Florida woman threatens insurance company with UnitedHealthcare CEO killer's 'delay, deny, depose' slogan

A Florida woman has been charged with threatening her health insurance provider during a phone call, allegedly using the same words found on bullet casings at the scene of a New York City killing of a health insurance executive.

Briana Boston, 42, was arrested Tuesday (December 10) after police say she told a Blue Cross Blue Shield representative, “Delay, deny, depose. You people are next,” during a recorded call about a denied insurance claim.

Lakeland police said the phrase matched the wording on casings found at the December 4 shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

The words “delay,” “deny” and “depose” are linked to the “delay, deny, defend” strategy often associated with insurance companies handling costly claims.

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Patients and healthcare providers have long criticized insurers for practices perceived as prioritizing profits over patient care, such as denying claims, delaying treatments, and imposing bureaucratic hurdles.

Police say Boston, questioned the day after the call, admitted to using the phrase because it was “in the news.” She denied owning firearms but reportedly described insurance companies as “evil” and deserving of “karma.”

Boston has been charged with threatening to conduct an act of terrorism, a second-degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. She remains held without bail at the Polk County Jail.

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Court records did not list an attorney for Boston, and a phone number linked to her address was disconnected.

Luigi Mangione, 26, has been charged with murder in Thompson’s death, which occurred on a New York City street.

The fatal shooting of Thompson has ignited widespread public frustration with the US health insurance industry, leading to the idolisation of Mangione. Social media platforms have seen the proliferation of memes, merchandise, and hashtags like #FreeLuigi, reflecting a segment of the public’s empathy towards his alleged motives.

With inputs from agencies