Daughter IDed As Person Of Interest In Double Delco Homicide: Reports

CHESTER HEIGHTS, PA — The daughter of a husband and wife killed in their Delaware County home more than two years ago has been identified as a person of interest in their deaths.

According to multiple sources, Michelle Zajko has been identified as a person of interest in the Dec. 31, 2022 killing of Rita and Richard Zajko in their Chester Heights home.

Michelle Zajko was recently linked to the killing of Border Patrol Agent David Maland Jan. 2o in Coventry, Vermont recently, federal authorities said.

Pennsylvania State Police said an investigation into the shooting revealed that the weapon used in Maland's killing was purchased by a person of interest in the murders of Rita and Richard Zajko, ages 69 and 72, respectively.

State police Thursday could not confirm to Patch that Michelle Zajko is the person of interest in the double killing, which was discovered Jan. 2, 2023 during a wellness check.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Michelle Zajko is a member of a cultlike group that the two people connected to Maland's killing are also involved in.

The group's reported leader, Jack LaSota, of California, was charged with obstruction of justice in Delaware County, just days after Rita and Richard Zajko were found dead, for refusing to answer detectives' questions. He has been issued a bench warrant after seemingly disappearing.

The Delaware County Daily Times reports authorities determined the bullet found in Richard Zajko's body matched ammunition she purchased in Vermont in February 2022.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives recently released an alert to all federal firearm dealers regarding Michelle Zajko, saying she is a person of interest in Maland's killing, according to VTDigger.com.

Patch has reached out to federal authorities and Vermont State Police for more information on Michelle Zajko and will update the story when additional details are made available.