Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty to federal stalking charges for the 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and faces a potential life sentence  The status of his state murder trial is still pending. 

On August 14, 2026, Luigi Mangione, 28, admitted in Manhattan federal court that he stalked and shot Brian Thompson outside a Hilton hotel. He pleaded guilty to two federal counts of interstate stalking resulting in death, which carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole. Mangione explained that his actions were motivated by years of severe back pain and frustration with the U.S. health insurance system.  

Despite the federal guilty plea, Mangione still faces eight state charges in New York, including second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon. His state trial is scheduled to begin on September 8, 2026. His defense has filed a motion to dismiss the state charges under New York’s double jeopardy law, arguing that his federal guilty plea should prevent prosecution for the same conduct. However, prosecutors maintain that the state charges are distinct and are prepared to proceed with the trial.

 

JOINING NANCY GRACE TONIGHT:
Randolph Rice  - Former Prosecutor and Current Criminal Defense & Civil Attorney at Rice Law, website: ricelawmd.com, IG, FB, X: @ricelawmd
Caryn Stark - Forensic Psychologist, renowned TV and Radio trauma expert and consultant, www.carynstark.com, Instagram: carynpsych, FB: Caryn Stark Private Practice
David Sarni - Former NYPD Detective, 27 years at NYPD, Adjunct Professor John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Instagram: dsonthemedia, TikTok: DS08296, Facebook: David Sarni, LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-sarni-ba002910a  
Thomas Coyne -  Medical Examiner, University of Florida.  District Eight Medical Examiner, State of Florida. Toxicologist.  Forensic Pathologist and Neuropathologist.  
Lauren Conlin - Reporter, Los Angeles Magazine - Podcaster/Reporter/Host- Co-Host of "PopCrimeTV" on YouTube, Website: www.popcrime.tv and primetimecrimeshow.com,  X- @Conlin_Lauren, Instagram: @LaurenEmilyConlin, YouTube: @PopCrimeTV 
Dave Mack  - Investigative Reporter, 'Crime Stories'

Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty to federal stalking charges for the 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and faces a potential life sentence&nbsp; The status of his state murder trial is still pending.&nbsp;
On August 14, 2026, Luigi Mangione, 28, admitted in Manhattan federal court that he&nbsp;stalked and shot Brian Thompson&nbsp;outside a Hilton hotel. He pleaded guilty to&nbsp;two federal counts of interstate stalking resulting in death, which carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole. Mangione explained that his actions were motivated by&nbsp;years of severe back pain and frustration with the U.S. health insurance system.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Despite the federal guilty plea, Mangione&nbsp;still faces eight state charges in New York, including&nbsp;second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon. His state trial is scheduled to begin on&nbsp;September 8, 2026. His defense has filed a motion to dismiss the state charges under&nbsp;New York&rsquo;s double jeopardy law, arguing that his federal guilty plea should prevent prosecution for the same conduct. However, prosecutors maintain that the state charges are distinct and are prepared to proceed with the trial.
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JOINING NANCY GRACE TONIGHT:
<ul>
<li>Randolph Rice&nbsp; - Former Prosecutor and Current Criminal Defense &amp; Civil Attorney at Rice Law, website: ricelawmd.com, IG, FB, X: @ricelawmd</li>
<li>Caryn Stark - Forensic Psychologist, renowned TV and Radio trauma expert and consultant,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.carynstark.com/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">www.carynstark.com</a>, Instagram: carynpsych, FB: Caryn&nbsp;Stark&nbsp;Private Practice</li>
<li>David Sarni - Former NYPD Detective, 27 years at NYPD, Adjunct Professor John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Instagram: dsonthemedia, TikTok: DS08296, Facebook: David&nbsp;Sarni, LinkedIn&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-sarni-ba002910a">https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-sarni-ba002910a</a> &nbsp;</li>
<li>Thomas Coyne -&nbsp; Medical Examiner, University of Florida.&nbsp; District Eight Medical Examiner, State of Florida. Toxicologist.&nbsp; Forensic Pathologist and Neuropathologist.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Lauren Conlin - Reporter, Los Angeles Magazine - Podcaster/Reporter/Host- Co-Host of "PopCrimeTV" on YouTube, Website:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.popcrime.tv/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-outlook-id="fac29a37-ae21-4422-8998-6c26e92a2cdb" data-linkindex="2">www.popcrime.tv</a> and&nbsp;primetimecrimeshow.com,&nbsp;&nbsp;X- @Conlin_Lauren, Instagram: @LaurenEmilyConlin, YouTube: @PopCrimeTV&nbsp;</li>
<li>Dave Mack&nbsp; - Investigative Reporter, 'Crime Stories'</li>
</ul>

Nancy Grace dives deep into the day’s most shocking crimes and asks the tough questions in her new daily podcast – Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. Nancy Grace had a perfect conviction record during her decade as a prosecutor and used her TV show to find missing people, fugitives on the run and unseen clues. Now, she will use the power of her huge social media following and the immediacy of the internet to deliver daily bombshells!

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Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Nancy Grace dives deep into the day’s most shocking crimes and asks the tough questions in her new daily podcast – Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. Nancy Grace had a perfect conviction record during her decade as a prosecutor and used her TV show to find missing people, fugitives on the run and unseen clues. Now, she will use the power of her huge social media following and the immediacy of the internet to deliver daily bombshells!

Theme Music: Audio Network

Assassin in Luigi Mangione Thwarts Justice, Fan Girls Storm Courthouse

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/cdbcfaee-0745-4455-9ba3-b4aa012298c5/transcript