BALTIMORE, MD – Three individuals were apprehended in Maryland, potentially unlocking the mystery behind the murder of a couple in Chester Heights over two years ago. Among those detained is the daughter of the deceased couple, who has been a person of interest in the case but has not yet been charged.
Authorities believe the daughter is involved with a cult suspected of multiple murders across the nation. The investigation indicates the involvement of a cult-like group, with 34-year-old Jack La Soto identified as the leader. The other two arrested individuals, 26-year-old Daniel Blank and 32-year-old Michelle Zajko, are considered followers.
Michelle Zajko, hailing from Delaware County, is the daughter of the victims, Rita and Richard Zajko, who were found shot in their Chester Heights residence on New Year’s Eve in 2022. At that time, authorities did not consider the incident to be random.
Court documents reveal that surveillance footage captured sounds from the night of the murder, and investigators noted that Zajko had acquired a firearm consistent with the one used in her parents’ deaths. While she was identified as a person of interest, Zajko was never formally charged.
The group is now linked to at least six murders, including incidents in California and Vermont. Recently, a U.S. Border Patrol agent named David Malin was killed in Vermont during a confrontation with individuals believed to be part of the same group. The gun used in this shootout was reportedly purchased by Zajko.
Currently, Zajko, Blank, and Soto are facing charges such as resisting arrest and illegal weapon possession. The group, described as tech-savvy vegans with concerns about artificial intelligence, includes many who identify as transgender women. Soto, who identifies as a woman and goes by the name Ziz, is considered the group’s leader.
All three suspects were taken to the Allegheny County Detention Center. Zajko and Soto have a bail hearing scheduled for the following morning.