During Luigi Mangione’s arrest, a set of notes and travel plans were discovered by the police. These notes provided insights into the steps Mangione might have taken or planned to take to evade capture after the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson the previous year. The notes included instructions such as changing appearance by plucking eyebrows and buying inconspicuous shoes, as well as tactics for staying under the radar.
Revealed during a pretrial hearing, the notes contained messages like “Keep momentum, FBI slower overnight” and a hand-drawn map outlining potential routes and destinations. Additionally, a backpack belonging to Mangione yielded items like a handgun, ammunition, a silencer, and a notebook detailing plans to harm a health insurance executive.
Although Mangione’s defense team hasn’t disputed the authenticity of the notes or seized items, they argue that the evidence should be inadmissible due to the lack of a search warrant during his arrest. Prosecutors, however, maintain the legality of the search, emphasizing the need to ensure public safety.
The notes suggested a brief stop in Altoona, Pennsylvania, as part of a larger escape plan, with indications of potential travels to cities like Cincinnati, St. Louis, and Detroit. Mangione’s actions, captured in body-worn camera footage, highlighted his attempts to alter his appearance and avoid surveillance.
Facing both state and federal murder charges, Mangione’s pretrial proceedings aim to determine the admissibility of crucial evidence, including the notes outlining his escape strategies. Despite his not guilty plea, the evidence paints a picture of a meticulously planned attempt to evade capture and continue his fugitive status.