Luigi Mangione, the man accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, had a secret online life.
Under the username Mister_Cactus, Mangione shared his struggles with health issues on Reddit, from back pain to sleep problems.
But what drove him to commit such a heinous crime?
A History of Health Problems
Mangione’s Reddit posts, reviewed by PEOPLE, reveal a young man plagued by various health problems. In the fall of 2018, he wrote about his restless sleep, describing how he would wake up 10 times in a typical eight-hour night’s sleep. He claimed that getting any less than eight hours of sleep would leave him feeling exhausted during the day.
A month later, Mangione turned to Reddit again, this time seeking advice on managing his irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). He asked if it was still worth pursuing a low FODMAP diet, despite testing negative for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).
Fast-forward to 2023, and Mangione was open about his back issues. He shared his experience with spondylolisthesis, a rare condition where the vertebrae in the spine slip out of place. Former neighbors reported that he had been suffering from a pinched nerve while living in Hawaii.
A Journey of Surgery and Recovery
Mangione’s Reddit posts take a more hopeful turn in 2023, as he shared his successful surgery and recovery from back issues. He wrote about his experience on an “Athletic Success Stories” thread, hoping to reassure others facing similar problems.
“I was completely devastated as a young athletic person,” Mangione wrote. “But within 7 days of the fusion, I was on zero pain meds… Even after getting my back sliced open and my spine drilled into, I wasn’t in much pain.”
A Life of Contrasts
Mangione’s online persona seemed to be a far cry from the man who allegedly committed a brutal murder. On December 4, he fatally shot Brian Thompson, 50, in front of a New York City hotel. The motive behind the crime remains unclear, but police found a manifesto railing against healthcare companies on Mangione when he was detained.
The bullet casings found at the murder scene had the words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose” engraved on them – a phrase eerily similar to the insurance industry strategy of “delay, deny, defend.”
A Life Cut Short
Brian Thompson, the victim, was laid to rest in a private funeral on Monday. He is survived by his wife and two sons. Mangione, meanwhile, appeared in court on Tuesday, December 10, charged with one count of murder, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, one count of second-degree possession of a forged document, and one count of third-degree criminal possession of a firearm. He has yet to enter a plea.
The contrast between Mangione’s online life and his alleged crimes is a stark reminder that even the most seemingly ordinary people can harbor dark secrets. As the investigation unfolds, one thing is certain – Luigi Mangione’s life will never be the same again.
