LOS ANGELES.–NYPD’s Chief Detective Joseph Kenny said that when they contacted Luigi Mangione’s mother Dec. 7, only two days before his arrest in Altoon, Pa. Dec. 9, Kathleen Mangione admitted “it might be something that she could see him doing,” a devastating revelation from the killer’s mother. Kenny said the NYPD and FBI were tipped off by the San Francisco police where Kathleen had filed a missing person report for her son Nov. 18. Luigi has dropped off the radar back in June, with family and friends saying he broke off all contact, would not returning text messages or emails. San Francisco police told NYPD detectives that the widely publicized images of Luigi after the Dec. 4 cold blooded shooting of Brian Thomson in Midtown Manhattan. Kenny said they contacted Kathleen Mangione who said the incriminating statement that she could see him committing premeditated murder.
At the time NYPD detectives contacted Kathleen, she had seen photos of her son on TV or in various Internet and print publications. Yet Kathleen did not confirm that the images she saw were, in fact, her son Luigi. Kathleen “didn’t indicate that it was her son in the photograph,” but told NYPD detectives that “it might be something that she could see him doing,” meaning he was cable of cold blooded murder. But the fact that Kathleen did not confirm to the NYPD that her son was the one pictureD in the photograph, tells a very different story about Kathleen Mangione. No jury would believe her saying he couldn’t positively identify her son to NYPD detectives, shedding some possible light about the family covering up Luigi’s crimes. How Kathleen did not confirm to NYPD detectives that the person picture in the surveillance photos was not her son raises serious questions.
Kathleen Magione knew full well that he son was the UnitedHealthcare CEO killer but withheld that confirmation from NYPD detectives, only saying she could see her son doing something like murdering the CEO. So what possible excuse can Kathleen Mangione say why she didn’t identify her son as the one in the photographs broadcast on the Internet and in every media source around the world? Luigi waived extradition and was promptly taken to New York to be held for arraignment in the same holding facility as Sean “Diddy” Combs now facing charges for sex trafficking and rape. Luigi faces two counts of first degree murder with the special circumstance of terrorism, two counts of second degree murder and multiple felonies for illegal weapons and possession of fake IDs. NYPD has amassed compelling evidence against Luigi for committing the Dec. 4 murder of Brian Thompson.
After the Dec. 4 murder there was an all-points-bulletin and police dragnet in New York City with Luigi out smarting New York authorities before he hopped a Greyhound bus and high-tailed it out of the city. NYPD was in a frenzy trying to find Thomson’s killet that happened on a busy Midtown Manhattan street in broad daylight. So as soon as the NYPD got photos from security cameras at the youth hostile where Luigi stayed the night before the assassination, Kathleen knew that her son was the perpetrator. Yet when she spoke to NYPD detectives Dec. 7 she didn’t make the positive ID for her son, when she knew for days, of course that was her son Luigi who committed the murder. NYPD and FBI officials should interrogate Kathleen to find out why she didn’t positively ID her son Luigi when she talked to NYPD detectives two days before his arrest at an Altoona, Pa. McDonalds.
Based on what’s known now about Thompson’s murder, Kathleen Mangione should have notified the NYPD or FBI immediately when she saw her son’s photograph plastered over the airwaves. It’s inconceivable that she didn’t recognize her son, going so far as telling NYPD detectives that he son was capable of such a horrific act. All that was heard for days after the Dec. 4 killing was a perfunctory statement by Nino Mangione, a WBCM radio host and member of the Maryland General Assembly. “Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest,” the family statement said. “We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved,” read the statement Dec. 9 from Nino Mangione. Nino said he couldn’t comment on Luigi’s arrest because all he knows is what’s reported in the news,” further proof of a family cover-up.
Kathleen and Nino Mangione knew much more than what the led NYPD or FBI to believe. Both knew shortly after Luigi’s picture was disseminated over the airwaves that it was indeed their son and cousin Luigi who was on the run and finally arrested Dec. 9 in Altoona, Pa. Kathleen and Nino were not forthcoming to the press and must explain why they didn’t positively ID Luigi to NYPD and FBI officials once they recognized Luigi. Kathleen admitted to NYPD detectives that the she thought her son Luigi was capable of doing what he was accused of, the cold blooded killing of Brian Thompson. Now that Kathleen pays for Luigi’s high-priced criminal defense Atty. Karen Friedman Agnifilo, she owes the NYPD and explanation why she didn’t positively ID her son Luigi when she talked to detectives Dec. 7. Looks like the family tried to cover for their wayward son.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
