Leader of trans vegan cult bemoans lack of vegan options in jail: 'I might starve to death'

Article content

The leader of a trans vegan cult inked to six deaths across the U.S. is complaining about the lack of vegan options in jail.

“Zizians” head Jack “Ziz” LaSota, who also goes by Andrea Phelps, was arrested on Feb. 16 in Maryland after months on the run.

The 33-year-old, who uses she/her pronouns, appeared in court virtually two days after her arrest to make the outrageous complaint to the judge.

“I might starve to death. I need … I need the jail to have a vegan diet. It’s more important than this hearing is,” LaSota told Judge Erich Bean, according to audio obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle.

The judge cut off the accused and warned her to stop interrupting the hearing.

“We’ll play by my rules, the state of Maryland rules how proceedings progress,” Bean said.

At one point, LaSota told the judge, “I haven’t done anything wrong. I shouldn’t be here.”

LaSota is being held on charges of trespassing on private property, obstructing a law enforcement officer, and having a handgun in her vehicle, according to court records.

The Zizians are allegedly linked to half a dozen murders, including the death of U.S. Border Patrol agent David Maland, who was killed in Vermont last month, as well as the slaying of a cult member’s parents and the stabbing of a landlord in Vallejo, Calif.

Maland was shot last month in Newport, Vermont, after a traffic stop escalated into a deadly shootout that also killed German national and former Waterloo University math whiz Felix “Ophelia” Bauckholt.

Both Bauckholt and his alleged partner in crime Teresa “Milo” Youngblut identified as trans and were members of the bizarre cabal.

Youngblut is currently facing federal firearms charges in connection to Maland’s death.

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.

Play Video

Michelle Zajko, another member, is also tied to Maland’s death, as she allegedly purchased the guns used in the border shootout, the Sun previously reported.

Zajko, 32, who also identifies as trans, was arrested on charges of trespassing, obstruction and hindering, resisting or interfering with an arrest, and having a handgun on her person, records show.

Another member, 26-year-old Daniel Blank, was also arrested and faces charges of trespassing on private property and obstruction and hindering, according to records.

The judge gave LaSota another opportunity to speak, and she pleaded to be let out.

“Releasing me may be a matter of survival if I don’t get vegan food,” she said, adding that she was in a “mild state of delusion.”

She also mentioned her previous time behind bars in a Pennsylvania prison where she fasted for “a month and a week.”

LaSota detailed: “Near the end of that time I was convinced I was going to die. It’s such a small thing to die over.”

She added: “I think the idea that I be mentally impaired for a month at proceedings because I’m in a state of starvation or that somebody with a particular majority religion would be deciding whether my religious beliefs are real … it’s not right.”

When her lawyer interrupted her plea to inform her that her mother found a way to get vegan food into the jail, LaSota is heard saying, “I hope so. I meant what I said about mental impairment. I’m in, maybe, a mild state of delirium.”

LaSota’s next court appearance is scheduled for March 24.