Lawyers for Luigi Mangione, the man accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City, provided him with clothes for a hearing last month that included hidden heart-shaped notes, prosecutors revealed Tuesday.
The notes were discovered in a pair of socks given to Mangione for his first appearance in a Manhattan courtroom on February 21, where he faced state murder and terrorism charges. A letter from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office provided details of the findings.
One note contained a message of support: “Know there are thousands of people wishing you luck,” according to the prosecution. The note was addressed to the judge overseeing the case. A second heart-shaped note, addressed to someone named Joan, was also found. While it’s unclear if the note was meant for the spokesperson for the defense, also named Joan, attempts to reach her on Wednesday were unsuccessful.
In a filing on Wednesday, Mangione’s attorneys presented photos of both notes, claiming they were inadvertently included with the clothing. One note was not intended for Mangione, the filing states, and a second line not mentioned in the prosecution’s letter was found in one of the notes: “We are all rooting for you! Keep your head high.”
Mangione, 26, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism, as well as other related charges.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg called the killing “a frightening, well-planned, targeted murder that was intended to cause shock, attention, and intimidation.”
Authorities have stated that Mangione’s writings and social media posts indicate he suffered a life-altering back injury prior to the December 4 fatal shooting of Thompson outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel. Mangione was not insured by UnitedHealthcare at the time of the incident.
After his arrest in Pennsylvania five days later, Mangione was found with a handwritten note referencing the healthcare industry and stating, “these parasites had it coming,” according to law enforcement sources.
Reference: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/hidden-heart-shaped-notes-found-luigi-mangiones-socks-prosecutors-say-rcna198278
The murder led to discussions about the U.S. healthcare industry, and dozens of supporters attended Mangione’s February 21 hearing.
In a letter filed Tuesday, senior trial counsel Joel Seidmann explained that incarcerated defendants typically wear jail-issued clothing, but accommodations were made to provide Mangione with clothing that suited his “fashion needs.” The notes were discovered by an investigator who was searching the clothing, a situation the prosecution described as a violation of the procedure.
However, in the defense’s filing, Mangione’s attorneys argued that wearing personal clothing for a court hearing is not an unusual request, as many defendants are granted the same accommodation.
It remains unclear whether Mangione ever received the notes. According to the letter, he tried on the socks but removed them after deciding they “did not look good.”
Seidmann also urged the judge to reject Mangione’s request for a laptop to review evidence in the case. “The defendant has ample access to desktop computers,” the prosecutor stated.
Mangione is currently being held in a federal jail in Brooklyn and faces a potential life sentence without the possibility of parole if convicted. He is also charged with federal crimes, including stalking, murder through the use of a firearm, and a firearms offense, which carry the possibility of the death penalty.
