A man awaiting trial for the high-profile killing of a healthcare executive is performing routine janitorial work in prison, according to a former cellmate.
The inmate, charged in the death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last December, has been tasked with cleaning communal shower areas. The detail was shared by Michael Daddea, who was briefly housed with the defendant at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center.
“It’s not what you’d picture for someone in his situation,” Daddea remarked in a since-removed social media post, noting the contrast between the serious allegations and the mundane chore.
Daddea, who has since been released, described the accused as courteous and said the two formed a brief friendship during their time together. He claimed the man followed media coverage of his own case closely and often asked for help monitoring news articles.
Despite the gravity of the charges, which attracted significant public attention at the time of the arrest, the defendant reportedly receives no special treatment. His assigned job is among the standard tasks distributed to inmates, which can also include kitchen and general cleaning duties.
Legal representatives for the defendant have previously pointed to his conduct, calling him a compliant detainee as he awaits trial. He has entered a plea of not guilty.
The case continues to proceed through the judicial system.
