphasizes its commitment to thoroughly investigating these connections.
The FBI is coordinating information sharing on any case-related details with our partners from various law enforcement agencies to effectively follow every lead and aggressively investigate these connections,
Sarah Ruane,a spokesperson for the FBI in Albany,new York,told USA Today.
Conclusion: Seeking Clarity Amidst Complexity
The Vermont border patrol shooting serves as a focal point in a broader investigation that spans multiple states and involves a network of individuals with alleged connections to violent acts. As law enforcement agencies continue to collaborate and share information, the hope is to bring clarity to the “Zizian puzzle” and ensure justice is served.