The murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in midtown Manhattan last week has garnered national attention, not only for the brazen nature of the act but also for the strange clues it left behind.
Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Carole Lieberman believes items discovered after the murder, including a backpack full of Monopoly money, offer a disturbing glimpse into the mindset of a killer trying to convey a chilling message.
Lieberman believes the killer intended to throw a stack of Monopoly bills over the body of Thompson, 50, as he lay dying after being shot, but forgot to take them out of his backpack after the Dec. 4 shooting across the street. to the Hilton Hotel.
As the search for the masked gunman continues, attention has focused on evidence recovered at the scene and in nearby locations.
Among the abandoned items were bullet casings with the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose,” phrases linked to common health practices.
Days later, a backpack believed to belong to the suspect was found filled with Monopoly money.
Dr. Lieberman believes the clues are both an intentional and sinister commentary on UnitedHealthcare and its business practices.
“Monopoly money sends messages both that UnitedHealthcare is a scam that steals money from patients to pay millions to its executives and that it itself is a monopoly,” Lieberman said in an interview with The daily beast.
The murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in midtown Manhattan last week has garnered national attention, not only for the brazen nature of the act but also for the strange clues it left behind.
Police found a backpack in Central Park that was said to be full of Monopoly money.
The alleged shooter, complete with backpack, is seen at a Starbucks before the shooting, on Sixth Avenue.
“He may have planned to scatter the Monopoly money around the CEO’s body after he shot him, but he forgot to take the bills out of his backpack.”
Lieberman’s interpretation of the Monopoly money further solidifies the theory that the suspect harbored deep-seated animosity toward UnitedHealthcare.
By using symbols linked to greed and financial manipulation, the killer apparently sought to expose perceived injustices in the industry in the most dramatic way possible.
Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Carole Lieberman believes items discovered after the murder, including a backpack full of Monopoly money, offer a disturbing glimpse into the mindset of a killer trying to convey a chilling message.
Dr. Lieberman’s analysis points to a calculated and symbolic act designed to indict the healthcare industry.
“It wasn’t just about taking a life,” Lieberman said. “It was about sending a message, one that was deeply twisted and deeply calculated.”
The caps, emblazoned with terms like “deny” and “defend,” may refer to insurance practices that some critics say prioritize profits over patient care.
Police believe the suspect spent 10 days in New York, including Thanksgiving, staying at a Manhattan hostel while planning the attack.
Surveillance footage captured the suspect fleeing toward Central Park immediately after the murder, where additional evidence, including the backpack, was later recovered.
A forensic psychiatrist believes the killer intended to scatter Monopoly money around the CEO’s body after he was shot, but forgot to take the wad of cash out of his backpack.
UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed Wednesday morning outside the Hilton.
As Thompson stumbled down the street, a witness at the hotel entrance ran away.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he is determined to find the killer.
Lieberman also highlighted the precision and forethought involved in carrying out such a high-profile crime during the Christmas season.
“This was not an impulsive act,” he said, adding that the suspect’s intention to waste the Monopoly money suggests a premeditated plan to amplify the symbolic weight of the crime.
Authorities are now working to reconstruct the suspect’s movements and motivations.
A dive team has been deployed to search the waters of Central Park for more evidence, while detectives analyze the recovered items for possible forensic clues.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has vowed to bring the attacker to justice. “Let him continue to believe that he can hide behind a mask,” Adams said. “We are going to reveal who he is and bring him to justice.”