A man from New York has been hit with charges for cyberstalking a relative of the late UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Federal prosecutors announced the allegations on Wednesday, claiming that Shane Daley, 40, left a series of threatening voicemails that expressed a disturbing satisfaction regarding the executive’s tragic death.
RELATED:Luigi Mangione Charged with the Murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson
According to a criminal complaint, Daley is accused of making several calls to a member of Thompson’s family following the fatal shooting. In these messages, he reportedly justified the violence, suggesting that the victim “deserved to die” in a similar way, which added to the family’s grief during an already painful time.
Daley, who hails from Galway, New York—a quiet town located north of Albany—was taken into custody and made an initial court appearance on Wednesday. He has since been released under GPS monitoring while awaiting his next court date, set for Thursday afternoon. His attorney, Samuel Breslin, has indicated that they are currently reviewing the claims and associated evidence.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone made a public statement condemning the actions, saying, “Brian Thompson was tragically murdered in midtown Manhattan. Allegations suggest that Daley not only took pleasure in this misfortune but actively sought to amplify the Thompson family’s anguish.”
Thompson was shot dead outside a Manhattan hotel last December by a man who was seemingly motivated by a grievance over corporate greed, prosecutors have reported. That suspect, identified as Luigi Mangione, has entered a plea of not guilty.
The incident surrounding Thompson’s death triggered widespread outrage regarding the U.S. healthcare system, leading many individuals to share their own struggles with insurance providers.
Mangione has, controversially, been viewed by some as a vigilante figure in the ongoing critique of the insurance industry, complicating the narrative surrounding this tragic event.