Is there a ‘link’ between UnitedHealthcare CEO’s murder and book criticising insurance companies?

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot dead outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel early Wednesday while he was walking from his hotel alone. A gunman approached from behind and shot him in the back.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) is investigating the high-profile murder, who was captured on surveillance cameras, as the suspect remains at large. Police have found live rounds and shell casings at the scene engraved with the words “deny,” “depose,” and “defend”.

ALSO READ | Who was Brian Thompson, UnitedHealthcare CEO shot dead outside NYC hotel? How did the shooting unfold?

Authorities now suspect that the message might be connected to criticism of the business, similar to a 2010 book condemning health insurers, as Thompson was one of the industry’s most powerful figures.

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What is the connection with the book?

Notably, the three words engraved on the shell casings are similar to the title of Jay Feinman’s 2010 book ‘Delay, Deny, Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don’t Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It’, The New York Post reported.

!!! The shooter of UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson wrote “deny” “defend” “depose” on the shell casings left at the scene, ABC News reports.

The words echo the name of a book about how insurers won’t pay claims.

This is an EARTHQUAKE for corporate America. pic.twitter.com/iBI255WPOl

— Alex Berenson (@AlexBerenson) December 5, 2024

These words are similar to the themes of the book that criticised the methods of the industry. “Today the name of the game is delay, deny, defend: to improve their profits, insurance companies delay payment of justified claims, deny payment altogether, and defend their actions by forcing claimants to enter litigation,” the book’s blurb reads.

Police are now exploring connections to the book and broader issues within the health insurance industry as potential motives, sources told The Post. Online speculation suggests that the attack may have been targeted, possibly due to a denied insurance claim by UnitedHealthcare, which has faced criticism in the past.

Notably, the 2010 book reveals “how insurance companies have developed unethical practices of delaying or denying legitimate claims, sharing dozens of stories involving major insurers while counselling readers on how to make insurance buying decisions and pursue disputed claims,” according to a blurb.

ALSO READ | Deny, Defend and Depose: The chilling message UnitedHealthcare CEO’s shooter left at the crime scene

Thompson’s estranged wife, Paulette “Pauley” Thompson, told NBC News that he had been receiving threats related to his job but provided no specifics. “I don’t know details. I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him,” she said.

Police in Minnesota have no records of specific threats against Thompson, but, in 2018, Paulette Thompson reported seeing the deadbolt on their front door turning, leading her to believe someone was attempting to break in. No evidence of forced entry was found.

What author of the book said

Jay M Feinman, the author of the book, has refused to comment on the possible connection between his book and the murder of Thompson.

When asked by The Sun about the potential link, the author said, “No comment, sorry.”

On being approached by Dailymail for a comment, Feinman responded “No comment.”

Who was Brian Thompson?

Thompson was the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, the insurance division of UnitedHealth Group Inc. Based in Minnetonka, Minnesota, Thompson worked at the company for 20 years and had been leading its insurance operations since 2021.

He earned a $10.2 million annual compensation package, making him one of the company’s highest-paid executives. Despite his senior role, he maintained a low profile, with UnitedHealth Group’s CEO Andrew Witty acting as the public face of the organisation.

A graduate of the University of Iowa and a certified public accountant, he lived in Maple Grove, a Minneapolis suburb, with his wife and two high school-aged sons.

How did he die?

Thompson was shot on Wednesday morning while walking alone to the New York Hilton Midtown for UnitedHealth Group’s annual investor conference. Around 6:45 am, a gunman approached from behind and shot him, hitting his back and right calf, police said.

Police officers found him on the sidewalk, and he was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital at 7:12 am, Joseph Kenny, NYPD Chief of Detectives, said. The police have described the attack as a targeted killing.

Notably, surveillance footage captured the masked gunman calmly walking up to Thompson, shooting him multiple times, and fleeing the scene on a bicycle after briefly clearing a gun jam.

Police recovered several items connected to the suspect, including a cellphone found in a pedestrian plaza, and a water bottle and protein bar wrapper discarded in a nearby trash can. Investigators are analysing these for DNA and fingerprints.

What we know about the shooter

Joseph Kenny revealed that the shooter, wearing a black face mask, black-and-white sneakers, and a distinctive grey backpack, waited outside the Midtown Manhattan hotel for five minutes before targeting Brian Thompson. He ignored other pedestrians and approached Thompson from behind.

The 9 mm pistol jammed during the attack but was quickly fixed, he said. After the shooting, the suspect fled into an alley and then rode an e-bike north along Sixth Avenue into Central Park, where surveillance is limited.

“From watching the video, it does seem that he’s proficient in the use of firearms as he was able to clear the malfunctions pretty quickly,” Kenny said.

Earlier reports suggested the bike was from the CitiBike fleet, but Lyft later clarified it was not part of their system. Investigators are now searching for clues, including at a hostel in New York’s Upper West Side where the suspect may have stayed.

The shooter, described as light-skinned with an average build, was captured in surveillance footage, including photos of him raising the gun and fleeing. More photos showed his eyes and nose while standing in a cafe.

UnitedHealthcare, where Thompson served as CEO since April 2021, is the largest US health insurer. His death comes amid challenges for the company, including fallout from a major data hack affecting its Change Healthcare unit, which has disrupted medical care and reimbursements for months.

With inputs from agencies