CultNEWS101 Articles: 3/19/2026

[Patrick Ryan]

Zizians, Maharishi, Twelve Tribes, Saints

AP: Competency review ordered for leader of cultlike Zizians group that has been linked to 6 deaths

"A lawyer representing the leader of the cultlike Zizians group that has been linked to six deaths told a judge Thursday that there is reason to believe his client is mentally incompetent to stand trial on a federal gun charge.

Jack LaSota, a transgender woman who goes by “Ziz,” was supposed to be in federal court for a two-day hearing on whether to suppress evidence collected as a result of her arrest in Frostburg, Maryland, last year. Instead, U.S. District Court Judge James Bredar granted a motion filed late Wednesday seeking a competency evaluation.

The judge said LaSota, who has been detained in the Allegany County Detention Center, will be held in federal custody — at least while the mental competency exam is done and a report is prepared. Bredar also expressed doubt that LaSota’s trial on related state charges, which is set for June in western Maryland, will proceed as scheduled, due to the federal court’s finding."

Science Literacy Project: Iowa Republicans partnering with quack ‘Raja of World Peace’ Maharishi Flying Yoga cult “scientist” to study pesticide residues

"State Representative Jeff Shipley (R-Van Buren), and his Committee for Peace and Prosperity, today announced a major collaborative research initiative with the Health Research Institute (HRI) in Fairfield, Iowa. Led by renowned scientist Dr. John Fagan, CEO and Chief Scientist of HRI, the study will rigorously investigate pesticide exposure among Iowa residents using highly sensitive Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LCMS/MS) to identify pesticides and their breakdown products (metabolites) in human biological samples.

Representative Jeff Shipley will serve as the lead author and primary financier of the study, underscoring his commitment to evidence-based policymaking that prioritizes public health, prosperity for Iowa families, and informed discussions on chemical safety and liability.

“Iowans deserve clear, independent science to understand pesticide exposure in our daily lives—especially as debate rages over corporate accountability and personal health protections,” said Rep. Shipley. “Partnering with Dr. Fagan and the Health Research Institute, a leader in rigorous, accredited testing for food purity, environmental contaminants, and human health impacts, ensures this study will deliver credible, actionable data. This isn’t about politics, it’s about elevating human consciousness through objective and verifiable collection and publication of data.”

Dr. John Fagan, a globally respected expert in nutrient density and in food safety, sustainability, and the health consequences of pesticides and related technologies, added: 'This project is exactly why I founded the Health Research Institute.' Our team is eager to bring our CLIA- and ISO-accredited expertise in advanced analytical methods, including mass spectrometry, to this vital Iowa-focused project. By measuring pesticide metabolites longitudinally in human samples, we’ll generate unprecedented seasonal data that can inform better practices, stronger safeguards, and healthier communities.'"

Wicked Local: New true crime doc explores cult with Massachusetts ties. How to watch

"A documentary about the Twelve Tribes, a controversial religious group with ties to Massachusetts, is set to premiere on Investigation Discovery next week.

"People Magazine Investigates: The Secrets of the Twelve Tribes Cult" will air Monday, March 16, profiling the worldwide Christian fundamentalist movement founded in the 1970s by Gene Spriggs in Tennessee, according to People."

News AU: Jayde Struhs, older sister of slain 8yo Elizabeth Struhs, sues state for psychiatric injury after cult death tragedy

"Bombshell details surrounding the death of a young girl left to die at the hands of religious fanatics have been revealed in a $750,000 lawsuit filed by her older sister.

Jayde Struhs is suing the Queensland state government for damages arising from psychiatric injury she suffered in the wake of the death of Elizabeth Struhs, 8, back in January 2022.

The young girl had type diabetes and died after her parents, Jason Richard Struhs and Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs, along with 12 other members of the cult-like Christian group – known as the “Saints” – withdrew her lifesaving insulin medication."

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