The enigmatic leader of an online-based, cultlike group known as the Zizians has been arrested in Maryland, marking a significant development in an ongoing, cross-country investigation linking the group to multiple violent crimes as announced by 6abc Philadelphia.
Jack Lasota, 34—who went by the name “Ziz” online—was apprehended Sunday along with Michelle Zajko, 33, of Media, Pennsylvania. Both face charges including trespassing, obstruction, and possession of a handgun in a vehicle, according to Maryland State Police. A bail hearing is scheduled for Tuesday at 11 a.m. in Allegany District Court.
The Zizians have drawn attention from law enforcement and the tech world alike due to their ties to the murder of U.S. Border Patrol Agent David Maland, 44, who was killed during a shootout on January 20 in Coventry, Vermont. Authorities also suspect the group’s involvement in five additional homicides spanning Vermont, Pennsylvania, and California.
While officials have disclosed limited details about the investigation, a review of court records, online postings, and interviews paints a troubling picture of the group. Emerging from niche internet circles, the Zizians are composed largely of highly intelligent computer scientists in their 20s and 30s. Their ideologies appear to blend radical anarchism, AI ethics debates, transhumanist theory, and unconventional takes on gender identity.
At the center of it all is Ziz, an online persona cultivated by LaSota through a blog filled with dark, esoteric philosophies—some of which flirt with violent themes. In one entry, LaSota theorized that the brain’s two hemispheres could hold opposing genders and might even “desire to kill each other.” LaSota, who identified as a transgender woman, often railed against so-called rationalist groups, online communities focused on human cognition, AI risk, and ethics.
The arrest comes after LaSota repeatedly evaded legal proceedings, missing court appearances in multiple states. Her attorney, Daniel McGarrigle, declined to comment on whether she is linked to the suspected murders.
The rise of Ziz and her followers has sparked growing concern within the tech community, particularly in AI and rationalist circles where her writings circulated. While their exact motivations remain unclear, the Zizians’ digital footprint suggests a deep entanglement with ideological extremism in the age of artificial intelligence and online radicalization.
With LaSota now in custody, investigators are expected to uncover more about the shadowy network that turned a fringe internet ideology into a real-world threat.
Courtesy of 6abc Philadelphia. Screenshot taken from the 6abc Philadelphia 24/7 stream featuring Action News.
