FBI confirms Youngblut tie to CA, PA killings
by Guy Page
NBC 5 News reporter Steven Biddix broke the story today that newly-confirmed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited the Northeast Kingdom this afternoon to meet with Border Patrol and other immigration officials following the slaying of Border Patrol Agent David Maland in Coventry Monday, January 20.
In other related news, the FBI has confirmed that the surviving suspect in the killing is connected to killings in Pennsylvania and California.
According to Biddix’s report, which was reliant on sources, Noem landed at the Northeast Kingdom International Airport in Newport about 2 PM Thursday afternoon. She stayed until about 5 PM. U.S Customs and Border Protection confirmed her visit with Border Patrol agents, but provided no further information.
At 4:42 PM, the FBI-Albany New York office confirmed Teresa Youngblut’s connection with “violent acts” in two other states.
“As stated in open court and in court filings, Teresa Youngblut is believed to have associations with other individuals suspected of violent acts in multiple states, to include Pennsylvania and California. The FBI is coordinating information sharing on any case related details with our partners from various law enforcement agencies to effectively follow every lead and aggressively investigate these connections.
“As part of the continuous dialogue with those partners, especially following an assault on a law enforcement officer, the FBI routinely shares appropriate law enforcement information about potential persons of interest to enhance officer safety and situational awareness,” Special Agent Sarah Ruane said.
The Pennsylvania ‘violent act’ is believed to be a double homicide in Chester Heights, Pennsylvania. Richard and Rita Zajko were shot and killed inside their home in Chester Heights on New Year’s Eve 2022. Federal authorities are searching for Michelle Zajko of Orleans, who allegedly sold the firearms used to kill Maland. Zajko is a ‘person of interest’ in the Zajko murders.
The California victim was Curtis Lind, an elderly California landlord allegedly murdered by Maximilian Snyder, Youngblut’s partner.
