The alleged killer of UnitedHealthcare boss Brian Thompson has made a surprising request to fans who have been flooding his inbox with images as he awaits trial behind bars.
Luigi Mangione, 26, is accused of gunning down the giant health insurer’s chief executive outside the New York Hilton Midtown on December 4 last year.
But earlier this month Mangione’s lawyers, from Agnifilo Intrater, set up a website documenting his case, including a message from the alleged killer thanking his fans.
Mangione has been receiving so much fan mail by post and email, he has now requested that those writing to him send him no more than five photos in each email.
‘Luigi is allowed to receive photos via Shutterfly and FreePrints in accordance with mail procedures while in custody. Luigi appreciates the photos that are sent and kindly asks that people send no more than five photos at a time,’ a statement on the website reads.
The request for ‘no more than five photos’ was made due to the backlog of images which need to be screened by prison authorities before Mangione can enjoy them.
Mangione’s case has captivated the public and has attracted a substantial fanbase of mainly female supporters resonating with the anger toward the healthcare industry.
After his latest court appearance, some claimed the alleged killer ‘is getting even hotter in prison’ while his bare ankles and Nordstrom loafers went viral.
Luigi Mangione has made a surprising request from behind bars as he awaits trial
Mangione has been receiving so much fan mail by post and email, he has now requested that those writing to him send him no more than five photos in each email
Mangione’s case has captivated the public and has attracted a substantial fanbase of mainly female supporters
The fanfare around Mangione has reached shocking heights, with images of him as a saint popping up around Manhattan.
One New Yorker captured an edited photo of Mangione plastered on the back of a tractor trailer.
Last week, Mangione’s supporters packed the courtroom to get a glimpse of the man who has become known as a ‘vigilante.’
Some fans have even gone so far as to donate money to his defense fund. A fundraiser with GiveSendGo was set up for Mangione in December with a goal of raising $1 million.
The fundraiser has already amassed over $610,000 in support of Mangione. The description clarified that the organizers weren’t celebrating violence, but ‘believe in the constitutional right of fair legal representation.’
Mangione released a statement last week thanking the public for the support. ‘Powerfully, this support has transcended political, racial, and even class divisions, as mail has flooded MDC from across the country, and around the globe,’ the statement read.’
‘While it is impossible for me to reply to most letters, please know that I read every one that I receive.’
One super-fan claimed on TikTok that Mangione responded to her letters with a handwritten note of his own – although viewers aren’t buying it.
Holli Lambirth shared a memo in which she says the accused killer wrote from his New York City prison cell, talking about his time in isolation and lamenting being unable to watch the new season of Netflix show Squid Game, dated February 13.
The content creator is a married 26-year-old living in Iowa according to her bio. She said she wrote Mangione a letter telling him she had been wearing a t-shirt with a photograph of him on the front to show her support.
Luigi Mangione super-fan Holli Lambirth (shown left) has claimed on TikTok that he responded to her letters with a handwritten note of his own (shown right) – but viewers aren’t buying it
An image depicting Mangione, 26, in a saint’s garb with a halo around his head was featured on a vehicle driving by the Manhattan Supreme Court before his hearing
Mangione, 26, is alleged to have gunned down the giant health insurer’s chief executive, Brian Thompson outside the New York Hilton Midtown on December 4
Responding to this, the accused assassin apparently wrote back: ‘Dear Holli, Oh god.
‘I hope your mugshot t-shirt has the photo of me in blue the day I was picked up at the McDonald’s for the heinous crime of ordering a hash brown, and not the photo of me in orange looking disheveled after they held me in isolation for a week in an 8-by-15 cell when the lights never go off.
‘Though even seeing me at my worst didn’t deter TikTok, LOL.
‘Regardless – thank you! I’m flattered. I obviously can’t watch Squid Game in here, but I did watch season one when it first came out. Great series.
‘Thanks for the letter and happy (belated holidays) – Luigi.’ The note has not been verified, with many people questioning whether Mangione would actually comment on his ongoing court case.
Lambirth’s video then panned to a mirror selfie of herself wearing the t-shirt bearing a photograph of Mangione.
Her TikTok clip also showed the apparent address of the sender – the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn where Mangione, 26, is being held.
The video was met with a flood of skepticism from viewers who questioned the legitimacy of the note.
‘He didn’t write this LOL’, one person said, while another wrote that the letter contained ‘grammatical errors he wouldn’t make’.
Lambirth responded with a second video showing her name on the same envelope with the prison address on, and a third video of her apparently opening the letter for the first time while telling the non-believers to ‘shut the f*** up’.
Hailey Vivani described locking eyes with Luigi Mangione at court as giving her an ‘out-of-body experience’
Last Friday, a woman who locked eyes with him as he left court said it felt like an ‘out of body experience’.
The murder suspect was greeted by star-struck fans when he entered Manhattan Criminal Court for a status hearing.
Among his supporters in attendance was Hailey Viviani, 23, who said she thought to herself ‘oh my god’ as the alleged killer stared her down as he walked out following the hearing.
Speaking afterward Viviani, a cashier from Staten Island, New York, said: ‘To see him with the shackles on his hands and his arms, it was dehumanizing. They’re treating him like he’s a terrible person and it’s really sad to see.
‘Seeing it online is one thing but seeing it in the flesh’.
Asked what it was like to see Mangione in person, Vivian said: ‘Honestly it was like an out-of-body experience. I’ve seen all the videos but this was the first time I’ve attended a court date.
‘On the way out he was scanning the crowd and I made eye contact but I looked away but I didn’t want to make eye contact for too long.
‘But then I saw him look back at me and was like: ‘Oh my god’,’ she said, waving her hand next to her face.
Brian Thompson was killed on December 4, 2024 outside of a hotel on the streets of Manhattan
Mangione sat with his lawyers in shackles, a bulletproof vest, and a green sweater during last Friday’s hearing
Mangione was greeted with support from fans who rallied outside the courthouse in hopes of getting a glimpse of him
Viviani added: ‘If he really did do it I don’t agree with killing, but so many people have been screwed by healthcare.
Outside court, a crowd of around 150 people chanted ‘Free Luigi’ and held up posters and a flag with Mangione’s face.
Among them were two friends who gave their names as Sarah and Mary who said they traveled in from Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, for the hearing.
Both of them held up signs saying: ‘Free Luigi’.
Sarah said: ‘He’s not a terrorist. We’re here to show we haven’t forgotten about him. His message is about uniting the country and the way we’ve been screwed by corporations.’
Mary said: ‘There are people who have committed worse crimes like serial killers. He doesn’t deserve the death penalty.
‘This was a wakeup call for America. He’s started a revolution.’
Mangione pleaded not guilty to state murder and terror charges on December 23 for the killing of Thompson on December 4.
Mangione sat in court with his hands and ankles shackled, as Judge Carro denied the defense’s request to remove them.
His family was not present at the courthouse, but they did release a statement following Mangione’s arrest.
‘Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest. We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved. We are devastated by this news,’ they said at the time.
Mangione is currently being held in a Brooklyn federal detention center while details on his trial unfold
Supporters of Luigi Mangione showed up at a Manhattan courthouse on Friday for a hearing
Imagery depicting Mangione as a saint appeared throughout New York City on the day of his hearing
Images supporting Mangione appeared throughout Manhattan as the now infamous ‘vigilante’ appeared in court for a hearing
Photographers captured stunning images of Mangione being escorted by armed officers and Mayor Eric Adams after he was extradited back to New York City
Friday’s hearing was the first time Mangione was seen outside of the detention center since December.
Mangione was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania, five days after he allegedly killed Thompson outside of the Hilton Hotel.
He’s accused of shooting the CEO twice and fleeing the scene on an electric bike. The shooting set of a man hunt searching for the alleged killer.
Surveillance camera footage captured a photo of the suspect and the public was asked to help police locate him.
A tip from someone who claimed they saw Mangione at a McDonald’s led to his arrest. He was extradited back to New York City on December 19.
Photographers captured the shocking moment Mangione was escorted down a Manhattan pier alongside multiple armed officers, Mayor Eric Adams, and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
Mangione is facing federal murder, firearms, and stalking charges. The state hasn’t yet announced whether they would be seeking the death penalty.
His next court hearing is scheduled for March 19.
