Delco couple's murder linked to shooting death of US Border Patrol Agent: officials
Murder of Pennsylvania couple linked to deadly shooting of Vermont border patrol agent
Authorities say that a person of interest in the deaths of a man and woman in Pennsylvania purchased a gun that was later used in a shooting that claimed the life of a border patrol agent.
PHILADELPHIA - The case of a Delaware County couple killed in their home in late 2022 is now linked to the line-of-duty shooting death of a border patrol agent in Vermont, officials said.
Pennsylvania State Police made the announcement Wednesday.
What we know:
Officials with Pennsylvania State Police said a United States Customs and Border Patrol Agent was killed in-the-line-duty on January 20th, 2025, in Vermont, near a Canadian border crossing in Coventry, about 20 miles from the border.
The agent was attempting to conduct a vehicle stop with 21-year-old Washington state resident Teresa Youngblut and German citizen Felix Bauckholt in the car when the gunfire was exchanged. The two had been under surveillance several days.
Bauckholt was killed in the gunfire, along with 44-year-old Border Patrol Agent David Maland.
Border Patrol agent shot, killed during traffic stop in Vermont
A United States Border Patrol agent was shot and killed in Vermont on Monday, according to The Department of Homeland Security.
Youngblut is in custody facing weapons charges.
The investigation of the murdered agent revealed the gun used was purchased by a person of interest in the double homicide of Rita and Richard Zajko.
Authorities have since identified that person of interest as 32-year-old Michelle J. Zajko. Zajko allegedly bought two handguns in February 2024 that were used in the shooting that killed U.S. Border Patrol Agent David "Chris" Maland.
The backstory:
Pennsylvania State Police were called to a house on Highland Drive, in Chester Heights, on January 2, 2023, for a welfare check.
When they arrived, they found 72-year-old Richard Zajko and his 69-year-old wife, Rita, dead, inside the home. During the investigation, it was determined the couple was killed in the home on December 31, 2022.
The case has remained active with the PSP Media, Criminal Investigation Unit ever since.
Pa. State Police: Murder of Delaware County couple not believed to be random act of violence
Weeks after the couple was found dead, Pennsylvania State Police troopers announced their beliefs that the double homicide was not a random act of violence.
Dig deeper:
In a motion filed Monday, U.S. Attorney Michael Drescher said Youngblut should be detained as the case proceeds due to the nature of the crime, the weight of evidence against her, her lack of ties to Vermont, and the danger she poses to the community.
According to the motion, the gun used by Youngblut and one that Bauckholt was carrying were purchased by a third person in Vermont last February. The buyer is a person of interest in the double homicide of the Zajkos.
And both Youngblut and the buyer "are acquainted with and have been in frequent contact with" someone who was detained during that investigation and who also is a person of interest in a homicide investigation in Vallejo, California, the motion said.
What's next:
The Pennsylvania State Police is requesting anyone with information regarding the investigations to contact PSP Tips at 1-800-4PA-TIPS (8477) or online at their tip website, here. Individuals can also contact their local Pennsylvania State Police station, Criminal Investigation Unit.
The Source: Information in this story is from Pennsylvania State Police and the Associated Press.
Editor's Note: This article has been updated to reflect that the weapons officials say were used in the murder of Agent Maland were purchased after the Pennsylvania murders, and were not used in both crimes.