A 33-year-old woman has been charged with first-degree murder in the 2023 killings of her parents at their home in Chester Heights, Pennsylvania. Michelle Zajko faces additional conspiracy charges, according to the Delaware County District Attorney's Office.
Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse announced the charges on Wednesday. Zajko has been in jail in Maryland since February 2025 on separate gun charges.
The parents, 69-year-old Rita Zajko and 72-year-old Richard Zajko, were shot dead on New Year's Eve 2022. Prosecutors said the mother had texted her daughter earlier that day to apologize for their estrangement that began in early 2022.
Authorities cited doorbell camera footage from a neighbor showing at least two people at the door. Zajko is accused of creating a list of mistakes made during the crime, including leaving shell casings behind.
Zajko is linked to the Zizians group and also faces gun trafficking charges in Vermont. She has denied the murder allegations in an open letter sent through her attorney.