The FBI has arrested a New York man for allegedly sending threatening voicemails to the family of murdered UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Shane Daley, 40, of Galway, New York, was charged with cyberstalking on Wednesday after federal prosecutors said he harassed Thompson’s grieving relatives just hours after the executive’s death.
Thompson was shot and killed outside the Hilton Midtown in Manhattan on December 4, 2024. The 50-year-old CEO was heading to an investors’ conference when he was gunned down in what prosecutors describe as a targeted attack. Luigi Mangione, 27, was arrested in connection with the shooting and has since been charged with multiple crimes, including murder and terrorism.
According to the criminal complaint, Daley left multiple threatening voicemails for a Thompson family member between December 4 and 7, 2024. In one shocking message, prosecutors allege Daley told the family member that they and Thompson’s children “deserve to die and burn in hell.” The Department of Justice said Daley used threatening language that expressed satisfaction over Thompson’s death and stated that the victim and Thompson’s children “deserved to meet the same violent end”.
FBI investigation leads to arrest after months of tracking
The FBI traced location data from the threatening calls back to Daley’s home in Saratoga County and executed a search warrant on his phone on July 30. During questioning by police, Daley initially denied placing the calls but later admitted it was possible he had made them.
In one voicemail left on the day of Thompson’s killing, Daley allegedly said “Your [family member] got lit the f— up cause he’s a f—— asshole”, according to court documents cited by ABC News. In another message, he allegedly said “You all deserve to f—— die and burn and hell. F— you. F— your f—— kids”.
Shane Daley walking into court today after he was arrested and charged with cyberstalking for reportedly sending harassing and threatening voicemail messages to a family member of the murdered UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson.
— CBS 6 Albany – WRGB (@CBS6Albany) August 13, 2025
More:https://t.co/7Q4yApqoZ1 pic.twitter.com/xAdeVhPr9j
The harassment came at a time when Thompson’s family was already dealing with the shock of losing their loved one. Thompson was survived by his wife, Paulette “Pauley” Thompson, 51, and their two children. Federal investigators said the calls were made to a work phone line used by one of Thompson’s family members in Minnesota.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said, “Brian Thompson was gunned down in midtown Manhattan. Daley, as alleged, gleefully welcomed this tragedy and did all that he could to increase the Thompson family’s pain and suffering”. He added that his office would do everything possible to hold Daley accountable for what he called “vicious and outrageous conduct.”
The cyberstalking charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and supervised release of up to three years. Daley was released from custody but is being monitored with a GPS device and is prohibited from drinking alcohol or possessing firearms. He is scheduled to appear in court again on Thursday for additional conditions to be added to his release.
