Zizian Cult Leader Jack LaSota Arrested in Maryland After Months on the Run
Jack “Ziz” LaSota, the leader of the controversial Zizian cult linked to multiple deaths across the U.S., was apprehended in Allegany County, Maryland, on Sunday, officials confirmed.
Also taken into custody were Michelle Zajko, a suspect in the double homicide of her parents in Pennsylvania, and Daniel Blank, another cult member.
LaSota, 33, faces charges including trespassing, obstruction, and illegal possession of a firearm. Zajko, 32, was charged with similar offenses, along with resisting arrest. Blank, 26, is also facing charges of trespassing and obstruction. Authorities later identified the trio’s connection to a series of violent crimes linked to the Zizian group.
The group had been on the run since 2023 after law enforcement attempted to serve a search warrant at a Pennsylvania hotel in connection with the murders of Rita and Richard Zajko. While LaSota had previously been arrested and released on bail, he and his accomplices disappeared, evading capture for over a year.
The Zizians, a fringe group originating in the Bay Area, are believed to be behind at least six deaths, including a deadly shootout in Vermont and a series of brutal stabbings in Vallejo. Other alleged members, including Alexander Leatham, Suri Dao, and Maximilian Snyder, have already been detained and face homicide charges.
Authorities continue to investigate the cult’s activities and the full extent of their crimes. LaSota, Zajko, and Blank are scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.
