An Ex-Member of 'Zizians' Group Reportedly Faked Their Own Death. They Weren't the Only One

Mar. 15, 2025

Jack LaSota (left); and Gwen Danielson.Photo:AP

AP

A former member of the ‘Zizians’ — now connected to thekilling of a border patrol agent in January— likely faked their own death after defecting from the group, their family says.

Maryland State Police arrested three members of the group — Jack Amadeus Lasota, Michelle Jacqueline Zajko and Daniel Arthur Blank — on Feb. 16 in connection with the Jan. 20 killing of U.S. Border Patrol Agent David Maland during a traffic stop in Vermont, the Maryland State Police previously told PEOPLE.

The group has now been connected to six deaths across the country, per theAssociated Press.

Meanwhile, two of the group’s members may have faked their own deaths.

Danielson’s father Brett now says he believes she is alive, he told theChronicle.

Gwen appears to be working constructions jobs under a fake name as she tries to stay off the grid, afraid members of the group might hunt her down, Brett said.

LaSota herself also appeared to fake her own death.

An obituary was published, remembering LaSota for her love for adventures and blueberries. A tribute under LaSota’s name on the obituary website Legacy.com has since been removed.

Gwen Danielson.AP

Less than two months later, LaSota resurfaced alive at the scene of a gruesome crime linked to Zizians’ alleged members, per aPBStimeline.

In November, 2022, a Vallejo, Calif., landlord was attacked after he tried to take members of the group to court for non-payment of rent. The landlord, Curtis Lind, shot and killed a Zizian but was impaled with a sword in the process; officials ruled Lind’s conduct self-defense.

Two group members were charged in the attack on Lind but LaSota did not face any charges, per PBS. Danielson was also at the scene and not charged, theChroniclereported. It was her last known sighting.

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LaSota, 34, Zajko, 32, and Blank, 26, are being held at the Allegany County Detention Center in Maryland on multiple charges including trespassing, obstructing and hindering, firearms possession and resisting arrest, according to online jail information.

It wasn’t immediately clear if they have entered pleas or retained attorneys to speak on their behalf.

source: people.com