A Florida woman, Briana Boston, 42, is facing charges for allegedly threatening a Blue Cross Blue Shield agent during a phone call about a denied insurance claim. According to police, Boston made the threat after recently having medical claims denied, and used the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson as a reference.
During the recorded call, Boston allegedly said, “Delay, deny, depose. You people are next,” referencing the words found on shell casings at the scene of Thompson’s murder. Boston was upset about the denied claims and claimed that healthcare companies “deserved karma” because they are “evil” and play games.
Boston was arrested and taken into custody, where she allegedly admitted to making the threat and apologized. She also claimed that she does not own firearms and is not dangerous. The incident comes days after Luigi Mangione, 26, was arrested for allegedly murdering Thompson in cold blood in New York City.
In the wake of Thompson’s murder, UnitedHealthcare removed the pictures and names of its executives from its website, and other insurance companies, including some Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, and pharmacies have followed suit, citing fears of copycat actors. Boston’s arrest serves as a reminder of the potential consequences of making threatening statements, and the importance of addressing frustrations with medical claims in a safe and legal manner.