Luigi Mangione, the man charged with murder in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, appeared to speak frequently online about his alleged health problems, offering insight into the struggles he faced as a young adult had.
Mangione, 26, appeared to maintain a Reddit profile in which he described health issues such as back pain, brain fog and sciatica. Several posts have been published in a section of the site (known as a subreddit) dedicated to the spinal condition spondylolisthesis.
Several details appear to link the profile to Mangione, and a 2016 post included a link to a page on Github, a programming website, that listed Mangione's full name.
Law enforcement sources told ABC News that the profile – which has since been deleted – was being reviewed for further details about the extent of the violations mentioned.
Luigi Mangione, a suspect in the murder of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson in New York City, leaves after an extradition hearing at the Blair County Court House in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, December 10, 2024.
Eduardo Munoz/Reuters
A Reddit spokesperson told ABC News about the site: “I can confirm that our policy is to suspend accounts that may be connected to suspects in high-profile criminal investigations.”
While the posts suggest that spinal surgery was a significant moment in his life, the author of the posts said the procedure left him pain-free and he often encouraged others to have similar procedures.
One of Mangione's apparent posts on the r/Spondylolisthesis subreddit in February 2024 referenced that he had undergone surgery for the condition six months earlier.
“Yes, I had an L5/S1 spinal fusion 6 months ago after 1.5 years of failed conservative treatment. Within 7 days of the fusion I was no longer on pain medication. (That's probably faster than most people, but my point is just that your body doesn't.) “I shouldn't be in pain and need medication. Even after my back was cut open and my spine was drilled out, I didn't experience much pain,” the post reads.
Luigi Mangione was arrested by police in Altoona, Pennsylvania on Monday.
PA Department of Corrections
Several other posts recommended other users undergo surgery to treat the condition; One post claimed that as a “nuclear option,” readers seeking surgery could convince doctors of the need by feigning foot drop or intentionally urinating on themselves.
In another post in August 2023, the user noted that his spinal injury was once “completely devastating” and feared that he would “be subjected to chronic pain and a desk job for the rest of my life” before considering surgery.
ABC News did not find any posts mentioning UnitedHealthcare, the largest U.S. health insurance company, in an online archive of the site that appears to belong to Mangione, but a 2018 post referenced BCBS coverage, an obvious one Reference to Blue Cross Blue Shield.
In another post from 2023, which was apparently written two weeks before back surgery, the user also referred to his sciatica: “I was caught in this loop for a year while at 20 I put my life on hold and “damaged my nerves” as I wavered over the decision.
The profile has also been active in a brain fog community and published a post in 2018 about what he described as cognitive issues as a 20-year-old college student.
“It's absolutely brutal to have such a life-threatening problem,” the user wrote.
The posts related to spondylolisthesis match other details about Mangione's back problems.
In interviews, friends of Mangione have mentioned that his spinal disease repeatedly affected his quality of life.
In a photo released by the Pennsylvania State Police, Luigi Mangione is seen eating at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on December 9, 2024.
Pennsylvania State Police
“It wasn't that he was in a lot of pain all the time, but it seems like certain things were the trigger,” said RJ Martin, the founder of the co-living space where Mangione lived in Hawaii.
In a Reddit post, the account that appeared to belong to Mangione mentioned how extremely painful the problem became after he went surfing in Hawaii in 2022. Another incident occurred when he slipped on a piece of paper.
According to Martin, Mangione rarely complained of the disease, even though it affected his life.
“It hurt, but he never complained about it and never really brought it up, which is very honorable, at least in my eyes,” Martin said.
In an X-ray profile believed to have been operated on by Mangione, the cover photo shows an X-ray showing pins from spinal fusion surgery.
A Goodreads profile associated with Mangione also suggested that he frequently read about how to relieve back pain. Among the titles Mangione read or wanted to read were “Crooked: Outwitting the Back Pain Industry and Getting on the Road to Recovery” and “Do You Really Need Spine Surgery: Take Control with a Surgeon's Advice?”
