The nationwide manhunt for the suspect who murdered UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson ended in a place that’s as American as apple pie: a McDonald’s. But while Luigi Mangione’s arrest in Altoona, Pennsylvania, brought relief to authorities, it’s still unclear who will actually claim the $60,000 reward offered for his capture—and it could take a lot longer than you think.
It all started innocuously enough when a customer at the McDonald’s noticed Mangione, 26, sitting down to a meal and—being the vigilant citizen they were—alerted a staff member. That call to the police set off a chain of events that culminated in Mangione’s arrest and charges in the high-profile killing of Thompson, 50, outside a Manhattan hotel earlier this week.
But here’s where things get tricky: despite the considerable reward money—$60,000 from the FBI and NYPD Crime Stoppers combined—there’s no guarantee anyone will be cashing that check anytime soon.
As per the report by CNN, when it comes to crime tip rewards, things aren’t as simple as just “seeing something, saying something.” You can’t just call in a tip and expect to waltz into the local police station to collect your money. In this case, the FBI’s reward stipulates that the tip must lead to the “arrest and conviction” of the suspect. That’s right—arrest and conviction.
As for the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers reward, it’s similar but with a key twist. The tip must not only lead to an arrest but also to an indictment before any reward money is disbursed. It gets even more complicated when the tipster’s anonymity is involved.
The police have not released the identity of the McDonald’s customer or the employee who helped make the arrest possible, and it’s unclear if they will ever step forward to claim their cut.
One thing’s clear: even if the tipsters do come forward, the process to claim their reward could take months. The NYPD Police Foundation, which handles the Crime Stoppers payouts, has a committee that reviews the case before making a decision. That means no one is getting rich overnight, despite how heroic their actions may seem.
In larger cases—like those involving international terrorists or FBI Most Wanted fugitives—things are even more complex. The FBI has a separate program, “Rewards for Justice,” where nominees (who cannot nominate themselves) must be put forward by a US investigating agency. But the Thompson case isn’t on that level—yet.
