In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through both the healthcare industry and the quiet communities of upstate New York, Shane Daley, a 40-year-old resident of Galway, Saratoga County, stands accused of federal cyberstalking after allegedly terrorizing the grieving family of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The charges come just months after Thompson’s high-profile murder in midtown Manhattan—a crime that itself drew national attention and led to an intense manhunt.
According to federal prosecutors and court documents reviewed by Upstate New York News and The New York Post, Daley’s harassment began mere hours after Thompson was fatally shot on a Midtown sidewalk in early December 2024. The UnitedHealthcare CEO, who had led the company since 2021, was killed at close range on the morning of the company’s annual investor conference, an event that was supposed to be routine but instead became the backdrop for a tragedy that stunned the business world.
What happened next only compounded the trauma for Thompson’s family. Federal authorities allege that between December 4 and December 7, 2024, Daley placed a series of harassing and threatening calls to a work phone line used by Paulette Thompson, Brian Thompson’s wife. Court papers reveal that Daley left three profane and menacing voicemails on December 4 alone, mocking the family’s grief and making chilling references to the murder. In one message, Daley reportedly said, “Your [family member] got lit the f--k up because he’s a f--king asshole,” and accused Thompson of “profiting off the… backs of poor Americans.”
But the vitriol did not stop there. In a subsequent voicemail, Daley claimed that Thompson’s children “deserved to die as well,” according to the criminal complaint. Then, on December 7, Daley called again, leaving yet another message that wished suffering on the Thompson family and reiterated that Brian Thompson “deserved to f---ing die.” These messages, federal officials say, were not only deeply insensitive but crossed the line into outright threats, compounding the pain of a family already reeling from an unimaginable loss.
Acting U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III did not mince words when describing the impact of Daley’s actions. “Daley, as alleged, gleefully welcomed this tragedy and did all that he could to increase the Thompson family’s pain and suffering,” Sarcone said in a statement provided to Upstate New York News. Echoing this sentiment, Jay Clayton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, emphasized the seriousness of the offense: “As alleged, Daley threatened and harassed a grieving family in the immediate aftermath of a loved one’s murder. These selfish, harmful and callous actions undermine public safety and will not be tolerated.”
Christopher G. Raia, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s New York Office, added, “The recurrent calls and messages in the days following Brian Thompson’s murder were more than callous and cold-hearted harassment. They were threatening and terrified a family already suffering following the violent death of their loved one.” He further pledged, “The FBI will continue to bring to justice any individual attempting to stalk and harass innocent Americans.”
Daley’s arrest came after investigators traced the voicemails to his phone. When confronted by an FBI agent, Daley initially denied making the calls, but later admitted that he had been drinking during the period in question and conceded that it was “possible” he had made the calls, according to court records cited by The New York Post. The FBI agent recognized Daley’s voice from the messages, and the evidence was deemed sufficient to bring charges of felony cyberstalking against him.
Daley made his first appearance in Albany federal court on August 13, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release if convicted. It remains unclear whether Daley has entered a plea, and his attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Importantly, authorities have made clear that Daley is not accused of any involvement in Thompson’s actual killing. That crime, described by prosecutors as a targeted “act of terror” meant to spark public outrage against what the accused killer characterized as a predatory healthcare industry, is being prosecuted separately. Luigi Mangione, 27, was charged with Thompson’s murder after a dramatic days-long manhunt. Mangione, who has pleaded not guilty, is alleged to have fatally shot Thompson at close range on the morning of UnitedHealthcare’s annual investor conference. Prosecutors allege Mangione’s motive was to provoke public outcry about the healthcare industry, but the full details of the case are still unfolding in court.
For the Thompson family, the pain of losing a husband, father, and business leader was only deepened by Daley’s actions. The criminal complaint notes that Daley mocked a public statement made by Paulette Thompson, in which she described her husband as “an incredibly loving, generous, talented man who truly lived life to the fullest and touched so many lives.” The fact that Daley chose to target the family in their moment of greatest vulnerability has been widely condemned by law enforcement and the public alike.
The case has also drawn attention to the broader issue of cyberstalking and harassment, especially in the wake of high-profile tragedies. As acting U.S. Attorney Sarcone and interim U.S. Attorney Clayton noted in their joint statement, their offices collaborated closely on Daley’s case, underscoring the seriousness with which federal authorities treat threats against victims and their families. “This office, together with our law enforcement partners, will pursue and prosecute those who seek to intimidate victims and their families,” Clayton said.
Daley’s prosecution is a stark reminder that, even as the justice system works to address violent crimes, the aftermath can bring additional dangers for victims’ families—sometimes from quarters no one expects. The legal process will now determine Daley’s fate, but the message from authorities is clear: harassment and intimidation, especially in the wake of tragedy, will not go unpunished.
As the cases against both Mangione and Daley proceed through the courts, the Thompson family—and the wider community—will be watching closely for justice and, perhaps, a measure of closure.