Luigi Mangione, accused of killing United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December, said he reads every single letter sent to him in prison as he gets ready to appear in court.
"I am overwhelmed by — and grateful for — everyone who has written me to share their stories and express their support. Powerfully, this support has transcended political, racial, and even class divisions," Mangione said in a statement in the website raising funds for his legal defense, which has already surpassed the $500,000 mark.
"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," Mangione added.
Mangione will appear in court in New York on Friday and face murder and terror charges for the killing of Thompson, which took place in the early hours of December 4 as the CEO of the company headed to its annual investor conference. The judge in the case, Gregory Carro, could set deadlines from pretrial paperwork and also set a date for the trial.
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to state charges but has yet to enter a plea on the federal murder charges, CNN reported. A grand jury charged him with 11 counts, including first-degree murder and two second-degree murder charges.
The first-degree one claims Mangione killed Thompson "in furtherance of an act of terrorism," defined as an attempt to intimidate or coerce the civilian population or a government unit. If convicted he could face life in prison without parole. If convicted in the federal case, he could face the death penalty.
Mangione, who went to an Ivy League school and was previously a data engineer for TrueCar, was arrested after a dramatic five-day manhunt in Pennsylvania.
Originally published on Latin Times
