Arson investigation launched after fire at Bayer executive's New Jersey home

USA Today

14-03-2025

Arson investigation launched after fire at Bayer executive's New Jersey home
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Health insurance industry faces backlash after UnitedHealthcare CEO death
There's a common theme in the wave of unsympathetic posts about UnitedHealth exec Brian Thompson's death: rage against the health insurance industry.
PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Multiple federal and state agencies are investigating a possible arson attempt at the New Jersey home of an executive of global pharmaceutical giant Bayer, authorities said.
Earlier this week, the Morris County Prosecutor's Office said a fire was reported around 7:30 a.m. on March 4 at an occupied residence in the borough of Madison. The suburban community is about 15 miles west of Newark, New Jersey.
The prosecutor's office told the Morristown Daily Record, part of the USA TODAY Network, that Madison firefighters responded to the incident and that the fire was quickly extinguished. No significant property damage or injuries were reported.
The prosecutor's office declined to identify the residents of the home, citing an "active and ongoing" arson investigation. Bayer spokesperson Nicole Hayes confirmed to the Daily Record that an incident occurred at the "private home of one of Bayer's U.S. executives," adding that the "family is safe and unharmed."
"The safety and security of our employees are of utmost importance to Bayer," Hayes said. "The incident is under active investigation. The company is cooperating fully with the investigation. We appreciate the quick response of local law enforcement."
Several agencies, including the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Arson/Environmental Crimes Unit, Morris County Sheriff's Office CSI Unit, New Jersey State Fire Marshals Office K-9 Unit, New Jersey Transit Police, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department, and the New York City Police Department are investigating the incident as a possible arson.
On Thursday, the prosecutor's office told NBC News and CNN that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is also assisting in the investigation. The incident was first reported by Yahoo Finance last Friday.
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What is Bayer?
Bayer, an international pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, was founded in Germany in 1863. The company initially focused on manufacturing and selling synthetic dyestuffs, according to the Bayer website.
It is now one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies and known for making prescription drugs and other consumer health products such as aspirin, Alka-Seltzer, Claritin, and Aleve.
Bayer consolidated its U.S. operations in 2013, opening a new $250 million headquarters in the Whippany section of Hanover Township, New Jersey. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who approved a $35.1 million business incentive grant to keep the company in the state, attended the grand opening.
In recent years, the company has been under intense scrutiny after it acquired Roundup under the $63 billion takeover of agrochemical company Monsanto in 2018. Roundup is a popular residential and commercial herbicide widely used by landscapers and agricultural workers.
Reuters reported last Friday that Bayer told U.S. lawmakers it may halt the sales of Roundup if it does not receive stronger legal protections against product liability litigation.
The company has faced thousands of lawsuits that claimed victims developed a form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma from exposure to glyphosate, which was the active ingredient in Roundup sold for home use until 2023, according to Reuters.
Bayer has paid about $10 billion to settle disputed claims. About 67,000 cases are pending, for which the group has set aside $5.9 billion in legal provisions.
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Incident follows increased security measures for companies
Last week's incident comes amid heightened security measures and social media vitriol aimed at the health insurance industry and corporate America. Authorities and companies feared potential attacks targeting industry executives after the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December.
Thompson, 50, was shot outside a New York City hotel while on his way to speak at an annual investor conference. Luigi Mangione, 26, was arrested following a massive manhunt and faces state charges of murder as an act of terrorism. He pleaded not guilty in December.
The shooting sparked an outpour of contempt toward health insurers with people on social media sharing their grievances over denied claims and complaints about perceived greed in the industry. In the immediate aftermath of the incident, videos posted online appeared to show "wanted" posters in New York with the names and faces of other corporate executives.
Thompson's death prompted industry peers to remove biographies and photographs of top executives from their websites. Some companies also closed offices or canceled in-person events.
"It was an eye-opening experience for many CEOs. ... Most of them think they're anonymous. A great deal of them, they drive themselves to work or just jump in a cab," Matthew Peters, vice president of protective services at security provider Guidepost Solutions, previously told USA TODAY.
Contributing: Bailey Schulz, Ken Alltucker, Jeanine Santucci, and N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA TODAY; Reuters