A Luigi Mangione super fan who publicly taunted the family of slain UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside court has been unmasked as the daughter of a longtime healthcare industry executive.
Background of the 'Mangionista'
Lena Weissbrot, one of three self-described 'Mangionistas' who drew backlash after praising Thompson's death outside Manhattan Supreme Court this week, is the daughter of Reina Natero - a senior medical affairs employee at CVS Health. The revelation emerged days after Weissbrot made inflammatory remarks outside Mangione's evidence suppression hearing in New York, where he will stand trial over Thompson's murder.
Weissbrot, alongside friends Ashley Rojas and Abril Rios, obtained official press credentials and conducted media interviews outside court while voicing support for the accused gunman. 'I liked it,' Weissbrot said when discussing Thompson's death. 'His children are better off without him. They need to learn to not be like their dad. And enjoy the blood money, kids!' The comments triggered outrage online and renewed scrutiny of the growing subculture of Mangione supporters who view the alleged killer as a vigilante-style hero taking on the medical insurance industry.
The Murder Case
Thompson, a father of two, was shot dead on December 4, 2024, outside a UnitedHealthcare investor conference in Manhattan. Prosecutors allege Mangione used a 9mm 'ghost gun' in the ambush-style slaying. Bullets recovered at the scene allegedly carried the words 'Delay, Deny, Defend' - language viewed as a reference to criticisms often leveled against the health insurance industry. Outside Monday's hearing, Weissbrot repeatedly defended Mangione and framed the accused killer as a symbol of public rage against corporate America. She argued Thompson 'was responsible for more deaths than Osama bin Laden' because of his role in the healthcare industry. 'And I remember Americans celebrating when Osama bin Laden was killed,' Weissbrot said. 'Our government and these health insurance companies, they're literally stealing our money and using it to kill us.'
Family Ties Revealed
According to public records and archived online profiles, Natero has spent more than two decades working across the pharmaceutical and insurance sectors, including positions tied to prescription coverage decisions. Records also indicate Weissbrot and Natero previously shared an address in St. Petersburg, Florida, before Weissbrot attended Florida State University. When confronted about the apparent connection by the New York Post, Weissbrot denied that Natero was her mother, while also describing the relationship as estranged.
Provocative Online Persona
Investigators and social media users also unearthed a provocative music video posted online earlier this year featuring Weissbrot performing under the name 'Fellatia G.' In the video, she raps lines attacking CEOs and billionaires while imagery of firearms and guillotines flashes onscreen. One lyric references CEOs 'getting shot up,' while another calls for 'billionaires in body bags.' Weissbrot describes herself online as a game developer, artist and musician. She previously received a Fulbright-mtvU fellowship tied to research involving feminist hip-hop artists in South Africa.
Scrutiny on the Trio
The other members of the so-called 'Mangionista' trio have also faced growing scrutiny. Rios, who has worked in visual effects and modeling, has posted extensively online about Mangione and progressive political causes. Public records indicate her father works in enterprise cybersecurity, while her stepfather has credits in the film industry. Rojas, meanwhile, previously worked retail and bakery jobs before pursuing journalism studies in New York, according to publicly available profiles.
Legal Developments
The controversy erupted as Mangione scored a mixed legal victory during Monday's hearing. Judge Gregory Carro ruled prosecutors can introduce a notebook and the alleged ghost gun recovered during Mangione's arrest as evidence at trial. Mangione has pleaded not guilty. His trial remains scheduled for October.
