Acting United States Attorney for the District of Vermont, Michael Drescher, has made a significant announcement regarding the case of Teresa “Milo” Youngblut, 21, from Seattle. The Department of Justice intends to pursue the death penalty for Youngblut in connection to the alleged murder of U.S. Border Patrol Agent David Maland, along with the assault of two other agents with deadly weapons and multiple firearms offenses.
Drescher emphasized the importance of honoring law enforcement officers, stating, “The United States Attorney’s Office intends to continue to honor the men and women of law enforcement, and the memory of Border Patrol Agent Maland, by performing its prosecutorial duties so that justice may be done.”
Initially, Youngblut faced federal firearm charges. However, on August 14, a federal grand jury in the District of Vermont brought forth a four-count superseding indictment against her.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti expressed the seriousness of the allegations, noting, “As alleged, this defendant shot and killed a United States Border Patrol Agent while he was performing his duties. We will not stand for such attacks on the men and women who protect our communities and our borders.”
Youngblut, who identifies as neither male nor female and uses the name “Milo,” is linked to a controversial group known as “The Ziz” or “Zizians.” Authorities claim this group is connected to a series of violent incidents resulting in at least eight deaths across various states.
The leader of this group, Jack “Ziz” LaSota, 34, from Berkeley, California, is believed to have faked her own death and reportedly promotes a form of violent ideology that mixes rationalism with anarchist beliefs.
LaSota was arrested earlier this year and faces multiple charges, including illegal possession of a firearm, while being a fugitive with outstanding arrests for other firearm-related crimes.
Members of this alleged trans terror cult are described as highly intelligent individuals, predominantly computer scientists in their 20s and 30s, who have met online and share violent radical views on a range of topics including gender identity and artificial intelligence.
The events leading to Agent Maland’s death unfolded on January 20, 2025, when he conducted a routine traffic stop of a Toyota Prius on Interstate 91 in Coventry, Vermont. Inside the vehicle were Youngblut and Felix “Ophelia” Bauckholt, a male German national whose immigration status raised concerns.
Prior to the traffic stop, local law enforcement had noted the suspicious behavior of Youngblut and Bauckholt, with a hotel employee reporting that they were wearing tactical gear and seemed armed. On the day of the incident, they were seen in a Newport parking lot, where Bauckholt was observed wrapping objects in aluminum foil.
During the traffic stop, it is alleged that both individuals were armed. Youngblut exited the vehicle and opened fire without warning, resulting in the death of Agent Maland. In response, border agents returned fire, killing Bauckholt.
Youngblut, a former student at the University of Washington and Lakeside School, an upscale private institution in Seattle with a tuition of $49,350 for the 2025-2026 school year, has made headlines not just for the alleged crime but also for having filed for a marriage license in King County in November 2024.
The investigation is being conducted by the FBI Albany Field Office, with substantial collaboration from the Vermont State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and several other local and federal agencies.
Prosecutors handling the case include Trial Attorneys Lisa M. Thelwell and Dennis Robinson from the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Lasher for the District of Vermont.
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