The Alleged Leader of a Radical Transgender Cult Pleads for Vegan Food During Bail Hearing
The apparent leader of a radical transgender cult linked to six killings, including the death of a U.S. Border Patrol agent, told a Maryland judge last week, "I haven’t done anything wrong," while pleading for access to vegan food in jail.
Jack Amadeus LaSota, 34, who goes by "Ziz," made the plea during a bail hearing in Allegany County District Court on February 18, according to audio obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle. "I might starve to death if you cannot answer me," LaSota told Judge Erich Bean. "I need the jail to be ordered to provide me with a vegan diet. It’s more important than whatever this hearing is."
During the hearing, LaSota argued that releasing him on bail "may be a matter of survival if I don’t get vegan food… I haven’t done anything wrong. I shouldn’t be here." He also claimed to be in a "mild state of delusion" due to the lack of vegan options at the Allegany County Detention Center and insisted he was not a flight risk because he is homeless.
LaSota and two other alleged members of the "Zizian" cult—Michelle Jacqueline Zajko, 32, of Media, Pennsylvania, and Daniel Arthur Blank, 26, of Sacramento, California—were arrested on February 16 in Maryland. They face multiple charges, including trespassing and possession of a handgun. Their arrests have drawn attention to the "Zizian" cult, described as a group of radical young people who largely identify as transgender, advocate veganism, and have been linked to violent killings.
The group’s recent violence includes the January 20 killing of U.S. Border Patrol Agent David Christopher Maland, 44, during a traffic stop in Vermont. Prosecutors in Vermont have charged one of LaSota’s associates, Teresa Youngblut, 21, in connection with the shootout that left Maland dead. Youngblut was driving with Felix Bauckholt, a German national and reported Zizian member, when they were pulled over on Interstate 91 in Coventry, Vermont. Police say the pair opened fire on agents, resulting in Bauckholt’s death and Youngblut’s injury. Youngblut has pleaded not guilty.
Zajko, who purchased the weapons used in the shootout, is also a "person of interest" in the 2022 deaths of her parents, Richard and Rita Zajko, in Media, Pennsylvania. No one has been charged in their killings.
Cult Expert Weighs In
Cult expert Dar Dixon, host of the podcast The Art of Being Dar, described the Zizians as exhibiting classic cult behavior. "This group hits all the major points that set someone up to be involved in it," he told Fox News Digital. "You’ve got transgender individuals, which involves sexuality and identity, and then you add a restrictive diet like veganism. When you combine sexual identity with food restrictions, you’re engaging in behavior control."
Dixon referenced Steven Hassan’s BITE Model of Authoritarian Control, explaining how cults emotionally manipulate their members. "Sleep deprivation, emotional suppression, and strict adherence to the group’s ideology are all tools of control," he said. "If you don’t comply, you’re reprimanded, shunned, or worse."
LaSota’s case has raised concerns about the group’s activities and their potential ties to other violent crimes. Allegany County Attorney James Elliott described LaSota as the leader of an extremist group linked to multiple homicides and noted his connections to Alaska, California, Vermont, and Pennsylvania.
Fox News Digital has reached out to LaSota’s public defender, Rebecca Francoeur-Breeden, for comment.
David Maland: A Dedicated Public Servant
David Maland, the Border Patrol agent killed in the January 20 shooting, was a Minnesota native and U.S. Air Force veteran. He worked at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Newport Station in Vermont, dedicating nearly 15 years to federal service after nine years in the military.
The investigation into the Zizian cult and its activities continues as law enforcement agencies work to uncover the full extent of the group’s involvement in multiple violent incidents.
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten is a U.S. Writer at Fox News Digital.
Stay updated with the latest news by visiting ZTC News and ZNews Today. Explore comprehensive coverage and stay informed on trending topics from around the world.