As Luigi Mangione, the man accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, awaits trial, his defence fund received a hefty addition earlier this week from a mystery donor.
The anonymous benefactor pledged $36,500 US to the Luigi Mangione Official Defense Fund on the platform GiveSendGo, which was launched in December to cover the accused killer’s legal bills.
Donors can remain anonymous or include their name, as well as leave a comment or not.
While the generous person opted to remain unknown, they explained their reasoning behind the lavish donation, noting that the response Mangione has received following his detainment played a large role.
“What intrigues me about this case is how unified folks’ responses are regardless of strata,” the anonymous giver wrote in a comment.
“In Corporate America, for instance, there has been widespread doubt of potential prosecutorial mishandling and overcharging,” they continued.
“I’ve also been surprised at the almost ubiquitous nature of support towards the suspect that I would expect to be quite bifurcated in this type of litigation. Quite exceptional.”
The donation topped the previous record of $30,000 from another anonymous giver, who said they “never needed to worry about affording med care.”
Mangione is being held without bail in a Brooklyn detention centre where he has received overwhelming support from adoring fans, many of whom are frustrated over health insurance companies’ profits and coverage denials.
The alleged murderer’s defence fund got a further boost after there were reports of numerous sex tapes of him circulating online.
However, his attorney Karen Agnifilo told the Daily Mail the videos are “fake and not Luigi.”
The campaign, created by The December 4th Legal Committee, has raised more than at $723,000 with a goal of $1 million.
It was launched after Mangione was arrested at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s following a five-day manhunt after Thompson’s murder on a Manhattan street.
The 26-year-old faces a slew of federal and state charges in New York and Pennsylvania.
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If convicted on the federal murder charges, Mangione could get the death penalty.
He also faces state murder charges that accuse him of committing an act of terrorism.
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to the state charges but has not yet entered a plea on the federal charges.
Last month, he made his first public statement saying he was “overwhelmed” and “grateful” for those who have written to him in jail.
Mangione is scheduled to return to federal court in Manhattan on March 19.