National: Cult Linked to Killings Across Several States

A search is underway for members of the cultlike Zizian group following a series of violent incidents across multiple states. The FBI conducted a search earlier this month in a wooded area near Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where the group had previously rented properties, and the effort follows a deadly shootout with Border Patrol officers in Vermont that left one agent dead.

The Zizians, led by 34-year-old Jack “Ziz” LaSota—who uses female pronouns and allegedly faked a death in 2022—are linked to at least six deaths in three states. The group, composed mainly of young, intelligent computer scientists, is known for its radical veganism and anarchist beliefs. Members often wear long black coats and have been involved in protests and violent confrontations, including an attack on a landlord in California and the double murder of a couple in Pennsylvania.

See more on the known cult members here and a timeline of events here.