Luigi Mangione Attack: New Details Emerge About Asia Trip Before CEO Murder Charge

New information has surfaced about Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old man charged with murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Midtown Manhattan last year. Before his arrest in November 2024, Mangione had spent several months traveling through Asia, where he met American tourists and had a series of chaotic experiences, including a violent incident in Thailand.In an interview with The New York Times, American soccer player Christian Sacchini and a friend said they met Mangione in March 2024 at a bar in Bangkok. Mangione told them he was from Maryland and had been living in Hawaii. Over drinks, they spoke about Sacchini’s soccer career, artificial intelligence, and the US healthcare system. Mangione was reportedly surprised to hear how affordable medical procedures were in Thailand compared to the US.After their meeting, Mangione stayed in touch. In a WhatsApp message, he told Sacchini’s friend he had been beaten up by “seven ladyboys,” a slang term for transgender women in Thailand, and lost his phone in a taxi. He also sent a photo of scratches on his arm from the encounter. The friend shared these photos with The Times, including one of Mangione inside a marijuana dispensary.The three had considered traveling to Vietnam together, but Mangione changed plans and went to Japan alone. In a voice message, he said he wanted to slow down, write, and spend time in hot springs. He eventually arrived in Tenkawa, a small village in the Japanese mountains, and sent another message describing the area as peaceful and quiet.Related News | Earth Will Now Have Two Moons Until 2083, NASA Says. Will You Be Able To See '2025 PN7'?Mangione’s representatives are yet to comment on the report. Mangione was arrested in Pennsylvania months later and indicted in December for Thompson’s killing. He is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York, facing both state and federal charges.A judge in Pennsylvania has paused proceedings there until Mangione can appear in court in person. Federal authorities have not approved his transfer while the New York case remains active.His next court appearance is scheduled for December 1, according to public legal records.