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Prosecutors have unveiled chilling handwritten notes they say belong to Luigi Mangione, the 27-year-old accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The documents, presented in recent court filings, portray a calculated plan rooted in deep animosity towards the healthcare industry.
In a red notebook described as a manifesto, Mangione allegedly outlined months of planning. "I finally feel confident about what I will do. The details are finally coming together," he wrote in August 2024. Expressing no doubt over the morality of his actions, Mangione referred to Thompson's killing as necessary to expose "greedy" executives. "Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming," read one entry addressed "to the feds."
The writings suggest Mangione initially debated more destructive methods. "So say you want to rebel against the deadly, greed fueled health insurance cartel," he posed. "Do you bomb the HQ? No. Bombs = terrorism." Instead, he considered a more "precise" attack: to "wack the CEO at the annual parasitic bean-counter convention." He emphasized, "It's targeted, precise, and doesn't risk innocents."
Throughout the diary, Mangione drew ideological inspiration from notorious figures. He referenced Ted Kaczynski, writing that while the Unabomber made "some good points on the future of humanity," his violent acts undermined his ideas. Mangione hoped his own message would resonate more clearly with the public, foreseeing headlines like: "Insurance CEO killed at annual investors conference. It conveys a greedy bastard that had it coming."
Prosecutors argue these notes prove the killing was an act of terror. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg stated, "This was a killing that was intended to invoke terror." Assistant District Attorney Joel Seidemann echoed this sentiment, writing, "If ever there were an open and shut case pointing to the defendant's guilt, this case is that case."
Mangione's legal team, however, contests the charges and the admissibility of the writings. His attorney, Karen Agnifilo, criticized the Justice Department, calling their pursuit of the death penalty "barbaric." She claimed, "Luigi is caught in a high-stakes game of tug-of-war between state and federal prosecutors, except the trophy is a young man's life."
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all charges, including murder, terrorism, forgery, and multiple federal offenses. His trial date has yet to be set.
