Member of Cult Charged in Parents’ Murder
A woman linked to the vegan transgender cult Zizian, who is implicated in six murders, has been charged with the deaths of her parents in their Pennsylvania home, which is worth $1 million. However, she reportedly did not act alone, as prosecutors indicated on Wednesday.
Michelle Zayko, 32, is the fifth member of Zizian to face murder charges. Prosecutors allege she was involved in the shooting deaths of her parents, Richard Zayko, 71, and Rita Zayko, 68. This information was shared during a press conference, which was covered by local news.
Investigators believe that Zayko collaborated with others to fatally shoot her parents in their Delaware County residence in 2022.
“She did not act alone. We are still working to identify her co-conspirators,” said Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse during the briefing.
Zayko had previously been arrested by federal agents for allegedly supplying the firearm used in the murder of Border Patrol agent David Marand in Vermont in January 2025, by another member of the Zizian group.
Rouse stated, “What we can say for certain is that Michelle played a role in her parents’ deaths.” He noted that her involvement followed her descent into an anti-AI extremist cult, led by a contemporary figure likened to Charles Manson, who is reportedly connected to multiple murders across the tri-state area.
Authorities suspect Zayko purchased a gun for fellow cult members Teresa Youngblut and Ophelia “Felix” Bauholt, which was later used to kill Agent Marand, age 44, during an altercation.
The Zizians, formed by Jack “Ziz” Lasota, are rooted in the beliefs of a 34-year-old transgender blogger and computer engineer from Berkeley, who has a band called Vegan Anarcho-Transhumanists that aims to combat the dangers posed by artificial intelligence.
Lasota is currently imprisoned in Maryland on multiple charges, including trespassing and firearm violations.
There are five adherents awaiting trial for murder, including three who are linked to the killing of Curtis Lind, a man killed while trying to evict squatters from his property.
Notably, Richard and Rita Zayko were shot on Michelle’s birthday, as authorities reported that she and her parents were trying to resolve conflicts before the tragic event occurred at their home on December 31, 2022.
Michelle Zayko now faces charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.
