When the news broke about the brazen shooting of Brian Thompson in Midtown Manhattan, the world immediately focused on the corporate giant he led. But behind the headlines of the UnitedHealthcare CEO and the complex investigation into Luigi Mangione, there’s a family in Minnesota trying to make sense of a nightmare.
Brian Thompson wife and children have been thrust into a spotlight they never asked for. It's a heavy situation. Honestly, it’s easy to get lost in the "deny, defend, depose" controversy or the technicalities of the trial, but for Paulette Thompson and her two sons, this isn't a news cycle—it’s their life.
Who is Paulette Thompson?
Paulette, or "Pauley" as her friends call her, isn't just a "corporate spouse." She’s a professional in her own right. She works as a physical therapist with HealthPartners (specifically Park Nicollet), and she’s been in the healthcare game for over 20 years.
She and Brian were an Iowa pair. They both went to the University of Iowa, though she stayed a bit longer to grab her Master’s in Physical Therapy in 1999. Brian had graduated a couple of years earlier with an accounting degree. They were basically the classic Midwest success story.
The separation rumors
People love to gossip, and after the tragedy, reports surfaced that Brian and Paulette were actually separated. This is true, but it’s not as scandalous as some tabloids make it out to be.
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They were living in separate homes in Maple Grove, Minnesota, but they were less than a mile apart. They were reportedly on "amicable terms," which you can see in how they showed up for their kids. They were still a unit when it came to their boys.
The Two Sons: Bryce and Dane
Brian Thompson was a father to two teenage sons, Bryce and Dane. At the time of his death, one was 19 and already out of high school, while the other was 16 and still a student at Wayzata High School.
The boys were the center of his world. You’d often see Brian on the sidelines of lacrosse games or out on the golf course with them. In fact, Brian’s obituary mentioned how much he loved it when his sons started outdriving him on the links.
- Bryce Thompson: The older son, a graduate of Wayzata High who played lacrosse.
- Dane Thompson: The younger son, currently navigating high school during an unimaginably difficult time.
The school's principal, Scott Gengler, sent out a heartbreaking email to parents after the shooting, noting how active the Thompsons were in the community. They weren't just names on a donor list; they were at the events, cheering in the stands.
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Dealing with the Threats
One of the most chilling parts of this story is that the family knew something was wrong. Paulette told investigators that Brian had been receiving threats for a while.
He didn't take them seriously enough to change his routine. He told her it was mostly people angry about insurance coverage—which, given the industry, probably felt like part of the job to him.
"There had been some threats. Basically, I don't know, a lack of coverage? I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him." — Paulette Thompson to NBC News.
The fact that the family found out about his death through a news link sent by a relative—rather than a formal police notification—just adds another layer of trauma to the whole ordeal.
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The Reality of Private Grief in Public Spaces
It’s been a rough road for the family. While some corners of the internet were busy making memes about the "deny, defend, depose" casings, the Thompson family was dealing with literal cyberstalkers.
In August 2025, a man from New York was actually charged with cyberstalking a member of Brian’s family. He was allegedly leaving "gleeful" voicemails about the murder. It’s a reminder that while the public debates healthcare policy, there are real people—a wife and two kids—who are just trying to grieve a father.
Actionable Next Steps for Readers
If you are following the Brian Thompson case, keep these points in mind to stay informed without falling for misinformation:
- Verify Source Material: Stick to court documents and reputable local outlets like the Star Tribune for updates on the family’s status, rather than social media speculation.
- Separate the Policy from the Person: It is possible to have strong feelings about the American healthcare system while still acknowledging the human tragedy of a family losing a father and husband.
- Respect Privacy: Avoid engaging with or sharing "leaked" personal photos or unverified social media accounts claiming to belong to the Thompson children.
The trial of Luigi Mangione continues to dominate the news, but for the Thompson family, the goal is likely just finding a way to move forward in a house that feels a lot quieter than it used to.