Days after police started observing her and a German companion who also perished in the roadside firefight, a Washington state woman was charged on Friday with the murder of a U.S. Border Patrol agent in Vermont.
In relation to the death of Border Patrol Agent David Maland, 44, who perished Monday during the gunfight in Coventry, a small town located roughly 20 miles (32 kilometers) from the Canadian border, Teresa Youngblut, 21, is charged with two firearms offenses.
A border agent stopped Felix Bauckholt and Youngblut on Interstate 91 to do an immigration examination, according to an FBI affidavit. According to a Department of Homeland Security database at the time, Bauckholt’s visa looked to have expired, but investigators later verified that it was valid, the FBI said Friday.
According to the FBI, Youngblut, who had been operating Bauckholt’s vehicle, abruptly exited and began shooting at Maland and other cops. According to the affidavit, Bauckholt was shot when he attempted to draw a gun.
Although police have not identified whose rounds struck whom, at least one border agent fired on Youngblut and Bauckholt.
In a statement, acting U.S. Attorney Michael Drescher said, “The circumstances that led to this prosecution tragically show how the men and women of law enforcement regularly put their lives on the line as they try to keep our communities and our country safe.” By carrying out our prosecutorial responsibilities, we hope to pay tribute to them and the memory of Border Patrol Agent Maland and ensure that justice is served.
According to the affidavit, investigators had been conducting routine surveillance of Youngblut and Bauckholt since January 14 when a hotel employee who was staying with them expressed worry after observing Youngblut with a gun and both of them wearing black tactical gear. When investigators attempted to speak with the pair, they indicated they were in the region to purchase real estate but refused to engage in a lengthy discussion, according to the FBI.
Investigators observed Bauckholt carrying two packages of aluminum foil out of a Newport, North of Coventry, Walmart around two hours before to the incident. The affidavit states that he was observed sitting in the passenger seat and wrapping indistinguishable objects.
According to the FBI, when police searched the vehicle following the gunfight, they discovered ammo, respirators, night-vision goggles, a ballistic helmet, and smartphones wrapped in foil. A package of shooting range targets, some of which had been used, two-way radios, roughly a dozen electronic devices, travel and housing information for several states, and what appeared to be a journal were also discovered.
A voicemail asking for more details was not answered by the public defender’s office that will represent Youngblut. In Washington state, a guy who answered a phone listing for Youngblut’s family said he was Youngblut’s grandfather and would not speak. At residences linked to Youngblut’s name in Redmond, Washington, and Seattle, no one answered the door, and neighbors chose not to respond.
On behalf of his family, Joan Maland, Maland’s aunt, chose not to comment on the arrest. The family sent a message thanking everyone for their support.
They claimed it was beyond their wildest expectations that those who had never met David Christopher Maland personally would send condolences and kind words of support. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Please keep praying for us as we continue to be grieving.
