Washington Woman Held Without Bail in Fatal Shooting of Border Patrol Agent

A woman from Washington state, identified as Teresa Youngblut, has been ordered by a judge to remain in custody without the possibility of bail following her charge in the deadly shooting of U.S. border patrol agent David Maland. The 21-year-old appeared at a detention hearing on Thursday, where she faces federal firearms charges related to the January 20 incident in northern Vermont.

Youngblut was traveling with Felix Bauckholt, a German national who was also killed during the violent encounter. Both individuals were being monitored by authorities prior to the shooting. After being treated for her injuries at a local hospital, Youngblut was arrested and charged. Prosecutors argued against her release, labeling her a flight risk because she lacks significant connections to Vermont and has provided little information regarding her employment. They also cited the extreme nature of the crime, the strength of the evidence against her, and the potential risk she poses to society.

During the hearing, Youngblut was seen wearing a face mask and an arm sling, maintaining a forward gaze. Following prosecutors’ arguments, the judge decided to keep her in custody without bail until a preliminary hearing scheduled for February 7. Recent filings suggest that Youngblut had been frequently in contact with someone involved in a homicide investigation in Vallejo, California.

Court documents reveal that Maximilian Snyder, a 22-year-old man from Vallejo, was arrested and charged with the murder of 82-year-old Curtis Lind, who was stabbed to death weeks before he was to testify against attackers. Intriguingly, Snyder had previously applied for a marriage license with someone named Teresa Youngblut.

Additionally, state police in Pennsylvania indicated that the firearm utilized in the Vermont shooting was acquired by an individual who is a person of interest in the deaths of Richard and Rita Zajko, who were shot in their home late last year. Investigation leads point towards Michelle Jacqueline Zajko, who reportedly bought a piece of property near the border and is linked to both Youngblut and the gun buyer.

The investigation has broadened to include individuals such as Jack LaSota, who faces charges unrelated to the Vermont shooting but could be tied to the Pennsylvania murder investigation. LaSota has past connections to key individuals linked with violent crimes, including incidents in California.

Both Youngblut and Snyder are reportedly aligned with an extreme group known for its violent ideology, described by some as a “murder gang.” A friend of Bauckholt expressed concern over the influence of this group, warning him about their violent tendencies. The Zizians, a subgroup related to this ideology, has attracted attention for their radical beliefs and connections to recent violent acts.