Key Takeaways
- Andy Ngo said researching his new book about the left-anarchist Zizians left him traumatized and exposed him to disturbing material.
- Authorities have linked people associated with the group to six killings, while two additional associates died by suicide.
What Happened
Journalist Andy Ngo says researching his new book about the Zizians, a small network tied by authorities to killings in three states, left him traumatized.
“I was really not prepared for this,” Ngo told Jan Jekielek in an interview released October 31. He said the work involved cruel evidence, fugitives, and people he believed could threaten him. His 336-page book, The Zizians: Inside a Trans Death Cult, was published by Center Street on October 13.
Court records and Associated Press reporting establish a violent sequence without resolving every allegation. People associated with the group have been linked to six killings since 2022: member Emma Borhanian during an attack on California landlord Curtis Lind; the later killing of Lind; the shooting deaths of Richard and Rita Zajko in Pennsylvania; and the deaths of Border Patrol Agent David Maland and Zizian associate Felix Bauckholt during a 2025 Vermont traffic stop. Two other associates died by suicide.
Michelle Zajko was charged in June with murdering her parents, Richard and Rita. She has denied involvement, and prosecutors acknowledge their case is circumstantial. Teresa Youngblut has pleaded not guilty to federal charges alleging she killed Maland and faces a possible death sentence if convicted. The case remained pending, with the next status hearing scheduled for November 23.
In California, Suri Dao and Alexander Leatham face murder, attempted-murder, and mayhem charges arising from the 2022 attack on Lind. Their trial was tentatively moved to January 2027 after competency proceedings. Maximilian Snyder is separately accused of killing Lind in 2025.
Authorities describe Jack “Ziz” LaSota as the group’s apparent leader. LaSota denies that a cult exists and has not been charged with the six killings. Her federal firearms case and Maryland state charges have been delayed during competency proceedings.
The Bigger Picture
The Zizians emerged from the Bay Area rationalist community and shared radical writings about artificial intelligence, veganism, gender, and moral duty. Reporters and authorities use “Zizians” as an outside label; members do not necessarily accept it or share every belief attributed to the group.
Ngo frames the network through left-wing extremism and transgender ideology. Those themes may help explain relationships and rhetoric, but they do not prove a general connection between transgender identity and violence. The pending trials can establish who committed which crimes and whether prosecutors can prove coordination beyond a loose ideological network.
Related Reading
- California Insider: Andy Ngo interview transcript
- Hachette: The Zizians by Andy Ngo
- Associated Press: Seven defendants face charges in three states
- VTDigger: Michelle Zajko charged with murdering her parents
- VTDigger: Youngblut capital case status
