Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, may have targeted the company due to its size and influence, according to a senior police official. Mangione was charged in connection with the murder, but investigators have found no evidence that he was a client of the medical insurer.
Mangione’s motive for the crime may have been fueled by his own experiences with chronic back pain, which he has documented on social media. However, his LinkedIn profile shows no connection to UnitedHealthcare. The company was holding its annual investor conference in New York City on the day of the murder.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny revealed that investigators have uncovered evidence suggesting Mangione had prior knowledge of the investor conference and mentioned the company in a note found on his possession. “We have no indication that he was ever a client of United Healthcare, but he does make mention that it is the fifth largest corporation in America, which would make it the largest healthcare organization in America,” Kenny said.
Mangione remains incarcerated in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested on December 7, and is fighting attempts to extradite him back to New York to face a murder charge. His lawyer has claimed that he has yet to see evidence decisively linking his client to the crime. A hearing is scheduled for December 30 to determine whether Mangione will be extradited back to New York.