Luigi Mangione, the suspect accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, exhibited a range of behaviors from outbursts to rigid posture during his extradition hearing, prompting analysis from a body language expert. Mangione's arrival at the Pennsylvania courthouse on Tuesday was marked by shouting at reporters while his head darted around, suggesting fear and anxiety according to expert Susan Constantine. However, she also noted a "sense of arrogance" in his slightly raised chin and downward gaze.
Mangione, arrested in Altoona after a McDonald's customer recognized him from images related to the shooting, faces charges in Pennsylvania for forgery and carrying an unlicensed firearm. He is awaiting extradition to New York to face murder charges in Thompson's death.
Constantine highlighted Mangione's raised chin in both his orange jumpsuit mugshot and the one taken in a suicide prevention smock, interpreting this as a sign of pride and arrogance. This contrasts sharply with the smiling image of Mangione interacting with a hostel employee in New York before the December 4th assassination.
Constantine suggested Mangione exhibits "cubing," a form of disassociation where he presents different personalities in different situations. His charismatic and flirty demeanor described by friends and family differs drastically from the tense and rigid individual seen during his court appearance. She described this shift as a "game over expression."
Surveillance footage of the shooting reveals a confident Mangione, which Constantine interprets as evidence of premeditation and planning. His controlled body language and focused demeanor suggest the attack was not impulsive.
Constantine also analyzed Mangione's body language in a holding cell photo taken the day before his court appearance, concluding that he didn't anticipate being caught. His rigid and robotic posture, she argues, is indicative of someone caught off guard and displaying deceptive behavior.
