New York Man Pleads Guilty to Cyberstalking Slain UnitedHealthcare CEO's Family Member

Shane Daley admitted to leaving harassing and threatening voicemail messages to a Thompson family member after the executive's killing.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 9:18pm

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An upstate New York man named Shane Daley has pleaded guilty to cyberstalking a family member of slain UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Daley was accused of placing multiple threatening and harassing calls to a Thompson family member in the days after Thompson was fatally shot outside a New York City hotel in 2024.

Why it matters

The killing of the high-profile insurance executive prompted public frustration with the U.S. healthcare system, with some even lionizing the suspected shooter as a vigilante. Daley's actions added to the trauma experienced by the Thompson family in the aftermath of the tragedy.

The details

As part of his guilty plea, Daley admitted to placing multiple calls to a work line used by a member of Thompson's family and leaving messages with threatening and harassing language. He expressed satisfaction over the killing and said the family member and Thompson's children deserved to meet the same violent end.

  • Daley placed the calls in the days after Thompson was killed in December 2024.
  • Daley pleaded guilty in federal court on March 21, 2026.

The players

Shane Daley

A 40-year-old resident of Galway, New York, about 40 miles north of Albany, who pleaded guilty to cyberstalking a family member of slain UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Brian Thompson

The CEO of UnitedHealthcare who was fatally shot outside a New York City hotel in 2024, prompting public frustration with the U.S. healthcare system.

Luigi Mangione

The suspect accused of killing Brian Thompson, who has pleaded not guilty and faces trials in state and federal court.

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What they’re saying

“Shane Daley celebrated the cold-blooded murder of Brian Thompson and senselessly tried to maximize the Thompson family's suffering.”

— John A. Sarcone, First Assistant U.S. Attorney

What’s next

Daley will be sentenced on July 17 and faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

The takeaway

This case highlights the additional trauma and suffering experienced by the families of high-profile victims of violence, as well as the need for strong legal protections against cyberstalking and harassment in the aftermath of such tragedies.