The murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City two days ago is a most mysterious story. Everyone has a theory about why a gunman was lying in wait for Thompson, and how he knew where to find the CEO. Perhaps the most incomprehensible feature of the story is that this masked, hooded killer managed to melt away like a phantom after committing the crime. New York City is riddled with surveillance cameras. As I write, the gunman has not been found and there is a major manhunt on for him.
We don’t deal with the modern world on Old Spirituals, but this murder has brought up certain enduring questions related to true crime.
For instance, Brian Thompson was said to have received death threats. This brings up an interesting question. Why do criminals communicate with someone they intend to harm? We’ve covered many anonymous letter cases: Harriet Jones of Berwick, Pennsylvania and Lillian Hawkins in Ashtabula, Ohio are two notable examples. Poison pen writers have different motives, but jealousy is usually a factor. More recently, we talked about the case of Dorothy Mort, who repeatedly wrote to her victim’s mother.
But what is the purpose of making a death threat? Why should anyone who is planning a murder send a death threat to their intended victim and put them on guard? I’ll see if I can find some cases that we can look into involving death threats.
Another question the current case raises is about manhunts. Of all the manhunts I’ve ever heard or written about, the only one I can think of where the perpetrator successfully eluded police is D.B. Cooper, the skyjacker. Or, depending on what you believe, John Wilkes Booth.
John Wilkes Booth’s escape route (image from murderpedia.com)
Incidentally, there are quite a few parallels between Booth’s crime and escape and the murder of Brian Thompson and the gunman’s subsequent getaway. Some examples are that both crimes involved an assassination of a powerful man in a public place, followed by a carefully planned getaway out of a city where everyone was on the lookout for the perpetrator. Both men made several mistakes before successfully escaping using multiple means of transportation.
Most manhunts end in the capture of the suspect, including the cases of Millard Lee and Dave Edwards in Grievous Deeds.
Just for fun, I found an article about a 1904 manhunt. I didn’t do any research on the murder Edward Donahue committed or the outcome of the manhunt but if you’re interested in his story, let me know in the comments, and I’ll find out more!
Pittsburgh Post March 1904
This story comes to us via the October 17, 1904 edition of the Pittsburg Post.
“I will never be caught alive. I will fight until my last drop of blood is gone. I must fight from now on to live, and nothing would please me better than to kill a few of the officers who are go anxious to capture me and receive the $500 reward!”
These were the parting words of Edward Donahue, who on October 2 murdered A. M. Northrup, of Benton Harbor, at Millers Station, Ind., and for whom the greatest man-hunt ever known in Southern Michigan is now on.
After several days wandering, covering 100 miles, several counties of Indiana and this state, the fugitive is still at large. But his capture seems a question of only a few hours.
A Desperate Man
He is recognized, however, as one of the most desperate criminals in Michigan and bloodshed is expected to precede his arrest.
On the Thursday following the murder Donahue read the story of the reward for his capture in a newspaper at the home of his sister in Kalamazoo, and after making the above declaration rushed into a nearby woods closely followed by a posse of officers.
He was next seen near Grand Junction, 11 miles east of this city. Aided by the heavy underbrush, ravines and almost impassable lowlands. Donahue escaped from the woods during the night through a swamp.
This was the last seen of him until he appeared at tha barn of Charles Converse, a farmer, livIng four miles southeast of this eity.
Chase on Horseback
Awakened at daylight this morning by a noise in his barn, Converse rushed from his house just in time to see Donahue mounted on one of his horses galloping away. Five minutes later Converse, only partly clad, mounted another horse and started in pursuit.
Converse was gaining steadily, and as a last resort the murderer rode up to a fence and sprang from the horse over the fence into a field and ran across to another piece of woods and swamp. Converse, not knowing Donahue was wanted for murder, after recovering his horse. returned to this city and notified the police by telephone of the attempt at horse stealing.
Must Be Taken
A few minutes later the waterworks whistle was blown, which informed the citizens of South Haven that Donahue had invaded this territory. Chief of Police MeGregor went to the place where Donahue was last seen, and was there joined in the chase by hundreds of armed farmers.
Sheriff Collins declares Donahue must he taken dead or alive, but has instructed citizens taking part in the chase not to engage the murderer while alone, but to discharge a gun as a signal and help will be sent.
What are your thoughts on these matters?
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Another small parallel between the cases you mention
John Wilkes Booth yelled 3 words after he shot Lincoln. Sic Semper Tyrannis (Thus always to tyrants)
Brian Thompson’s killer left 3 words behind at the scene of the crime. Deny Defend Depose
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Very interesting, Ruby! I hadn’t made that connection!
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For me, a “manhunt” today harkens back to the “posse of the Old West.” Of course, modern science and technology have greatly advantaged authorities in tracking down the miscreant being pursued. The murderer of Brian Thompson cannot hide forever.
Written “death threats” made to another person likely brings, to some degree, satisfaction to the threatener. But then there is an entirely different class of killer, the “Serial Killer,” that often communicate with authorities rather than their victim. Dennis Rader, the famous “BTK” serial killer in Kansas City, immediately comes to mind. Another is the “Zodiac” killer who menaced the San Francisco area in late 1968 and late 1969. He sent letters and cipher messages to newspapers that were eventually published. In the case of a serial killer, the letters are to enhance the terror in the population and to gain notoriety and, perhaps, infamy. Since the “Zodiac Killer” has never been identified, not sure how that translates into notoriety.
Let’s hope the man who murdered Brian Thompson is eventually identified and brought to justice. Hopefully, his arrest, trial and punishment will bring him notoriety.
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I hadn’t thought of those kinds of letters! The taunts to authorities. If you look at it from the killer’s perspective, the zodiac was far more likely to get away with his crimes. He wanted fame but he was very calculated about it. He didn’t target anyone famous or powerful, and he chose isolated places to commit his crimes. Unless he was very naïve, the man who shot Brian Thompson must have known his image would be plastered everywhere after committing this particular crime in such a brazen way. I doubt he can escape law enforcement. As clever as he was, they have too much evidence already.
Like the article said about Edward Donahue, it can only be a matter of hours…
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I would be interested to learn more about the murder of Edward Donahue. It’s interesting to compare how investigations were done at the turn of the century.
Why do some people send their targets death threats? Need for notoriety, a narcissistic personality and a need to create fear in the target are a few thoughts that come to mind. BTK loved reading about himself in the newspaper and thought he was too clever to ever be caught. Ironically, 14 years after his last murder, it was a mistake in his communication with the police that lead to his capture.
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Yes, that sounds
reasonable! One thing I notice you didn’t mention is announcing a real intent to kill someone. I agree with you. Maybe it’s different for elected officials (?) but most death threats are empty attempts to scare or intimidate the target.
I saw a segment on the news right after BTK was convicted. He was wearing a red jumpsuit and was happily telling a crowd of reporters all the cruel things he’d done. One by one they got everything they ever wanted to know about him and left. The shot was of BTK staring after them with a strange expression on his face. Possibly the moment he realized he would never matter again!
I’ll see what I can find about Edward Donahue and report back 😉
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Thank you for the heads up. The link to the Booth story has been fixed!
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Brian Thompson’s murderer was in New York City for ten days prior to the killing. He thought he had meticulously planned and prepared, but dropping his cell phone and water bottle was a mistake, or was it? The murderer seems to be leaving strange “evidence” such as the backpack with a jacket and Monopoly money. I believe the authorities know who he is by facial recognition and tips from the public. As far as threats Mr. Thompson was receiving, we don’t know if this murderer sent them or that possibly other unbalanced people sent the threats. Threats are meant to instill fear and take away a person’s sense of well being. I believe poison pen letters usually accuse the receiver of “character” issues that could lead to murder, but also cause fear and upset. What I also find just as horrible are the people that are rejoicing at this man’s death. What has happened to bring people to this point?
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Questioning whether the evidence left was a mistake is a great point, Judy. The clues may have been left intentionally for diversionary purposes. Frankly, when I saw the first pictures of the shooter with the mask up, I thought it might be a woman.
The manner in which this shooter executed Brian Thompson and his uninterrupted, untraceable escape leads even the casual observer to believe a great deal of planning took place and/or he had accomplices.
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That’s very good thinking, Jax! I never considered it could be a woman. I definitely agree this was very well planned and that he must have had at least one accomplice. But that’s always a problem when there’s a conspiracy. The more people who know about it, the more certain it is they’ll be exposed. You know the old saying: Three people can keep a secret if two of them are dead!
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I hear you, Judy. The anger against a murder victim is jarring!
The evidence left by the gunman (the messages on the shell casings and Monopoly money) are symbols meant to underline that the victim was the CEO of UHC. Millions of people have to pay higher premiums than they can afford and most have had the experience of their insurance then refusing to cover necessary treatment. We’re seeing the rage against an industry that cheats people and lives lavishly off their misery. Brian Thompson the man (who was a son and a father and a human with a soul) is lost in the rage.
If I had to guess, I don’t think this murder is what it looks like. The intricate planning and the fact the gunman had inside info (like where Thompson was staying and what time he would be walking to another hotel) makes me suspect this murder is much closer to home. The clues are intentional misdirection. But who knows? I sound like someone who has read a few too many Agatha Christie novels!
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I don’t defend the insurance company but the meanness in some of the comments is really ugly
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I was thinking the murder of the CEO was a grudge against the insurance system. Now we’re hearing he admired Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber. I believe his manifesto will explain the real reason he did this. Thank God he was caught before he caused more chaos.
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It did not turn out to be at all what I thought it would be! I was sure he was hired by someone close to the victim. This was the last thing I thought it would be.
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When I first heard of the shooting and who name of the victim, I immediately thought the shooter was either a disgruntled former employee or a policyholder who believed they or a loved one was denied benefits by United Healthcare.
The moral of the story is that even if one have all the advantages life, as this young man did, you can still be unhappy and angry at the world. From now on the “suspect’s” healthcare is going to be provided by the taxpayers via the New York State prison system.
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That’s some irony all right. I wonder if he will go to prison. He seems to have had a mental break, perhaps..
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The police now think he was headed back to New York City possibly to commit another crime. I’m not ready yet to consider a mental breakdown. He seems to have been radicalized somehow. If his very wealthy family isn’t financially supporting him, where is his money coming from?
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That’s a great question. We will know more if he’s allowed to speak. Today there was a brief video of him being led into a local jail. He shouted something to the media but it was hard to hear and the police rushed him inside. Apparently he was missing for months before his arrest. Neither his family nor his friends knew where he was. That is very odd. Usually it’s either foul play or drugs and neither seems to be the case here.
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