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Cumberland Today
By the People, for the People
Alleged 'Zizian' Cult Member Bailed Out in Maryland
Blank released on conditions after group linked to 6 deaths across multiple states
Published on Feb. 21, 2026
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A member of a group known as 'Zizians' that has been linked to six deaths across California, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Maryland was bailed out of jail on Friday. Daniel Blank was released on $15,000 bail with conditions to live alone and submit to GPS tracking. Two other alleged members, Jack 'Ziz' LaSota and Michelle Zajko, remain in custody without bail. The group is believed to hold radical beliefs about veganism, animal rights, gender identity, and artificial intelligence.
Why it matters
The release of an alleged 'Zizian' cult member on bail raises concerns about public safety, as the group has been tied to multiple homicides in several states. The case highlights the challenges law enforcement faces in dealing with extremist ideological groups and the complexities around bail reform.
The details
According to court documents and pretrial testimony, police in Maryland connected Blank, LaSota, and Zajko to homicide investigations in California, Pennsylvania, and Vermont after the three were found living in box trucks at the end of a snow-covered dirt road last February. The group is accused of being involved in the deaths of six people, including a U.S. border agent killed in Vermont. The three members were later arrested on trespassing and gun charges in the woods of western Maryland.
- On February 16, 2025, the three suspects were arrested in western Maryland.
- On February 21, 2026, Daniel Blank was bailed out of jail in Maryland.
The players
Daniel Blank
A member of the 'Zizian' group who was bailed out of jail in Maryland on Friday.
Jack 'Ziz' LaSota
A member of the 'Zizian' group who remains in custody and is being held without bail.
Michelle Zajko
A member of the 'Zizian' group who remains in custody and is being held without bail.
Rebecca Lechliter
The attorney representing Daniel Blank.
Brandon Jeffries
A Maryland state trooper who wrote that the 'Zizian' suspects are to be questioned regarding other crimes across the country.
What they’re saying
“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”
— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.
The takeaway
This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.
