Woman Charged with Threats to Health Insurance Firm Following CEO Murder Case

A Florida woman, Briana Boston, has been charged with making threats against a health insurance company after repeating ominous phrases associated with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The case has raised concerns over healthcare disputes and threats against executives.

A woman in Florida has been charged with making menacing threats towards a health insurance firm, utilizing language associated with the recent murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Briana Boston, 42, reportedly uttered the phrase "Delay, deny, depose, you people are next" during a recorded phone conversation with a representative from Blue Cross Blue Shield regarding a denied medical claim.

Following this disturbing call, detectives from Lakeland, Florida, arrived at Ms. Boston's residence and arrested her. She has been charged with threats to commit a mass shooting or act of terrorism, with a judge setting her bail at $100,000 (£78,900). According to reports, Ms. Boston claimed that healthcare companies "played games and deserved karma" because of the way they operate, justifying her use of the murderous phraseology by asserting it was "in the news right now."

Detectives revealed that bullet casings retrieved from the scene of Mr. Thompson's murder were engraved with the words "deny," "defend," and "depose." These terms are reminiscent of the title of a 2010 book, "Delay, Deny, Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don't Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It," which criticizes the practices of health insurers. Luigi Mangione, 26, the accused murderer of Mr. Thompson, had recently been apprehended in Pennsylvania following a multi-state manhunt.

The incident has ignited volatile feelings toward the for-profit health insurance industry, as many individuals have expressed frustration over escalating healthcare costs and denied claims. Law enforcement officials have cautioned against potential copycat threats, with reports indicating that certain healthcare executives have appeared on an online "hit list" linked to Mr. Thompson's murder.

Authorities have stated that Ms. Boston attempted to leverage the circumstances surrounding the UnitedHealthcare CEO's murder to threaten the insurance firm. Lakeland Police Chief Sam Taylor remarked, "You can't make threats like that in the current environment and think we won't arrest you." In her court appearance, Ms. Boston's attorney, Jim Headley, pleaded for her release, emphasizing her lack of prior criminal history as a married mother of three. Nonetheless, the judge's response underscored the severity of the situation, citing the current societal climate. Ms. Boston's reaction to the bail decision was one of shock, as she gasped in disbelief.