Luigi Mangione, the man charged in the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, shared his ongoing battles with severe health issues over several years through online posts. Through a now-deleted Reddit account, Mangione openly detailed his painful experiences with chronic back pain, neurological symptoms, and emotional distress, offering a rare insight into his personal struggles leading up to the tragic event.
A Life of Chronic Pain and Surgery
Mangione’s health issues began with relatively minor back pain but escalated dramatically in 2022 after a surfing accident. The injury was compounded weeks later when he slipped on a piece of paper, leading to worsening symptoms. He described intense pain while sitting, leg muscle twitching, and numbness in his groin and bladder.
In July 2023, Mangione underwent spinal fusion surgery in an effort to relieve his debilitating condition. In a post shortly after the surgery, he expressed relief, writing, “The surgery wasn’t nearly as scary as I made it out to be in my head, and I knew it was the right decision within a week.” Despite the positive outcome of the surgery, he continued to grapple with other issues, such as persistent “brain fog” that had affected him during his college years. This mental cloudiness made it difficult for him to concentrate and left doctors perplexed about its cause.
Isolation and Personal Struggles
After recovering from surgery, Mangione returned to Hawaii, where he had lived previously. However, by the spring of 2024, he had withdrawn from most of his friends and family, leaving them concerned about his well-being. His family reached out to his acquaintances in hopes of finding him, but their attempts to reconnect were unsuccessful.
His online activity reveals more about his life and interests. Mangione was an active participant in the OneBag subreddit, a community focused on minimalist travel. Interestingly, a photo released by the New York Police Department of the suspect in the UnitedHealthcare shooting showed him carrying a backpack that was frequently discussed in the OneBag forum.
A Passion for Gaming and Technology
Gaming was another central aspect of Mangione’s life. He regularly posted on subreddits dedicated to gaming culture, particularly Pokémon Go and Magfest, a festival celebrating gaming. Sarah Nehemiah, a friend from his time in Hawaii, described him as a passionate gamer and Pokémon fan. Gaming had even become part of his professional life; he once interned at the company behind the *Civilization* game franchise, one of the most popular strategy games in history.
Despite his enthusiasm for gaming, Mangione’s ongoing health issues seemed to cast a shadow over his personal and professional life. His online posts also suggest he struggled with feelings of isolation, which only seemed to deepen as his health deteriorated.
Social Media Suspended Amid Investigation
In the wake of the shooting, Mangione’s social media accounts were swiftly suspended. Reddit confirmed that it had taken down his account, as part of its policy to suspend accounts linked to suspects in high-profile criminal investigations. Similarly, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, also suspended his accounts, and his GoodReads profile was deactivated. A Reddit spokesperson commented, “We take action on accounts that may be tied to suspects in significant criminal cases to maintain community safety.”
As the investigation into the UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killing continues, new details about Mangione’s life are emerging. Former acquaintances have shared their thoughts on his personality and struggles. One high school friend noted his love for gaming, while another friend recalled the surfing accident that aggravated his back injury.
