NEW YORK (AP) — Pluck eyebrows. Buy less conspicuous shoes. Take a bus or a train west toward Cincinnati and St. Louis. Move around late at night. Stay away from surveillance cameras.
A to-do list and travel plans found during Luigi Mangione’s arrest and revealed in court this week shed new light on the steps he may have taken — or planned to take — to avoid capture after UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killing last year.
“Keep momentum, FBI slower overnight,” said one note. “Change hat, shoes, pluck eyebrows,” said another.
The notes, including a hand-drawn map and tactics for surviving on the lam, were shown at a pretrial hearing during Mangione’s attempt to prevent prosecutors from using evidence seized from him during his Dec. 9, 2024, arrest at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
Excerpts of body-worn camera footage of the arrest were released, revealing more insights into police interactions with the suspect. Police found the notes alongside a 9 mm handgun, which prosecutors claim matches the one used to kill Thompson just days prior, and other items suggesting he was on the run.
Mangione's legal team has not contested the authenticity of the notes or the provenance of the seized items, which include a fake ID and various personal belongings. However, they argue the evidence should not be admissible because the police lacked a warrant for the search. The prosecution maintains the search was lawful due to safety concerns.
One note references checking for “red eyes” traveling from Pittsburgh to Columbus, Ohio, outlining various escape routes that included cities like Detroit and Indianapolis. Brian Thompson, 50, was shot while walking toward a Manhattan hotel for a conference, with surveillance footage capturing the moment of the shooting.
Mangione, aged 27, has pleaded not guilty to the murder charges. The hearing continues, with his lawyers aiming to restrict the evidence in both state and federal cases, where the death penalty is sought.
Among the notes was a task to purchase non-descript black shoes and suggestions for evading surveillance, showcasing his mindset and desperation in avoiding detection. Other notes detailed a trip to Best Buy and additional survival items that he may have needed.
The situation escalated when customers at the McDonald’s recognized Mangione, leading to his eventual arrest following a 911 call from the manager.
Officer testimonies from the arrest highlighted Mangione's demeanor, revealing a complex character caught between his affluent upbringing and the dire circumstances he now faces.
