Zizians

The Zizians are an informal group of rationalists allegedly involved in six violent deaths in the United States—three in 2022 and three in 2025. The term Zizians derives from the name of Ziz LaSota, a member of the group who is sometimes characterized as their leader. The Zizians do not use this name or consider themselves to have a clearly identified leader, or even to be members of a group. They advocate a distinctive ideology including anarchism, veganism, and the notion that the hemispheres of the brain can have distinct genders and conflicting interests. They have been widely described as a cult. Federal prosecutors say the Zizians are associated with persons of interest in the murders of four people: David Maland in Vermont (a U.S. Border Patrol agent), Curtis Lind in California (a landlord), and Richard and Rita Zajko in Pennsylvania (the parents of one of the group members). In addition, Ophelia Bauckholt and Emma Borhanian, both associates of the Zizians, were killed during altercations with Maland and Lind, respectively.