A 21-year-old Washington state woman, Teresa Youngblut, was ordered held without bail on Thursday after being charged with federal firearms offenses related to the Jan. 20 shooting death of U.S. Border Patrol Agent David Maland. The case has broadened into a complex investigation spanning multiple states and linking several murders.
Youngblut is accused of opening fire on Border Patrol agents during a traffic stop in northern Vermont, resulting in a shootout that left her companion, Felix Bauckholt, dead.
Authorities believe the gun used in the shooting is connected to unsolved killings in Pennsylvania and California, raising questions about an intricate network of suspects and crimes.
The Vermont Shooting and Border Patrol Agent’s Death
On Jan. 20, during a traffic stop near the northern Vermont-Canadian border, Youngblut allegedly fired on agents, killing Agent David Maland. Her companion, Bauckholt, was killed during the exchange of gunfire. Youngblut was arrested and now faces federal weapons charges.
At a brief court hearing Thursday, neither Youngblut nor her attorney spoke, according to NBC5-TV. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 7.
Connections to Pennsylvania Killings
Authorities revealed that the gun used in the Vermont shooting was purchased by a person of interest in the Dec. 31, 2022, killings of Richard and Rita Zajko in Chester Heights, Pennsylvania.
The Zajkos were found shot to death in their home, and investigators believe Youngblut and the gun’s buyer were in frequent contact with someone detained as part of the Pennsylvania investigation.
This individual is also being linked to a killing in California, according to U.S. Attorney Michael Drescher.
Key Players and Records Revealed
Investigators have connected several individuals to the multistate crimes through police and court records, revealing a complex network of suspects.
Jack LaSota: A Central Figure
- LaSota is facing charges of obstructing law enforcement and disorderly conduct in Pennsylvania, although authorities have not confirmed if these charges are related to the Zajko killings.
- Court records indicate that police arrested LaSota while searching for a gun used in two murders.
- LaSota is also tied to the California case involving the killing of Curtis Lind, a landlord stabbed to death on Jan. 17.
In 2022, LaSota was reportedly present when Lind was attacked with a sword in Vallejo. That incident occurred months after LaSota was falsely reported dead in a bizarre boating incident.
A Faked Death and a Bizarre Comeback
On Aug. 19, 2022, the U.S. Coast Guard responded to a report that LaSota had fallen out of a boat in San Francisco Bay. A search was conducted, but no body was found.
- An obituary for LaSota was published, and his mother confirmed the death to his criminal defense attorney.
- However, months later, police in Vallejo encountered LaSota alive at the site of a crime in November 2022.
Jerold Friedman, who previously represented LaSota in a civil case, said he verified the Coast Guard’s report at the time and does not recall the last time he had contact with LaSota.
California Connection: Curtis Lind’s Murder
The landlord, Curtis Lind, was attacked with a sword in November 2022 but survived. On Jan. 17, 2023, Lind was fatally stabbed. Authorities have charged Maximilian Snyder with Lind’s murder.
Public records show that in November 2022, someone named Maximilian Snyder applied for a marriage license with Teresa Youngblut in Kirkland, Washington. Snyder’s attorney declined to comment on the charges.
Person of Interest in the Vermont Shooting
Federal authorities have issued an alert for information on firearms purchases made by Michelle Jacqueline Zajko, described as a person of interest in the Vermont shooting.
- A Michelle Zajko is linked to Richard and Rita Zajko’s home in Pennsylvania and is believed to have purchased land near the Canadian border in Derby, Vermont.
- The property is currently undeveloped, raising speculation about whether it played a role in the suspects’ activities.
Authorities Face a Complex Puzzle
Investigators say piecing together the connections between suspects in multiple states will be like solving a “jigsaw puzzle.” The involvement of individuals like LaSota, Youngblut, Bauckholt, and Snyder points to a potentially coordinated effort across state lines involving weapons trafficking and violent crimes.
As authorities continue to untangle this complex case, Youngblut remains held without bail, awaiting her next court hearing on Feb. 7. With possible links to murders in Pennsylvania, California, and Vermont, this investigation could expand further as more suspects are identified and questioned.