A 21-year-old woman from Washington State who authorities say started the shoot-out that killed a U.S. Border Patrol agent made her initial appearance in federal court on Monday.
Teresa Youngblut, who was wounded in the exchange, had her arm in a sling and also wore a mask over her face when she appeared in U.S. District Court in Burlington.
She’s charged with two weapons offenses stemming from a shoot-out on Interstate 91 in northern Vermont. Agent David “Chris” Maland was killed, as was Felix Bauckholt, a German man driving the car that Youngblut was a passenger in.
Hours before the court hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Lasher submitted a court filing seeking her continued detention, alleging that Youngblut was associated with people suspected of violent acts in other states. Lasher wrote that Youngblut had been in “frequent contact with” an individual who was detained in Pennsylvania in connection with a double homicide and who was also a person of interest in a homicide in Vallejo, Calif.
The court filing also revealed that Youngblut possessed a journal that included “cypher text” and phrases such as “coming up on acid” and “This lsd trip seems pretty mellow.”
Lasher argued that Youngblut should remain in custody, as she presented a risk to the public.
Steven Barth, the public defender assigned to Youngblut’s case, contested her detention. A hearing to decide whether Youngblut will remain behind bars was scheduled for Thursday.
Youngblut had been traveling with Bauckholt in northern Vermont for several days, but court documents do not say why.
On January 14, an employee of a Lyndonville hotel where they were staying called to report concerns. The caller told police the two were wearing what appeared to be all-black, tactical-style clothing and that Youngblut was wearing a holstered firearm.
On January 20, according to the affidavit, U.S. Border Patrol agents conducted a stop of their vehicle because it appeared Bauckholt — the Prius’ registered owner — had an expired visa.
Prosecutors allege that Youngblut pulled a handgun and fired toward border patrol agents without warning, prompting an exchange of gunfire that left both Bauckholt and agent Maland dead.
Investigators recovered about a dozen electronic devices, tactical gear, two face respirators, a package of shooting range targets, two handheld radios and the journal.
The Seattle Times reported last Friday that Youngblut’s parents previously had reported her missing to police in Washington. They told police that they were fearful she was in a controlling relationship and was being forced to cut off contact with her friends and family. She had packed all of her belongings from her bedroom, including her passport and medical records, into duffel bags and left in May of last year, the newspaper reported.
In court on Monday, a middle-age couple who appeared to be distraught lingered after the court proceedings had concluded. Youngblut made prolonged eye contact with the couple before she was escorted out.
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This article appears in Jan 22-28, 2025.
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