A woman accused of killing a U.S. Border Patrol agent during a Vermont traffic stop in January has been indicted on murder and other new charges that make her eligible for the death penalty.
Teresa Youngblut, 21, of Washington state, is a member of the Zizians, a cultlike group of radical computer scientists focused on veganism, gender identity and artificial intelligence who have been linked to six killings in three states. She’s accused of fatally shooting agent David Maland on Jan. 20, the same day President Donald Trump was inaugurated and signed a sweeping executive order lifting the moratorium on federal executions.
Youngblut initially was charged with using a deadly weapon against law enforcement and discharging a firearm during an assault with a deadly weapon.
But the Trump administration signaled early on that more serious charges were coming. In February, Attorney General Pam Bondi mentioned Maland’s death as an example in saying she expects federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty in cases involving the murder of law enforcement officers.
Prosecutors have not yet confirmed that they will seek the death penalty based on the new charges made public Thursday, but Youngblut’s attorneys recently said they had been given a July 28 deadline to offer preliminary evidence about why she should be spared such a punishment. They asked a judge last month to delay that deadline until January, but the judge declined.
At the time of the shooting, authorities had been watching Youngblut and her companion, Felix Bauckholt, for several days after a Vermont hotel employee reported seeing them carrying guns and wearing black tactical gear. She’s accused of opening fire on border agents who pulled the car over on Interstate 91. An agent fired back, killing Bauckholt and wounding Youngblut.
