Bizarre dietary demands inside a jail cell reveal the sinister control tactics of a transgender cult leader accused of orchestrating a deadly nationwide crime spree—including the killing of a U.S. Border Patrol agent.
At a Glance
- Jack Amadeus LaSota, alleged leader of the “Zizians” transgender cult, is linked to six killings including a Border Patrol agent
- LaSota demanded vegan food in jail, claiming he “might starve to death” without it
- Cult experts say the group’s strict veganism serves as a key control mechanism alongside gender identity manipulation
- LaSota and cult members were arrested in Maryland on weapons and trespassing charges
- The cult is connected to multiple murders across several states, with one member linked to her parents’ deaths
Cult Leader Demands Special Treatment Behind Bars
The alleged leader of a radical transgender cult linked to multiple murders across the country is now demanding special treatment in jail while maintaining his innocence. Jack Amadeus LaSota, known as “Ziz” to his followers, has pleaded with authorities to provide him with vegan food while in custody following his arrest in connection with the killing of a U.S. Border Patrol agent.
“I haven’t done anything wrong,” LaSota told authorities, while simultaneously warning, “I might starve to death if you cannot answer me.”
Oh, please…does anyone buy it?
Transgender cult leader linked to border agent killing maintains innocence, asks for vegan food in jail https://t.co/mj7QAxAflN
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 2, 2025
A Cross-Country Trail of Violence
Prosecutors have identified LaSota as the apparent ringleader of the Zizians, a group characterized by extremist ideologies, transgender identity, and strict veganism. The cult has been implicated in six killings across multiple states, most notably the murder of Vermont Border Patrol Agent David Christopher Maland during a shootout. Teresa Youngblut, an associate of LaSota, has been charged in connection with Maland’s death.
LaSota and two other cult members, Michelle Jacqueline Zajko and Daniel Arthur Blank, were arrested in Maryland on charges including trespassing and possession of a handgun. Zajko remains a person of interest in the 2022 deaths of her parents in Pennsylvania, though charges have not yet been filed. The group’s criminal activities allegedly span Alaska, California, Vermont, and Pennsylvania.
Cult expert Dar Dixon has identified the group’s strict veganism as more than just a dietary preference, noting that it’s a crucial component of LaSota’s control system. By restricting what followers can eat, the cult creates dependency and isolates members from mainstream society. This food control works alongside other manipulative tactics including sleep deprivation, emotional suppression, and gender identity manipulation.
LaSota’s bizarre criminal history also includes faking his own death in 2022 before resurfacing at a crime scene in California. The group was involved in a squatting incident in Vallejo, California, that led to a violent confrontation with property owners.
Prosecutors successfully argued that LaSota should be held without bail, citing his extensive network of contacts across the country and the serious danger he presents to public safety. The FBI has also expanded its investigation of the Zizians to North Carolina as authorities work to unravel the full extent of the cult’s activities and prevent further violence.
