By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-03-14 20:03:35 | Updated at 2025-03-15 00:23:50
4 hours ago
Police are investigating a possible arson attempt at the New Jersey home of a Bayer executive amid growing fears for the safety of pharma bigwigs following the assignation of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Authorities descended on the home in Madison, about 15 miles west of Newark, to investigate a fire that broke out about 7.30am on March 4.
While the fire was extinguished without any substantial property damage or injury to the occupants, the investigation has escalated to include multiple local and stage agencies, as well as the transit police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
It comes after the arrest of Luigi Mangione, 26, on charges of allegedly murdering Thompson, 50. The high profile case led to a bizarre wave of support from the accused killer's devoted fans - including over $720,000 in donations to his legal defense fund.
Nicole Hayes, a spokesman for the German pharmaceutical company, confirmed that the incident took place at the 'private home of one of Bayer's U.S. executives' and stated that the 'family is safe and unharmed.
'The safety and security of our employees are of utmost importance to Bayer,' Hayes told the Daily Record.
'The incident is under active investigation. The company is cooperating fully with the investigation. We appreciate the quick response of local law enforcement.'
Bayer has been lobbying US lawmakers for stronger legal protections over the past year, with Reuters reporting last week that the company threatened to stop selling popular products like Roundup.
A Bayer executive's New Jersey home is under investigation by federal and state authorities for a possible arson attempt.
Mangione, 26, is accused of fatally shooting Brian Thompson (pictured), 50, on December 4 outside of the Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan
Accused UnitedHealth care CEO shooter Luigi Mangione received his largest defense fund donation yet from a mystery donor
The company has faced thousands of claims alleging that exposure to glyphosate—the active ingredient in Roundup for home use until 2023—caused non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Bayer has already paid approximately $10 billion to settle disputed claims, but around 67,000 cases remain pending. The company has set aside $5.9 billion in legal provisions to address ongoing litigation.
The timing of this suspected arson raises larger concerns as it follows closely on the heels of the murder of Thompson in Midtown Manhattan on December 4, 2024.
Mangione is accused of fatally shooting Thompson outside of the Hilton hotel while the CEO made his way to an investor conference.
Mangione, who is currently locked up at Brooklyn's infamous Metropolitan Center, pleaded not guilty to the 11 charges in his indictment, including first-degree murder and murder as an act of terrorism.
The Maryland native has also been charged in the Big Apple with two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second-degree, four counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third-degree, one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth-degree, and one count of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second-degree.
He has attracted a cult following as a stand-in for frustrations over coverage denials and hefty medical bills, with one anonymous supporter donating $36,500 via GiveSendGo.
The 26-year-old faces life in prison without parole if convicted of the state charges.
On March 4th, at approximately 7:30 a.m., a fire occurred at an occupied home in Madison, New Jersey, about 15 miles west of Newark, according to the Morris County Prosecutor's Office
He has been fiercely backed by a slew of fans who have praised Mangione for his alleged actions
One of his federal charges, murder through use of a firearm, is eligible for the death penalty.
Authorities have not linked the Bayer attack to the shock murder of Thompson.
Bayer, a company with roots in Germany dating back to 1863, operates globally in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors.
According to information provided on their official website, their initial focus was on the manufacturing and distribution of synthetic dyestuffs
Today, Bayer is a major global pharmaceutical company, producing well-known products like aspirin, Alka-Seltzer, Claritin, and Aleve.
In 2013, Bayer invested $250 million to consolidate its U.S. operations into a new headquarters in Whippany, New Jersey, a project incentivized by a $35.1 million state grant.
The opening ceremony was attended by former Governor Chris Christie. However, Bayer's reputation has been challenged since its $63 billion purchase of Monsanto in 2018, primarily due to the acquired Roundup herbicide.
