The feds have launched a nationwide manhunt for a 32-year-old woman tied to the shooting death of a US Border Patrol agent in Vermont last week — and is linked to murders in California and Pennsylvania.
Michelle Zajko, who is described as “armed and dangerous” by federal authorities, is believed to have supplied the guns that killed border agent David Maland, 44, during a Jan. 20 traffic stop near the Canadian border, according to a report by the Times Union.
Two guns recovered at the scene of Maland’s death — .40-caliber and .380-caliber semiautomatic handguns — were purchased by Zajko at a Mount Tabor gun shop in February and allegedly used by accused killer Teresa Youngblut to gun down Maland, the outlet said.
Federal authorities said Zajko is also sought for the January 2023 shooting deaths of her parents, Richard and Rita Zajko, inside their home in Delaware County, Pa.
According to sources and court records reviewed by The Post, Zajko is also “a person of interest” in another homicide, the slaying of a landlord in Vallejo, Calif.
Meanwhile, Youngblut went before a judge in federal court in Vermont on Thursday and was ordered held without bail — saying nothing during the brief hearing.
Youngblut, 21, of Washington state, was with German national Felix Bauckholt on Interstate 91 in Conventry, Vt., on Jan. 20 when they were pulled over by Maland and other agents.
The pair, allegedly part of a bizarre vegan cult calling themselves “Zizians,” opened fire on the agents, fatally wounding Maland and Bauckholt and injuring Youngblut.
Bauckholt was pronounced dead at the scene while Maland died at a nearby hospital.
The investigation has now expanded to Zajko.
Records reviewed by the Times Union indicate that Bauckholt flew into the US just hours before Zajko’s parents were killed in Pennsylvania, although he has not been linked to the murders.
Youngblut has also been loosely tied to the California murder through a former beau, the outlet said.
Youngblut and Maximillian Snyder once applied for a marriage license in Washington state. Although it is unclear if the two ever exchange vows, Snyder is now charged with murder in the Vallejo slaying of an 82-year-old landlord on Jan. 17, according to the outlet.
Snyder may also be tied to the murders of Zajko’s parents in Pennsylvania and was “in contact” with Youngblut and Bauckholt before those killings, court records show.
The US Attorney’s Office in Vermont did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
