Man Charged In Cyberstalking The Widow Of Slain UHC CEO
Experts Warn of Expanding Intersection of Digital and Physical Threats to Victims
ALBANY, N.Y. — Aug. 15, 2025. A man from upstate New York has been charged with federal cyberstalking for allegedly leaving a series of threatening voicemails for Paulette Thompson, the widow of slain UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Federal prosecutors say the case underscores growing concerns about the expanding overlap between digital harassment and real-world threats.
The background to the case
Shane Daley, 40, of Galway, New York, was arrested and charged in connection with calls made to Paulette Thompson’s workplace in the days immediately following her husband’s Dec. 4, 2024, murder in midtown Manhattan. According to a Justice Department complaint, Daley allegedly left multiple voicemails using “graphic and threatening language,” expressed satisfaction over Brian Thompson’s killing, and stated that Paulette and the couple’s children “deserved” a similar fate.
Investigators identified Daley through phone records obtained from the victim’s employer and AT&T, which included call logs and GPS location data. He was arraigned in Albany and released under GPS monitoring pending trial. Daley faces up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release if convicted. He has not yet entered a plea.
This cyberstalking case is separate from the ongoing New York State prosecution of Luigi Nicholas Mangione, 27, who is accused of fatally shooting Brian Thompson near the Hilton Midtown. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to charges including murder in furtherance of terrorism and multiple weapons offenses.
The growing threat of cyberstalking and its physical link
Security experts warn that Daley’s alleged conduct is a stark example of how digital threats can intersect with — and potentially escalate into — physical danger. This “blended threat” landscape is fueled by factors such as:
Doxxing and information leaks: Sensitive personal data, including contact details and workplace information, can be exposed through breaches or online directories, enabling direct targeting of victims and their families.
Anonymity tools: Fake online identities and VoIP numbers can mask a harasser’s identity, complicating law enforcement’s initial tracing efforts.
Targeting an inner circle: Cyberstalkers may harass a victim’s friends, relatives, and colleagues to cause isolation and fear.
Severe psychological toll: Victims often experience heightened anxiety, depression, and persistent fear for personal safety.
The FBI’s 2024 Internet Crime Report recorded 859,532 complaints and over $16 billion in reported losses — a 33% increase from 2023 — with harassment and stalking among the growing categories of online crime. The U.S. Secret Service’s National Threat Assessment Center has urged the integration of behavioral threat assessment into responses, noting that online communications often play a role in the pathway to targeted violence.
Expert recommendations
Specialists advocate for a holistic security approach that combines digital and physical safeguards. Steps include regular security audits, staff and family training on privacy protection, limiting personal information shared online, and engaging threat-assessment professionals for high-profile individuals or those facing targeted harassment.
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