Who is Karen Friedman Agnifilo? The Veteran NYC Lawyer Defending Luigi Mangione in UnitedHealthcare CEO Murder Plot Case

Karen Friedman Agnifilo

Luigi Mangione has enlisted Karen Friedman Agnifilo, a seasoned former New York City prosecutor, to represent him in his defense against murder charges, according to a statement released by her law firm, Agnifilo Intrater LLP, on Friday. Friedman Agnifilo, who served as the second-in-command at the Manhattan District Attorney's Office from 2014 to 2021, brings decades of experience to the case. She is known for her role in prosecuting high-profile violent crimes, including cold case homicides and cases involving mental health issues.

With over 30 years of experience in criminal justice, litigation, and trial law, Friedman Agnifilo has a strong background in criminal defense. Her career includes leading the prosecution of complex homicide cases and contributing to the development of specialized units, such as the Human Trafficking Unit, the Hate Crimes Unit, and the Cybercrimes Bureau during her time with the Manhattan DA's office. She has also been an influential figure in the creation of Manhattan's first Mental Health Court. In addition to her legal work, Friedman Agnifilo is a well-known media figure, frequently appearing as a legal analyst on TV news, including CNN, and co-hosting a podcast on the Meidas Touch Network that garners significant listener attention.

Meanwhile, law enforcement sources have provided ABC News with new details about Mangione's state of mind prior to his arrest. Writings recovered from his notebooks suggest a growing obsession and increasing hostility toward UnitedHealthcare, with Mangione allegedly planning to harm the company’s CEO. Some entries date back to mid-2024, revealing his shifting mindset over time. Initially, Mangione’s writings seemed to reflect a focus on personal growth and health, but later entries became more erratic, expressing a sense of isolation and a darkening view of the healthcare system. He reportedly criticized the U.S. healthcare system’s high costs and low life expectancy, and his writings culminated in a violent plan to target the UnitedHealthcare CEO at an annual conference.

In one disturbing entry, Mangione wrote, “I do apologize for any strife of traumas but it had to be done,” and referred to those in the healthcare industry as “parasites” who had “it coming.” According to sources, Mangione’s fixation on the CEO and his eventual plan to kill them were detailed in his diary-style notes, which also reflected his deteriorating mental state as he grew more disconnected from friends and family. Despite the intense rhetoric, neither Mangione nor his family were insured by UnitedHealthcare, as confirmed by UnitedHealth Group.

Mangione, 26, remains in custody at a Pennsylvania state prison after a judge denied him bail earlier this week. His legal team, now led by the experienced Agnifilo, will likely mount a defense as the case moves forward amid growing public interest in the bizarre circumstances surrounding the alleged crime.