On Inauguration Day, U.S. Border Patrol Agent David Maland was fatally shot near the Canadian border in Coventry, Vermont, during a traffic stop involving two individuals now linked to alleged far-left extremist activity. The suspects—German national Felix “Ophelia” Bauckholt and Washington resident Teresa “Milo” Consuelo Youngblut—are described as having ties to a trans militant group reportedly under federal investigation.
The encounter began when law enforcement pulled over Bauckholt and Youngblut on January 20, 2025. Bauckholt was killed in the ensuing shootout, and Youngblut was injured but survived. Federal prosecutors allege that Youngblut fired the fatal shots, killing Maland, an Air Force veteran. She now faces multiple federal charges, including using a deadly weapon to assault a federal officer and discharging a firearm during the assault.
Authorities discovered firearms, ammunition, tactical gear, night-vision goggles, and a dozen electronic devices in the duo’s vehicle. Some devices were wrapped in foil, raising concerns about attempts to evade electronic tracking.
- Felix “Ophelia” Bauckholt: A German-born former quantitative trader living in New Jersey on an H-1B visa, Bauckholt identified as a transgender woman. Before his death, he was linked to the “Ziz” group, a trans commune in Vallejo, California, suspected of involvement in multiple violent crimes, including homicides in Pennsylvania and California.
- Teresa “Milo” Consuelo Youngblut: A 21-year-old University of Washington student, Youngblut was reported missing by her family in 2024 after falling into what they described as a controlling relationship. Social media accounts tied to Youngblut revealed connections to far-left groups and Antifa-affiliated networks.
Prosecutors allege that the firearms used in the Vermont incident were acquired through a person of interest connected to the “Ziz” group. This organization is under investigation for a series of murders, including the 2022 killing of an elderly couple in Pennsylvania and the murder of an 82-year-old in Vallejo.
Court filings suggest Bauckholt and Youngblut were in frequent contact with individuals tied to these crimes. Data shows Bauckholt reentered the U.S. shortly before the Pennsylvania murders, raising further questions about his involvement.
The tragic death of Agent Maland highlights the dangers faced by border security personnel, particularly as federal authorities grapple with extremist networks operating within the U.S. While some activists have criticized publicizing the suspects’ backgrounds, others, like Bauckholt’s friend Jessica Taylor, emphasize the need for transparency. Taylor, under pressure from trans activists, stated, “There shouldn’t be a general obligation for trans people to cover for each other in terms of crimes.”
Youngblut is scheduled to make her first federal court appearance on January 27, as investigations continue into her ties to the “Ziz” group and other violent activities.
