Member of Zizians ‘cult’ group charged with murdering her parents

A member of the ‘cult’ group known as Zizians has been charged with murdering her parents.

A member of the ‘cult’ group known as Zizians has been charged with murdering her parents.

Michelle Zajko, 33, is facing trial over the killings of Rita and Richard Zajko, who were shot dead at their Pennsylvania home on her 30th birthday on New Year’s Eve 2022.

Their bodies were found in Zajko’s childhood playroom surrounded by her old dolls and toys.

Prosecutors said they are ‘very certain that Michelle Zajko was in the home and arranged for the death of her parents’, but do not believe she acted alone.

Zajko denies charges of murder, burglary and conspiracy, and suggested in court findings that her father may have killed her mother and then himself.

The deaths of Mr and Mrs Zajko are among six linked to the Zizians, a group of young, highly intelligent computer scientists who appear to share radical beliefs about veganism, animal rights, gender identity and artificial intelligence.

Zajko is further charged with providing the gun used to kill US Border Patrol Agent David Maland in January 2025.

She was arrested in Maryland a few weeks later along with Daniel Blank and Jack ‘Ziz’ LaSota, whom authorities describe as the group’s leader.

Police who responded to a landowner’s complaint about suspicious people parked in box trucks on his property described them as having ‘ties with the Zizians Cult’ and said they would be questioned about crimes across the country.

All three have pleaded not guilty to charges of trespassing and illegal gun and drug possession, while LaSota also has pleaded not guilty to a federal charge of illegal gun possession by a fugitive.

A judge recently granted a defence request for a competency evaluation in the federal case.