A Washington state woman charged in connection with the fatal shooting of a U. She had been traveling with Felix Bauckholt, a German citizen who also was killed, and the pair had been under surveillance for several days. In a motion filed Monday, U. Attorney Michael Drescher said Youngblut should be detained as the case proceeds due to the nature of the crime, the weight of evidence against her, her lack of ties to Vermont, and the danger she poses to the community.
According to the motion, the gun used by Youngblut and one that Bauckholt was carrying were purchased by a third person in Vermont last February. The buyer is a person of interest on a double homicide investigation in Pennsylvania, Drescher said. Youngblut made an initial appearance in a federal court in Burlington on Monday and was scheduled for a detention hearing on Thursday. The public defender assigned to represent Youngblut in U. District Court in Burlington did not return emails seeking comment.
A spokesperson for the U. According to an FBI affidavit, a border agent pulled over Youngblut and Bauckholt on Interstate 91 to conduct an immigration inspection. At the time, Bauckholt appeared to have an expired visa, according to a Department of Homeland Security database, but investigators later confirmed that his visa was current, the FBI said. Bauckholt tried to draw a gun but was shot, the affidavit states.
Investigators tried to question the duo, who said they were in the area looking to buy property but declined to have an extended conversation, the FBI said. During a search of the car after the shootout, authorities found cellphones wrapped in foil, a ballistic helmet, night-vision goggles, respirators and ammunition, the FBI said.
In the account, first reported by The Seattle Times , they said she had left home with duffel bags full of personal belongings, including her passport and medical records. The parents said her behavior had changed and that she had been lying about where she was going and who she was seeing. They said she also had broken off contact with friends and changed her phone number.
