Last week’s murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in the heart of Midtown Manhattan has left investigators piecing together a chilling puzzle.
It’s one that, according to retired FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer, exhibits all the hallmarks of a killer, driven by a calculated desire to send a message.
Thompson, 50, was shot in broad daylight on December 4 outside the Hilton Hotel, where he was scheduled to attend an investor meeting.
But the brutal nature of the crime and the cryptic clues left behind have captured public attention and led Coffindaffer to conclude that this was much more than a random act of violence.
“This looks much bigger, like a vigilante group,” Coffindaffer said The everyday beast. “Someone well prepared to make a big statement and blame UnitedHealthcare.”
Among the evidence left at the scene were shell casings etched with the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose.”
Days later, police found a backpack believed to belong to the suspect, filled with Monopoly money.
Coffindaffer believes the killer’s choice of symbols underlines a broader grievance against the health care system.
Last week’s murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in the heart of Midtown Manhattan has left investigators with a chilling puzzle to solve
The brutal nature of the crime and the cryptic clues left behind have captured public attention
Thompson, 50, was shot in broad daylight on December 4 outside the Hilton Hotel, where he was scheduled to attend an investor meeting.
“By ‘depose,’ people assumed it referred to legal declarations, but I think it meant something more powerful: removing someone from office, and that’s exactly what he did,” Coffindaffer explained.
“To me, this seems like someone who goes way beyond just a personal situation where he lost a family member or a loved one because he didn’t have insurance,” Coffindaffer said.
As for the Monopoly money, Coffindaffer said she believed it served as an indictment of UnitedHealthcare’s practices and was possibly a symbol of greed or corporate monopoly.
“This is not someone who is acting impulsively,” she added. ‘This is a sign of someone who is truly narcissistic in nature. They’re just really trying to make themselves stand out as this intelligent, smarter-than-cop type of figure. That’s the motivation here, more than the message.’
Coffindaffer also noted the extensive planning that likely went into the attack.
“I don’t think I’ve seen this level of advance operational planning in any crime, let alone a homicide,” former NYPD Department Chief Kenneth E. Corey told police. New York Times.
“The manhunts are all very different, and become more complicated as they move outside the area.”
The suspect reportedly spent 10 days in Manhattan, including Thanksgiving, staying at a local youth hostel. Such a timeline suggests careful preparation.
‘I think he would have practiced. He would have traveled the route. He knew exactly what he wanted to do. I wonder what family might not notice their loved one is gone,” Coffindaffer said. “I just thought the timing was really interesting.”
Police have since tracked the suspect to a bus station in the city and deployed divers to search Central Park’s lakes and ponds for additional evidence.
Last week, a bag believed to belong to the killer was found near the Bethesda Fountain, adding another piece to the puzzle.
FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer says the murder has all the hallmarks of a murderer, driven by a calculated desire to send a message
Among the evidence left at the scene were shell casings etched with the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose.”
A New York City police officer walks through bushes and foliage in Central Park as he searches for a backpack dropped in the park by the person suspected of killing Thompson on Wednesday
New York Mayor Eric Adams said he is determined to find the killer.
A ‘Wanted’ poster is hung by New York City police outside the Hilton hotel in New York, near where UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot dead
Coffindaffer believes the killer is deliberately toying with the police by leaving such clues, creating a larger-than-life personality.
“This is someone who wants to be seen as smarter than everyone else,” she said. “More than the message, they want to elevate themselves into a figure who can outsmart the system.”
New York Mayor Eric Adams said he is determined to find the killer.
‘Let him continue to believe that he can hide behind a mask. We are going to reveal who he is, and we are going to bring him to justice,” he said.
As the investigation enters its second week, pressure is mounting to identify the masked attacker and uncover the motive behind this high-profile murder.
Forensic analysis of the shell casings, surveillance footage and the recovered backpack could provide crucial breakthroughs.
Coffindaffer’s insights suggest that the killer is not only deeply motivated, but also uncannily confident in his ability to evade capture.
“This isn’t over yet,” Coffindaffer said. “But whoever this person is, he left a trail. And sooner or later that trail will lead straight to them.”