Seattle Cult Member Faces Death Penalty for Murder of Border Patrol Agent

Seattle Cult Member Faces Death Penalty for Murder of Border Patrol Agent

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Justice has announced it will seek the death penalty against Teresa “Milo” Youngblut, 21, of Seattle, for the January 2025 killing of U.S. Border Patrol Agent David Maland in Vermont. Youngblut is also charged with the assault of two additional agents with a deadly weapon and multiple firearms offenses.


DOJ Moves Forward with Capital Case

On August 14, a federal grand jury in Vermont returned a four-count superseding indictment against Youngblut. The indictment formally upgraded the charges from firearms violations to include first-degree murder of a federal officer.

“As alleged, this defendant shot and killed a United States Border Patrol Agent while he was performing his duties,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti. “We will not stand for such attacks on the men and women who protect our communities and our borders.”

Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Drescher emphasized that the prosecution will honor the memory of Agent Maland. “We intend to ensure justice is done,” he said.


The Fatal Shooting

According to court filings, the incident occurred on January 20, 2025, during a traffic stop on Interstate 91 in Coventry, Vermont.

Agent Maland stopped a Toyota Prius carrying Youngblut and Felix “Ophelia” Bauckholt, a 24-year-old German national whose immigration status was under review. Both were reportedly armed.

Authorities allege that Youngblut stepped out of the car and opened fire without warning, killing Agent Maland. Other Border Patrol agents returned fire, killing Bauckholt at the scene.


Suspect Background

Youngblut, a University of Washington student and graduate of Seattle’s prestigious Lakeside School, has been described as an intelligent but troubled figure. Public records show that in November 2024, Youngblut filed for a marriage license in King County, Washington.

Investigators noted that days before the shooting, the pair drew attention when a hotel employee reported seeing them in tactical gear and possibly armed. On the day of the incident, police observed Bauckholt in a Newport, Vermont parking lot wrapping items in aluminum foil, raising further suspicion.


Ties to Radical “Ziz” Cult

Federal prosecutors allege Youngblut was associated with a radical fringe group known as the Ziz cult or Zizians, linked to at least eight deaths across multiple states.

The group was founded by Jack “Ziz” LaSota, 34, of Berkeley, California, a trans woman who allegedly staged her own death and promoted a blend of anarchist and rationalist ideologies that, according to the DOJ, encouraged violence.

LaSota was arrested in February on charges including firearms violations, trespassing, and obstruction. She had been a fugitive wanted by the Justice Department.

An Associated Press investigation described the Zizians as a loosely organized but highly insular community of young computer scientists and technologists who bonded online over radical discussions ranging from gender identity to artificial intelligence.


Remembering Agent Maland

Agent David Maland had served with the U.S. Border Patrol and was respected among colleagues for his dedication to protecting Vermont’s northern border. Homeland Security officials have praised him as a fallen hero who died in the line of duty.

His killing has heightened concerns over extremist violence and underscored the risks federal officers face during routine traffic stops.


Federal Investigation

The case has involved a broad coalition of agencies, including:

  • FBI Albany Field Office

  • Vermont State Police

  • ATF

  • Homeland Security Investigations

  • Newport Police Department

  • Orleans County Sheriff’s Department

The collaborative investigation has built a detailed picture of Youngblut’s alleged involvement with the cult, her connections to Bauckholt, and the events leading up to the shooting.

Trial Attorneys Lisa M. Thelwell and Dennis Robinson of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS), along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Lasher of Vermont, will prosecute the case.


What Comes Next

The Justice Department’s notice of intent to seek the death penalty sets the stage for a high-profile trial. If convicted of murdering a federal officer, Youngblut could face capital punishment or life in prison without parole.

Legal experts expect a lengthy and complex process, given the constitutional challenges often raised in death penalty cases. Defense attorneys are likely to contest both the charges and the cult-related allegations, which prosecutors may argue demonstrate motive and dangerousness.


Conclusion

The killing of Agent Maland has become one of the most high-profile federal cases of 2025, intertwining themes of extremism, online radicalization, and the risks law enforcement officers face.

For Maland’s family and colleagues, the announcement that the DOJ will pursue the death penalty is a significant step toward accountability. For the public, the case shines a spotlight on the dangerous blend of ideology, isolation, and violence that continues to emerge from radical fringe movements across the United States.

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