FACT CHECK: Threads Image Does Not Show McDonald’s Employee Who Reported Mangione Sighting

An image shared on Threads purports to show the McDonald’s employee who reported a sighting of Luigi Mangione, the alleged suspect who killed United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

Verdict: False

The image, which originally stems from Facebook, shows comedian and writer Nancy Parker, who lives in New York. Parker is not linked to Mangione.

Fact Check:

Mangione appeared at a federal court hearing Thursday in Manhattan, according to USA Today. Besides state charges, Mangione is facing multiple federal charges, including murder using a firearm, the outlet reported.

The Threads image purports to show the McDonald’s employee who reported a sighting of Mangione in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

“Nancy Parker of Altoona, PA is the snitch,” the image’s caption begins. “She outed herself on [Facebook], bragging about being the snitch,” it continues. The image shows a white woman with blonde hair.

The claim is false. Check Your Fact traced the image back to a Facebook profile belonging to a woman named “Nancy Parker.” Neither the post featuring the image nor the profile makes any reference to the woman being employed at McDonald’s, however. In fact, the woman’s profile indicates she lives in New York, New York, not Altoona, Pennsylvania. (RELATED: Fake Image Of Luigi Mangione In “Sailor Moon” Costume Shared Online)

Likewise, the woman’s profile photo matches that of an Instagram profile, @nancyparker5150. According to the same Instagram profile, the woman is a comedian and writer.

Additionally, Check Your Fact did not find the image featured in any credible news reports about Mangione. Actually, the opposite is true. On Dec. 18, Lead Stories debunked the claim, reporting it had traced the image back to the same Facebook profile.

Mangione was arrested on Dec. 9 at a McDonald’s restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania, according to CNN. Evidence, including Mangione’s fingerprints matching those found on items at the scene, have linked the 26-year-old Maryland native to Thompson’s death, USA Today reported.

Thompson was fatally shot on Dec. 4 in New York City while walking to UnitedHealth Group’s annual investor conference.