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

A manhunt is underway for a 32-year-old pistillate suspected of buying the handguns utilized successful the killing of a Vermont Border Patrol agent past week, according to a report. 

Law enforcement agencies successful respective states are searching for Michelle J. Zajko, who is considered "armed and dangerous," Albany’s Times Union reported, citing constabulary records. 

U.S. Border Patrol Agent David "Chris" Maland was gunned down adjacent the Canada-Vermont borderline Jan. 20, and, 4 days later, Teresa Youngblut, 21, was taken into custody.

"The United States Attorney’s Office District of Vermont has charged Youngblut with battle connected a national instrumentality enforcement officer," the FBI’s bureau successful Albany said astatine the time. "Our hearts stay with our partners astatine U.S. Border Patrol Swanton Sector arsenic they mourn this tremendous loss." 

GUN USED IN VERMONT BORDER AGENT SHOOTOUT LINKED TO DOUBLE MURDER SUSPECT, PROSECUTORS SAY

David Maland, a Minnesota autochthonal and U.S. Air Force veteran, worked arsenic a Border Patrol cause astatine the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Newport Station.  (U.S. Border Patrol)

Maland was changeable and killed during a postulation halt of Youngblut betwixt Newport and Orleans, Vermont. Her passenger, Felix Bauckholt, was besides equipped but was fatally changeable by national agents aft Youngblut opened fire. 

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

GERMAN NATIONAL SUSPECT IDENTIFIED IN KILLING OF US BORDER PATROL AGENT IN VERMONT

Zajko is besides considered a "person of interest" successful a treble execution successful Pennsylvania and different execution successful California, prosecutors revealed, without naming her. 

A Border Patrol Agent moves a robotic instrumentality adjacent to a Border Patrol conveyance connected southbound Route 91 adjacent Newport, Vt., wherever a U.S. Border Patrol cause was changeable dormant Jan. 20, 2025. (David McGlynn for Fox News Digital)

Maland, a Minnesota autochthonal and U.S. Air Force veteran, worked arsenic a Border Patrol cause astatine the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Newport Station. He spent 9 years successful the subject and 15 moving for the national government. 

He was besides a K-9 handler and antecedently served arsenic a Border Patrol cause successful Texas adjacent the confederate border, Maland's household told The Associated Press. 

"On January 20, 2025, astatine astir 3:00 pm, an on-duty, uniformed United States Border Patrol (USBP) Agent initiated a halt of a bluish 2015 Toyota Prius Hatchback with [a] North Carolina licence sheet ... to behaviour an migration inspection arsenic it was driving southbound connected Interstate 91 successful Coventry, Vermont," an FBI transgression ailment obtained by Fox News states.

"The registered proprietor of the vehicle, Felix Baukholt, a national of Germany, appeared to person an expired visa successful a Department of Homeland Security database. Youngblut was driving the Prius, and Baukholt was the lone rider successful the Prius.  

Teresa Youngblut, charged by the FBI successful the shooting decease of U.S. Border Patrol Agent David Maland, successful the bureau astatine the Newport City Inn Jan. 14, 2025, successful Newport, Vt., successful a inactive framework photograph from video released by the inn, which confirmed her identity. (Associated Press)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"Between astir 3:00 p.m. and 3:15 pm, agents reported gunshots astatine the scene," the affidavit added. "Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Cameron Thompson was notified of the incidental and responded to the country of the stop, arriving astatine astir 3:35 pm. 

"He spoke with 2 of the Border Patrol Agents progressive successful the incident. They described that some Baukholt and Youngblut possessed firearms and that Youngblut drew and fired a handgun toward astatine slightest 1 of the uniformed Border Patrol Agents without informing erstwhile extracurricular the driver's broadside of the Prius." 

Fox News Digital has reached retired to the FBI's Albany office. 

Fox News' Greg Norman contributed to this report.