BALTIMORE, MD – In a significant development, Maryland authorities have detained three individuals who could be key to unraveling the murder of a Chester Heights couple over two years ago. One of those arrested is the couple’s daughter, long considered a person of interest but not yet charged.
Investigators suspect her involvement in a dangerous cult linked to several murders nationwide. The group is led by 34-year-old Jack La Soto, with 26-year-old Daniel Blank and 32-year-old Michelle Zajko as followers.
Michelle Zajko is the daughter of Rita and Richard Zajko, who were tragically shot dead in their Chester Heights home on New Year’s Eve in 2022. Initially, the authorities believed the murder was targeted.
Court records show that surveillance footage captured audio from the murder night, and Zajko had purchased a gun matching the one used. Despite being a person of interest, she was not charged at the time.
The group is now connected to at least six murders, including recent incidents in California and Vermont. In Vermont, U.S. Border Patrol agent David Malin was killed in a shootout with members of this group, using a gun allegedly bought by Zajko.
Zajko, Blank, and Soto now face charges for resisting arrest and possessing illegal weapons. Described as tech-savvy vegans with an interest in AI dangers, the group includes many transgender women. Soto, who identifies as a woman and goes by Ziz, is the alleged leader.
The three were taken to the Allegheny County Detention Center, with bail hearings for Zajko and Soto set for the next day.