Luigi Mangione: Suspect in Killing of Healthcare Executive Had Discussed Back Condition on Reddit for Years | US News

December 12, 2024 TruthUSA

Luigi Mangione, charged with the murder of a US health insurance chief executive in New York, seems to have been sharing his experiences with chronic back pain and spinal surgery on Reddit for several years.

Mangione, 26, is alleged to have killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last Wednesday outside the Hilton Hotel in Manhattan.

He was charged on Monday in New York with one count of murder, three counts of criminal possession of a weapon, and one count of possession of a forged instrument.

The attorney representing the suspect has stated he plans to plead not guilty to all allegations.

Mangione, an Ivy League alumnus, has reportedly been active on Reddit since 2016 under the username Mister_Cactus, where he discussed topics related to spine health, gaming, and travel, as reported by Sky’s US partner NBC News.

The activity from the now-deleted account has been archived and corroborated by friends as matching significant events in Mangione’s life.

The posts prominently mentioned a condition known as spondylolisthesis.

What is spondylolisthesis?

Spondylolisthesis occurs when a vertebra, a bone in the spine, slips forward. This condition can occur at any point along the spine but is most frequently seen in the lower back, according to the NHS.

It can be hereditary or develop as the spine weakens with age. Additionally, a stress fracture, common among athletes and gymnasts, may lead to this condition.

Symptoms may include lower back pain intensified by standing or walking, discomfort in the buttocks or thighs, tight hamstrings, and pain or numbness radiating down one leg.

The NHS recommends those suffering from spondylolisthesis to avoid activities that exacerbate symptoms, such as bending, lifting, or athletic pursuits.

Treatment options include physiotherapy, painkillers, and steroid injections for pain management and relief from numbness.

If these treatments are ineffective, a GP might refer a patient for spinal surgery.

Types of surgery can involve spinal fusion, where the slipped vertebra is connected to the bone below with metal rods, screws, and a bone graft, or lumbar decompression to alleviate pressure on compressed nerves.

Mister_Cactus remarked in a conversation in April about how his condition “deteriorated to the point where I felt it every day.”

In 2018, the account holder shared experiences of “restless sleep,” noting frequent awakenings at night and feeling “unrefreshed regardless of sleep duration.”

Mangione seems to have been struggling with back pain since childhood, with reports indicating a worsening condition after he went surfing in recent years, according to a post from July 2023.

One post detailed an incident: “I slipped on a piece of paper and my right glute locked and right leg shut down for a week.”

Mister_Cactus noted that he had been suffering from right hip issues for the previous year and a half.

He described pain while sitting, along with muscle twitching in his legs and intermittent numbness and tingling in his groin.

“When my spondy [spondylolisthesis] worsened last year, it was devastating for me as a young athletic individual,” he stated in an August 2023 post.

The Reddit discussions indicate the account holder may have undergone spinal fusion surgery in 2023.

Additional posts suggest favorable outcomes post-surgery, with him reporting being “on literally zero pain meds” just a week later and finding he could sit, walk, and stand comfortably.

A spokesperson for Reddit informed NBC News that the platform typically suspends accounts potentially linked to suspects in prominent criminal cases, a common measure among tech firms to prevent impersonation or interference during investigations.

Source link