Forensic psychiatrist claims Brian Thompson's murderer had sick plan for Monopoly money found in his backpack

The assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Midtown Manhattan last week has captured national attention, not only for the brazen nature of the act but also for the bizarre clues left behind. 

Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Carole Lieberman believes the items discovered in the wake of the killing, including a backpack stuffed full of Monopoly money, offer a disturbing insight into the mindset of a killer intent on delivering a chilling message.

Lieberman believes the killer meant to throw a stack of Monopoly bills over the body of Thompson, 50, as he lay dying after being shot, but forgot to take them out of his backpack following the shooting on December 4 outside the Hilton Hotel.

While the manhunt for the masked gunman continues, the focus has shifted to the evidence recovered at the scene and nearby locations.

Among the items left behind were shell casings inscribed with the words 'deny,' 'defend,' and 'depose', phrases tied to common healthcare practices. 

Days later, a backpack believed to belong to the suspect was found, stuffed with Monopoly money. 

Dr. Lieberman believes the clues are both an intentional and sinister commentary on UnitedHealthcare and its business practices.

'The Monopoly money conveys messages, both that UnitedHealthcare is a ripoff that steals money from patients in order to pay its executives millions, and that it is itself a monopoly,' Lieberman said in an interview with The Daily Beast. 

'He may have planned to scatter the Monopoly money around the CEO's body after he shot him, but he forgot to take the bills out of his backpack.'

Lieberman's interpretation of the Monopoly money further solidifies the theory that the suspect harbored deep-seated animosity toward UnitedHealthcare. 

By using symbols tied to greed and financial manipulation, the killer seemingly sought to expose the industry's perceived injustices in the most dramatic way possible.

Dr. Lieberman's analysis points to a calculated and symbolic act designed to indict the healthcare industry. 

'This wasn't just about taking a life,' Lieberman said. 'This was about sending a message—a deeply twisted, deeply calculated one.' 

The shell casings, emblazoned with terms like 'deny' and 'defend,' may refer to insurance practices that some critics argue prioritize profit over patient care.

Police believe the suspect spent 10 days in New York, including Thanksgiving, staying at a Manhattan hostel while planning the attack. 

Surveillance footage captured the suspect fleeing toward Central Park immediately after the killing, where additional evidence, including the backpack, was later recovered.

Lieberman also highlighted the precision and forethought involved in carrying out such a high-profile crime during the holiday season. 

'This was not an impulsive act,' she noted, adding that the suspect's intention to scatter the Monopoly money suggests a premeditated plan to amplify the crime's symbolic weight.

Authorities are now working to piece together the suspect's movements and motivations. 

A scuba team has been deployed to search Central Park's waters for more evidence, while detectives analyze the recovered items for potential forensic leads.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has vowed to bring the assailant to justice. 'Let him continue to believe he can hide behind a mask,' Adams said. 'We're going to reveal who he is, and we're going to bring him to justice.'