FBI expert reveals chilling clues that suggest Brian Thompson's assassin is a 'vigilante' with a 'much larger' mission

Last week's murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in the heart of Midtown Manhattan has left investigators scrambling to piece together a chilling puzzle.

It's one that retired FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer says bears all the hallmarks of a killer driven by a calculated desire to send a message.

Thompson, 50, was gunned down in broad daylight on December 4 outside the Hilton Hotel, where he was set to attend an investor meeting. 

But the brazen nature of the crime and the cryptic clues left behind have captivated public attention and led Coffindaffer to conclude this was far more than a random act of violence.

'This seems much larger, like a vigilante,' Coffindaffer told The Daily Beast. 'Somebody who is well prepared to make a big statement and blames UnitedHealthcare.'

Among the evidence left at the scene were shell casings etched with the words 'deny,' 'defend,' and 'depose.' 

Days later, police recovered a backpack believed to belong to the suspect, stuffed with Monopoly money. 

Coffindaffer believes the killer's choice of symbols underscores a broader grievance against the healthcare industry.

'With 'depose,' I think people assumed it referred to legal depositions, but I think it meant something more forceful—taking someone from office, which is exactly what he did,' Coffindaffer explained. 

'To me, this seems like somebody far beyond just a personal situation that he lost a family member or a loved one due to lack of being insured,' Coffindaffer said. 

As for the Monopoly money, Coffindaffer said she believed that it served as an indictment of UnitedHealthcare's practices, possibly symbolizing greed or corporate monopoly.

'This is not someone acting on impulse,' she added. 'This is a sign of somebody that is truly narcissistic in nature. They're just trying to really make themselves stand out as this intelligent, smarter than police type figure. That's the motivation here, more than the messaging.' 

Coffindaffer also noted the extensive planning that likely went into the attack. 

'I don't think I've seen this level of operational preplanning in any crime, never mind in a murder,' said former chief of department in the NYPD Kenneth E. Corey to the New York Times.

'Manhunts are all very different, and they get more complicated when they go outside the area.'

The suspect reportedly spent 10 days in Manhattan, including Thanksgiving, staying in a local youth hostel. Such a timeline suggests meticulous preparation. 

'I think he would have practiced. He would have done the route. He knew exactly what he wanted to do. I'm wondering what family might not be noticing that their loved one was gone,' Coffindaffer said. 'I just found the timing very interesting.'

Law enforcement has since tracked the suspect to an uptown bus terminal and have been using divers to search Central Park's lakes and ponds for additional evidence. 

A bag believed to belong to the killer was found near Bethesda Fountain last week, adding another piece to the puzzle.

Coffindaffer believes the killer is deliberately toying with police by leaving behind such clues, feeding into a larger-than-life persona.

'This is someone who wants to be perceived as smarter than everyone else,' she said. 'More than the message, they want to elevate themselves as a figure who can outmaneuver the system.'

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he is determined to find the killer.

'Let him continue to believe he can hide behind a mask. We're going to reveal who he is, and we're going to bring him to justice,' he said.

As the investigation enters its second week, the pressure is mounting to identify the masked assailant and uncover the motive behind this high-profile assassination. 

Forensic analysis of the shell casings, surveillance footage, and the recovered backpack may provide critical breakthroughs.

Coffindaffer's insights suggest that the killer is not only deeply motivated but also eerily confident in their ability to evade capture

'This isn't over,' Coffindaffer said. 'But whoever this person is, they've left a trail. And sooner or later, that trail is going to lead right to them.'