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Five jaw-dropping criminal cases that proved 2025 was stranger than fiction

7 3
31.12.2025

Eric Shawn joins 'Fox & Friends' ahead of the next hearing for alleged UnitedHealthcare CEO assassin Luigi Mangione to break down evidence his defense wants tossed over claims of police mishandling.

There was no shortage of high-profile criminal cases in 2025, many of which illustrated that sometimes reality is wilder than fiction. Here are five that were at the forefront of the conversation and captured attention countrywide.

1. United States vs. Luigi Mangione

A murder charge rocked the country at the end of last year, with a highly publicized case playing out in 2025. Luigi Mangione was taken into federal custody on December 19, 2024, and charged with the stalking and murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Shockingly, the crime was committed in the middle of the day when Thompson was walking in Midtown Manhattan. The story and Mangione’s mugshot soon became viral due to his young age and appearance, eliciting internet "fans" who shared their support.

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While the crime sparked public discussion regarding the state of the healthcare industry, Mangione pleaded not guilty to all charges against him.

In September of this year, Mangione’s terror-related murder charges were dismissed by a New York judge, though his second-degree murder charge still stands, and he could face life in prison if convicted.

After the conclusion of December’s pre-trial hearing, regarding whether an illegal search and seizure was performed at the time of Mangione’s arrest, a New York judge said he expects to issue a decision on May 18........

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