Luigi Mangiones highly publicized perp walk in New York City — flanked by dozens of heavily armed officers — has drawn mixed reactions online, but body language experts say there’s a lot more to the moment than meets the eye.
Mangione, extradited from Pennsylvania, arrived by helicopter after being identified as the prime suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. His walk through the streets of New York was a spectacle in itself, which aroused both fascination and curiosity. However, body language experts delve deeper into the subtle signals he sent during the brief but intense moment.
Mixed emotions in his expression
Forensic psychiatrist Carole Lieberman, MD, MPH, was quoted by the Daily Beast as explaining Mangione’s facial expressions, which he said told a complex story. “He’s not a happy camper who’s under the control of all these law enforcement officers,” Lieberman said, noting Mangione’s displeasure at being in custody. “But his smile reveals a sense of pride, even satisfaction, in having necessitated such an overwhelming police presence.”
Lieberman speculates that despite his violent actions, Mangione is not a sociopath but rather someone whose grand ambitions were clouded by personal struggles. “The treatment was his last hurray to make a lasting statement, much like the Unabomber, to correct what he perceived as injustices in the world, particularly in the denial of insurance claims,” Lieberman explained, as quoted by the Daily Beast.
Calm but defiant
Psychotherapist Jonathan Alperts agreed that it is difficult to diagnose someone’s mental health condition based on a video alone. He notes, however, that Mangione’s calm demeanor during the perp walk could be a sign of quiet defiance or a sense of acceptance of his fate. “His composed appearance may indicate that he is resigned to the situation but still maintains a certain level of coolness and control,” Alperts said.
A calculated and safe posture
Fred Cuellar, a New York-based body language expert, analyzed Mangione’s walk with a different perspective, focusing on his physical posture. “Shoulders closed, looking at the ground — there’s a sense of concern, like, ‘I don’t want to trip over myself,’” Cuellar noted. But despite this subtle concern, Cuellar also observed Mangione’s “open posture” and confidence. “His shoulders are back, his head is up – he’s already figured out how to move without tripping.”
Cuellar explained that Mangione’s body language suggested a defiant attitude, unwilling to appear defeated or embarrassed. “His stance is often associated with strength and control, refusing to show weakness,” Cuellar said. He also pointed out that Mangione’s tendency to look around could indicate a strategic assessment of his surroundings, potentially seeking familiar faces or media attention.
The coldness in his eyes
Trauma therapist Shari Botwin pointed out a frightening aspect of Mangione’s body language: his eyes. “His eyes are cold as ice,” Botwin said, stressing that Mangione’s gaze conveyed no empathy for the alleged crime or its victims. “He shows no remorse for the effects of his actions,” she concluded.
A calculated criminal
Comparing Mangione’s calm, almost smug demeanor in the perp walk to earlier images of him filled with “pure rage”, Cuellar suggested that the two sides of Mangione—the calculated and the volatile—are part of the same persona. “This is a man who waited, and there is nothing innocent about him,” Cuellar remarked. “One day we may know his reasons, but for now it’s clear he’s very, very calculated.”
