DOJ to seek death penalty for woman charged with killing Minnesota native working as border agent

With a fresh four-count indictment in hand, the U.S. Department of Justice said Thursday it will seek the death penalty in connection with the killing of a Minnesota native during a shootout while he was on duty as a federal border agent in northern Vermont.

A federal grand jury returned the superseding indictment charging 21-year-old Teresa Youngblut, of Seattle, with the Jan. 20 killing of David “Chris” Maland, 44, who grew up in Blue Earth. The indictment also charges Youngblut with assault with a deadly weapon against two other agents and related gun offenses.

Youngblut remains in federal custody and is due back in court on Sept. 5.

The seeking of the death penalty came at the direction of U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Bondi’s acting assistant attorney general in charge of the Criminal Division, Matthew Galeotti, said in a statement that “as alleged, [Youngblut] shot and killed a United States border patrol agent while he was performing his duties. We will not stand for such attacks on the men and women who protect our communities and our borders.”

A German man with Youngblut, 30-year-old Felix Baukholt, was killed during the gunfight. Another person not officially identified was wounded and hospitalized, the FBI said.

According to court documents:

Investigators attempted to question them, but they said little more than they were looking to buy property.

About two hours before the shooting, investigators watched Baukholt exit a Walmart in Newport, Vt., with two packages of aluminum foil. He was seen wrapping unidentifiable objects while in a vehicle passenger seat.

Maland stopped Youngblut and Baukholt in his car on Interstate 91 in Coventry, Vt., because Baukholt appeared to have an expired visa, an FBI affidavit read.

During the stop, Youngblut, who was inside the car, opened fire without warning on Maland and other officers. Baukholt tried to draw a gun but was shot. At least one border agent fired on Youngblut and Baukholt, who died at the scene. Maland died at a nearby hospital.

A Vermont State Police search of Baukholt’s car after the shootout turned up two handguns and ammunition magazines. The filing also revealed that another search of the car by the FBI turned up tactical and communications gear, including a ballistic helmet, a night-vision monocular, a belt with a holster and loaded magazine, a packet of shooting targets, a pair of two-way handheld radios and a dozen electronic devices.

The filing did not disclose why the two were in possession of these items.

Maland is the first Border Patrol agent to be killed by gunfire in the line of duty in more than a decade.

“The murder of a federal agent is more than a tragic loss,” Jose Perez, assistant director of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, said Thursday. “It’s an attack on the security of our nation and the safety of our communities. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will not rest until those responsible are held accountable. We are all steadfast in our mission to curb violence that endangers both public servants and the citizens we are sworn to protect.”