BREAKING: Teresa Youngblut Pleads Not Guilty in Border Patrol Agent Killing — Death Penalty Sought

BREAKING: Teresa Youngblut Pleads Not Guilty in Border Patrol Agent Killing — Death Penalty Sought

👤 Who: Teresa C. Youngblut

• Age: 21

• From: Seattle, Washington

• Affiliation: Alleged member of the radical cult group “Zizians”, led by Jack LaSota (aka “Ziz”)

• Current Status: Detained at Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility; still receiving medical care for gunshot wounds

• Legal Representation: Three federal defenders; plea entered by Interim Chief Federal Defender Steven Barth

⚖️ Federal Charges (as of Sept. 2025)

Youngblut pleaded not guilty to a new four-count indictment, including:

1. Murder of a federal officer (Agent David “Chris” Maland)

2. Use of a firearm during a crime of violence resulting in death

3. Assault on two other Border Patrol agents (initials “J.M.” and “D.W.”)

4. Carrying a firearm with intent to use in a violent crime

➡️ Death penalty is being pursued.
➡️ The government filed an official notice of intent to seek the death penalty on August 14, 2025.

🚨 The Killing: January 20, 2025

• Victim: Border Patrol Agent David “Chris” Maland, 44, of Newport, VT

  • U.S. Air Force veteran

  • Served 15 years in federal law enforcement

  • Killed during an immigration traffic stop on Interstate 91 in Coventry, 9 miles from the Canadian border

• Details:

  • Maland stopped a 2015 Toyota Prius driven by Youngblut

  • Youngblut exited the vehicle and fired two shots, one hitting Maland in the neck

  • Maland died at North Country Hospital about 45 minutes later

  • Youngblut’s associate, Felix Bauckholt (28, German national), was killed on scene while trying to draw a gun

  • Youngblut was wounded by a second agent and hospitalized before being jailed

🕵️‍♂️ Investigation Details

• Police recovered:

  • A Glock 23 (.40-cal) pistol

  • Tactical gear, including:

    • Ballistic helmet

    • Night vision monocular

    • Loaded magazines

    • Respirators

    • 48 hollow-point rounds

    • Multiple digital devices and documents

  • A journal kept by Youngblut

• Agents had tracked the pair at hotels and Walmart before the shooting

• Suspected of planning an attack and evading law enforcement

🔫 Firearms Sourced Illegally

• Michelle J. Zajko, 32, of Vermont, charged separately for illegally purchasing four handguns used in the shootout

• She is also a person of interest in the double homicide of her parents (New Year’s Eve 2022)

🏛️ Death Penalty Context

• Filed by Acting U.S. Attorney Michael P. Drescher on his first day in office (Jan. 20)

• AG Pam Bondi publicly supported capital punishment in this case

• President Donald J. Trump, sworn in for his second term on Jan. 20, has called for expanded use of the death penalty, especially in attacks on law enforcement

• Earlier attempts by defense attorneys to persuade the DOJ not to pursue the death penalty were unsuccessful

🧑‍⚖️ In Court

• Plea hearing lasted 76 minutes (Sept. 5, 2025)

• Judge Christina Reiss presided

• Defense asked to strike earlier deadlines due to the new indictment — granted

• A new motion schedule will be discussed

• The courtroom had ~25 attendees; journalists from the New York Times and ABC Nightline were present