E|188 Unfathomable
About this episode
This episode examines the shocking murder of Richard and Rita Zajko, allegedly orchestrated by their daughter with ties to a radical group known as the Zizians.
Criminal Mischief The Zizians: Murder in the Name of the Future On New Year's Eve 2022, Richard and Rita Zajko were found shot to death inside their quiet Pennsylvania home. For years, investigators struggled to piece together what happened. Then, prosecutors made a stunning announcement: the couple's own daughter, Michelle "Jamie" Zajko, had been charged with orchestrating the murders, allegedly with help from others connected to an enigmatic group known as the Zizians. Who are the Zizians? They're not a traditional cult. They aren't driven by religion or ancient prophecy. Instead, investigators describe them as a loosely connected group of exceptionally intelligent young people—many with backgrounds in mathematics, computer science, and Silicon Valley's rationalist movement—whose increasingly extreme beliefs centered on artificial intelligence, veganism, animal rights, and the conviction that humanity stood on the brink of catastrophe. According to authorities, the Zizians have now been linked to a series of violent crimes spanning multiple states, including the Pennsylvania murders, a deadly attack on a California landlord, the subsequent killing of another group member, and a…
People in this episode
Host: Carolyn Ossorio
Topics covered
- murder
- cult
- artificial intelligence
- radicalization
- true crime
- family betrayal
Keywords
- Zizians
- murder
- Pennsylvania
- artificial intelligence
- radicalization
- true crime
- family
- violence
- cult
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Zizians, U.S. Border Patrol
Places: Pennsylvania, California, Vermont
More episodes of Criminal Mischief
- E|191 The Pike County Massacre - Part Two (Bonus)
- E|191 The Pike County Massacre - Part Two
- E|190 The Pike County Massacre (Bonus)
- E|190 The Pike County Massacre - Part One
- E|189 Deal With The Devil (Bonus)
- E|189 Deal With The Devil
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