Manhunt underway for woman linked to killing of Vermont Border Patrol agent: report

A manhunt is underway for a 32-year-old woman suspected of buying the handguns used in the killing of a Vermont Border Patrol agent last week, according to a report. 

Law enforcement agencies in several states are searching for Michelle J. Zajko, who is considered “armed and dangerous,” Albany’s Times Union reported, citing police records. 

U.S. Border Patrol Agent David “Chris” Maland was gunned down near the Canada-Vermont border Jan. 20, and, four days later, Teresa Youngblut, 21, was taken into custody.

“The United States Attorney’s Office District of Vermont has charged Youngblut with assault on a federal law enforcement officer,” the FBI’s office in Albany said at the time. “Our hearts remain with our partners at U.S. Border Patrol Swanton Sector as they mourn this tremendous loss.” 

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Maland was shot and killed during a traffic stop of Youngblut between Newport and Orleans, Vermont. Her passenger, Felix Bauckholt, was also armed but was fatally shot by federal agents after Youngblut opened fire. 

Zajko allegedly bought .40-caliber and .380-caliber handguns in February 2024 in Mount Tabor, Vermont, that were used in Maland’s shooting, the Times Union reported, citing court documents. 

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Zajko is also considered a “person of interest” in a double murder in Pennsylvania and another murder in California, prosecutors revealed, without naming her. 

Maland, a Minnesota native and U.S. Air Force veteran, worked as a Border Patrol agent at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Newport Station. He spent nine years in the military and 15 working for the federal government. 

He was also a K-9 handler and previously served as a Border Patrol agent in Texas near the southern border, Maland’s family told The Associated Press. 

“On January 20, 2025, at approximately 3:00 pm, an on-duty, uniformed United States Border Patrol (USBP) Agent initiated a stop of a blue 2015 Toyota Prius Hatchback with [a] North Carolina license plate … to conduct an immigration inspection as it was driving southbound on Interstate 91 in Coventry, Vermont,” an FBI criminal complaint obtained by Fox News states.

“The registered owner of the vehicle, Felix Baukholt, a citizen of Germany, appeared to have an expired visa in a Department of Homeland Security database. Youngblut was driving the Prius, and Baukholt was the lone passenger in the Prius.  

“Between approximately 3:00 pm and 3:15 pm, agents reported gunshots at the scene,” the affidavit added. “Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Cameron Thompson was notified of the incident and responded to the scene of the stop, arriving at approximately 3:35 pm. 

“He spoke with two of the Border Patrol Agents involved in the incident. They described that both Baukholt and Youngblut possessed firearms and that Youngblut drew and fired a handgun toward at least one of the uniformed Border Patrol Agents without warning when outside the driver’s side of the Prius.” 

Fox News Digital has reached out to the FBI’s Albany office. 

Fox News’ Greg Norman contributed to this report.