During lockdown, inmates and guards noticed Luigi Mangione’s antics and his unique outfit. His high-profile murder case sparked fascination among inmates.
Luigi Mangione’s brief tenure at the State Correctional Institution (SCI) in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, has left somewhat of an impression on both guards and inmates at the facility. Mangione, who is in prison for the December 4 murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, was incarcerated before being extradited to New York. During his short stay, the treatment he received was reportedly different from the norm, creating curiosity and panic among fellow inmates.
In an article published by the Prison Journalism Project on January 23, incarcerated writer Vaughn Wright described what kind of unusual treatment Mangione received during his roughly 10-day stay.
Mangione was housed in D Block, previously reserved for death row inmates. Wright explained that whenever Mangione was taken out of his cell, the entire block was locked down, restricting the movement of all inmates.
“Every time he was taken out of his cell, D Block was locked down,” Wright wrote, according to People. “During lockdown, the movement of all inmates is restricted.” Mangione was also given special privileges in terms of his attire. While most inmates wore the standard orange jumpsuit, Mangione wore a “turtle suit” — a padded suit typically worn by inmates at risk of self-harm.
Mangione’s effect on inmates and guards
Mangione’s arrest and high-profile case drew national attention, and his presence at SCI Huntingdon did not go unnoticed. Wright noted that the guards probably softened their usual treatment of Mangione because they wanted something from him, specifically the attention he would receive for being associated with such a high-profile case.
In addition, Mangione’s time at SCI Huntingdon became a point of fascination for other inmates. Wright recalled that some inmates in E Block watched a live broadcast of Ashleigh Banfield’s prison interview with the former Ivy Leaguer.
“Inmates would yell and blink their ceiling lights in response to what she said.” “I haven’t heard such loud solidarity voices here since 2018, when the Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl,” Wright said, according to People. He added, “I think people felt good about having a chance to speak their mind.”
Mangione’s legacy at SCI Huntingdon
Wright concluded his article by saying that Mangione’s brief stay at SCI Huntingdon left a lasting impression. “Mangione is and always will be an alumnus of SCI Huntingdon,” Wright wrote.
“Now, nearly 2,000 of us are a part of that story. No matter what happens, Mangione is and always will be an alumnus of SCI Huntingdon,” Wright concluded. “Her brothers here will be watching her case closely as it moves through the criminal justice system, all the while telling everyone what, if it were them, they would have done to avoid arrest in the first place.”
