The FBI had a word with Kathleen Mangione, mother of Luigi Mangione, a day before her son was arrested in the UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson‘s murder case as the suspected killer.
According to the New York Post citing sources, the federal investigations had talked with Kathleen as she reported him missing to San Francisco police on November 18. She noted that she hadn’t spoken to her son since July 1 and was unaware of his whereabouts
the Joint Violent Crimes Task Force’s questioning followed a tip from San Francisco police, received four days earlier, regarding a missing person’s report filed by the family in November, sources indicated.
When San Francisco police noticed similarities between the 26-year-old’s appearance and surveillance footage released by the NYPD after Thompson’s, 50, shooting, they alerted federal authorities. However, his mother expressed uncertainty about identifying her son in the images.
The suspect was apprehended the next morning at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s, before federal authorities could inform the NYPD about their discussion.
Prior to allegedly killing Thompson, the suspect had disappeared for months, travelling alone in Asia before suddenly returning.
“Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest,” Mangione’s family said in a statement posted on social media by Nino Mangione, a Republican Maryland state legislator on Monday.
“We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.”
Mangione stands accused of shooting Thompson whilst the CEO walked to the Hilton hotel on Sixth Avenue during UnitedHealthcare’s parent company’s annual investor conference on December 4.
The University of Pennsylvania alumnus evaded authorities for five days until his capture at the restaurant, following an employee’s recognition and subsequent police notification.
Authorities discovered him carrying four counterfeit identification documents, a 3D-printed firearm with a homemade silencer, and written materials criticising UnitedHealthcare and insurance companies’ financial practices.
Currently held without bail in Pennsylvania, Mangione faces murder charges and has pleaded not guilty to weapons and forgery offences.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced on Friday that the suspect might be transferred from Pennsylvania to New York by Tuesday to face murder charges.
Previously resisting extradition to New York, Mangione’s position may change. “Indications are that the defendant may waive, but that waiver is not complete until a court proceeding,” Bragg said during a public safety press conference in Times Square.
“Until that time, we’re going to continue to press forward on parallel paths, and we’ll be ready whether he’s going to waive extradition or contest extradition.”