Why internet does not want to 'solve' murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO

UPDATED: Dec 9, 2024 01:34 IST

The brazen and targeted murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday has left corporate America in a state of shock. Thompson, 50, was fatally shot by a masked gunman outside a busy hotel.

Surprisingly, the murder has also left an eerie silence in the usually bustling world of online true-crime detectives.

Despite the high-profile nature of the crime, the typical surge of amateur sleuths hunting for the perpetrator has been notably absent, with some online personalities expressing apathy towards the investigation, NBC News reported.

A senior New York City law enforcement official briefed on the investigation confirmed Thursday that shell casings found at the scene were marked with the words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose,” although police later clarified that the correct term was “delay.”

Despite the tragic killing, the usual social media frenzy surrounding such incidents has not materialised.

Michael McWhorter, known as TizzyEnt on TikTok, pointed out the unusual silence in a video to his 6.7 million followers. “I have yet to see a single video that’s pounding the drum of ‘we have to find him,’ and that is unique,” McWhorter said, noting that in similar cases of violence, there would typically be a much more intense push from online sleuths.

The crime has sparked mixed reactions online, with some praising the killing, expressing frustration with the state of US healthcare, and even celebrating the death of the CEO.

Alex Goldenberg, a senior adviser at The Network Contagion Research Institute, described this as “deeply concerning,” noting the troubling trend of social media posts glorifying violence. Thompson’s family, however, issued a statement remembering him as an “incredibly loving father” who “will be greatly missed.”

Savannah Sparks, a popular TikTok sleuth with 1.3 million followers, said her community has not engaged in helping find the shooter. “We’re pretty apathetic towards that,” Sparks said.

Instead of actively participating, she added, her followers have been offering "thoughts and prayers" rather than investigating the crime.

Another influencer, thatdaneshguy, with 2 million followers, echoed similar sentiments, noting, “I don’t have to encourage violence... but I also don’t have to help.”

The shift in attitude comes amid growing public dissatisfaction with the US healthcare system, especially in the wake of Thompson’s murder. A Gallup poll revealed that Americans believe the quality of healthcare is at its lowest in 24 years.

Unlike previous high-profile cases, such as the search for Gabby Petito’s killer, where internet sleuths were instrumental in gathering information, the hunt for Thompson’s killer has seen little engagement.

One reason behind the lack of empathy could also be the rich-poor divide. Thompson was seen as a wealthy CEO rather than a relatable figure to many, according to Sukrit Venkatagiri, an assistant professor at Swarthmore College.

Despite the lack of online activity, law enforcement is still investigating the case.

The NYPD has released surveillance images of a person of interest and is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest.

However, no suspect has been identified till now.