Supporters of the accused CEO killer Luigi Mangione are acting irrationally, clamoring for his attention. One devoted fan even went to the extent of sneaking a love letter into his prison cell.
During a hearing regarding the murder of Brian Thompson, Mangione, a young real estate heir at 26, discovered the note concealed in a pair of socks he had received as a gift. However, he opted not to wear them as they did not align with his fashion preferences.
Court documents disclosed on Wednesday revealed Mangione’s fastidiousness concerning his appearance and treatment while incarcerated. This behavior was particularly highlighted before his widely publicized court appearance in New York City on February 21, as stated by prosecutors.
Before the hearing, he had rifled through some gifts from out-of-touch supporters and stumbled upon two heart-shaped notes hidden in a pair of gifted socks.
One handwritten note encouraged Mangione to “keep your head held high” and “know there are thousands of people wishing you luck.” The author then referenced a Reddit community, signing the note with “K / Free Luigi.”
The other letter was addressed to someone named Joan and thanked them for “trusting me.”
Despite being caught with the contraband, Mangione, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges, was allowed to wear the fresh pair for his court appearance.
However, in a bizarre move, Mangione went on to take the socks off right before his hearing because they didn’t suit his outfit, prosecutors said.
Since the letter came to light, obsessive fans have gone to war with each other, brawling about whether the note could seal the suspect’s fate.
Some unhinged Reddit users on the Free Luigi page fear the gushing love for the accused killer could hurt his longshot case ahead of the trial.
One person wrote, “I, as a lawyer, would be livid if some uninformed, delusional fangirl […] f****d with my client’s case like this.
“Whoever did this – you’re not cute, you’re not smart, you’re not helping, and no serious professional person involved with this case would feel anything but disgust and anger towards you for this idiocy.”
Others agreed and blasted the fan, all the while insisting that supporting Mangione is a “just cause.”
“Prisons are notorious for doling out punishment for minor things that we may think of as nothing is everyday situations,” wrote another concerned fan.
Meanwhile, some more die-hard supporters defended the letter writer and believed they “meant well.”
“The real issue is why his representatives gave him these socks instead of simply buying socks for him themselves,” wrote the user.
LUIGI’S DEMANDS
Mangione is facing three separate indictments in New York, Pennsylvania, and by the Department of Justice over the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Thompson, 50.
Thompson, who was a dad of two, was brazenly shot in the back by a masked assassin on December 4 as he walked across the street into a conference in New York City.
The killer evaded capture for days, despite being caught on surveillance flashing a smile and chunking a used water bottle in a trash near the crime scene.
On December 9, Mangione was arrested, and he became an overnight sensation as far-left supporters gushed over his appearance and cryptic internet presence.
Since he was taken into custody, the alleged assassin has made some brazen demands, the docs unsealed Wednesday reveal.
He allegedly wanted a laptop to review legal documents, but was laughed off by prosecutors who claimed he was getting “special treatment.”
“Special treatment to the defendant’s benefit was violated when [prosecutors] made accommodations for defendant’s fashion needs during the last court appearance,” prosecutor Joel Seidemann wrote in a document.
Mangione’s impact was made crystal clear on the day of his last hearing, as a mass of supporters gathered in New York City with signs professing their love for him.
Fans dressed up like the fictional video game character Luigi and cried for the accused killer to be released.
“We the people want Luigi free. Who’s the real terrorist? UHC,” chanted the crowd.
FROM PENN TO PRISON
Mangione was born to an elite family in Maryland as his grandparents had amassed a fortune developing real estate.
His family shelled out tens of thousands of dollars to send him to the private all-boys secondary school Gilman before he went to the University of Pennsylvania in 2016.
Mangione was the valedictorian of his high school and earned a bachelor’s and master’s in computer engineering at the Ivy League university.
His former roommate said that Mangione had suffered a life-altering back injury from a surfing accident while he was living in Hawaii in 2022 that had left him unable to have sex.
On his Reddit account, Mangione opened up about getting surgery in 2023 and described it as an overwhelming success.
Lawyers for the suspect made a website for the accused killer to share updates about his case and published a message from the suspect.
He wrote, “I am overwhelmed by – and grateful for – everyone who has written me to share their stories and express their support.
“While it is impossible for me to reply to most letters, please know that I read every one that I receive.
“Thank you again to everyone who took the time to write. I look forward to hearing more in the future.”
Who is Luigi Mangione?
LUIGI Mangione, 26, was regarded as a beloved, clever and wealthy man by his family, friends and all who knew him.
He was born and raised in Maryland and graduated as the valedictorian from the private all-boys Gilman School in Baltimore.
He had no prior criminal history and was said to have been a model student, soccer player, and all-around athlete at high school.
One former student from the Gilman School told The U.S. Sun that Mangione was “popular” and had a “big circle of friends.”
“We went to the same school but didn’t really have the same friends. I’m really shocked by this whole thing,” the former student, who asked not to be identified, said.
“I think he played soccer, it was an all-boys school, so being a good athlete got you social currency for sure.”
Mangione graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied computer and information science, according to his LinkedIn profile.
He also got his masters from the Ivy League school.
Mangione was reportedly a data engineer at a car company in California before moving to Hawaii.
His cousin is also Republican Maryland State Delegate Nino Mangione.
