42-year-old Briana Boston. (Photo: Lakeland Police Department)
Briana Boston, a 42-year-old mother from Lakeland, Florida, was arrested after making threatening remarks during a call with BlueCross BlueShield over a denied insurance claim. Authorities allege Boston ended the conversation by saying, “Delay, deny, depose. You people are next,” referencing the recent targeted killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO.
The Lakeland Police Department reported that Boston’s comments were recorded during the call. Detectives later visited her home to question her about the incident. Boston reportedly told officers that she believed healthcare companies were “evil” and deserved “karma” for “playing games” with medical claims.
Who Is Briana Boston?
Brian Boston faces charges of making threats to conduct a mass shooting or act of terrorism. Lakeland Police Chief Sam Taylor emphasized the seriousness of her comments, stating, “She should know better than to make threats like that in today’s environment. We take such remarks seriously.”
A judge set Boston’s bail at $100,000, citing the nation’s heightened concerns about security and the need for a strong deterrent. Boston’s arrest highlights the growing tension surrounding healthcare disputes and the potential consequences of inflammatory language in sensitive situations.
Investigators noted that Boston does not own firearms and claimed she posed no danger to others. However, authorities interpreted her statement as a deliberate threat. The phrase Boston used closely resembles words allegedly written on bullets by Luigi Mangione, who is charged with murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Mangione reportedly inscribed the words “Deny,” “Defend,” and “Depose” on ammunition found at the crime scene. These terms echo the title of the book ‘Delay, Deny, Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don’t Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It’, which critiques practices in the American healthcare system. The book’s title also references the “three D’s of insurance,” highlighting alleged tactics used by insurers to avoid paying claims and increase profits.