(NewsNation) — Before Luigi Mangione was accused of gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last year, he had expressed anger at the health care system in the United States while backpacking in Japan and Thailand.

Mangione traveled to both countries months after undergoing surgery for his longstanding back issues in July 2023.

According to The New York Times, when Mangione was in Thailand, he spoke about the high cost of health care in the United States and how “effed up” the system was back home with a fellow American, Christian Sacchini. Sacchini grew up in Texas and moved to Thailand to play professional soccer.

Sacchini noted that Mangione was shocked by how small an amount an MRI scan cost in Thailand.

“He couldn’t believe it,” Sacchini said.

Sacchini also recalled one c

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