A member of a group known to outsiders as the Zizians, which has been connected to six deaths across several states, was bailed out of jail in Maryland on Friday. The release comes amid ongoing homicide investigations in California, Pennsylvania, and Vermont, with court documents and pretrial testimony revealing disturbing details about the group's activities.
Bail Conditions and Legal Proceedings
Daniel Blank was released after posting $15,000 bail at approximately noon on Friday. His attorney, Rebecca Lechliter, declined to comment on the case. Blank's release includes stringent conditions: he must live alone and submit to GPS tracking to monitor his movements. Meanwhile, two other group members, Jack "Ziz" LaSota and Michelle Zajko, remain in custody without bail, highlighting the serious nature of the charges they face.
Arrests and Criminal Investigations
The three members were initially arrested in February 2025 after a landowner discovered them living in box trucks at the end of a snow-covered dirt road in western Maryland. They were taken into custody on trespassing and gun charges. Maryland State Trooper Brandon Jeffries noted in his report that all suspects were to be questioned regarding other crimes across the country, with ties to the Zizians cult.
Police have linked the group to homicide investigations in California, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. The deaths include a U.S. border agent killed in Vermont last year, bringing the total linked fatalities to six. Other incidents involve the death of a group member during an attack on a California landlord in 2022, the landlord's subsequent killing, and the shooting deaths of Zajko's parents in Pennsylvania.
Group Profile and Beliefs
Referred to as "Zizians" by outsiders, the group consists of young, highly intelligent computer scientists who share radical beliefs. Their ideology encompasses veganism, animal rights, gender identity, and artificial intelligence. Since 2022, members have been implicated in multiple violent incidents, including a highway shootout in Vermont that resulted in the deaths of the border agent and another Zizian.
Trial Delays and Charges
Jury selection was recently scheduled to begin in Cumberland, Maryland, where LaSota, Zajko, and Blank face charges including possession of LSD, possession with intent to deliver LSD, multiple gun violations, trespassing, and hindering a police officer. However, the trial has been delayed until June due to legal complications involving Zajko, who is also charged with resisting arrest. She fired her attorney, briefly represented herself, and then hired a new lawyer, causing the postponement.
Currently, seven members of the Zizians group are jailed across three states, all awaiting trial. The case continues to unfold as authorities investigate the group's nationwide criminal ties and radical activities.
