UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was shot outside a midtown hotel Wednesday morning, had been estranged from his wife Paulette Thompson for years, reports say. They lived in separate homes less than a mile apart in Maple Grove, Minnesota, although it is not known when they separated. Thompson’s wife is a physical therapist at a clinic in Minneapolis, and there is no mention of her husband in her work bio.
“I love spending time with my two boys and taking them to all their activities,” she wrote about her personal life. “I also enjoy boating, spending time with family and friends, playing the piano, biking and traveling.”
His wife confirmed that he was receiving threats related to his job but was not aware of the details. “Brian was an incredibly loving, generous, talented man who truly lived life to the fullest and touched so many lives,” she said in a statement. “Most importantly, Brian was an incredibly loving father to our two sons and will be greatly missed.”
“There were some threats,” she said. “Basically, I don’t know, lack of coverage? I don’t know the details. All I know is that he said there were some people who were threatening him.
Personal vendetta behind the murder?
No motive has been established by the NYPD as they continue their search for the killer. Many experts have emphasized the motive and said it looked like a premeditated attack but one of personal vendetta. The killer was aware of Brian Thompson’s schedule which was not difficult. UnitedHealthcare announced the conference although the venue was not mentioned but experts say if anyone is tracking Thompson it will not be hard to find.
Minnesota police investigated a bomb threat at Brian Thompson’s home 12 hours before he was killed in NYC.