Missing 11 Minutes and an Alleged 'To‑Do' Escape List: Key Evidence at Luigi Mangione's Suppression Hearing

Prosecutors on Dec. 8 presented what they say was a handwritten "to‑do" list found in Luigi Mangione's backpack after the Dec. 4, 2024, fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The disclosure came during the fourth day of suppression hearings ahead of Mangione's federal and state trials; he has pleaded not guilty.

What the Note Allegedly Contained

Prosecutors described the item as a flight plan of sorts: a hand‑drawn map of Pittsburgh, a bus ticket purchased under an assumed name, instructions to head west toward Ohio while checking for "red eyes" to Columbus or Cincinnati, and a reference to breaking "CAM continuity" — a phrase prosecutors say suggests intent to evade law enforcement tracking.

Search Of The Backpack

Altoona Police Officer Christy Wasser testified she began searching a large black backpack inside a McDonald's because she feared it might contain an explosive, despite not having obtained a search warrant first. Body‑worn camera footage showed Wasser find a fully loaded magazine wrapped in underwear and a red notebook prosecutors say contained a manifesto targeting the health‑insurance industry. Another officer is heard on video saying, "it's f---ing him, 100%." Wasser later testified that a loaded handgun and a suppressor were located at the police station.

Defense Challenges Legality And Chain Of Custody

Lead defense attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo argued the warrantless search was unlawful and sought to undermine Wasser's account. Defense attorneys highlighted bodycam footage of Altoona officers debating whether a warrant was required and pointed to one officer's remark about leaving the bag for the FBI "to do their thing," suggesting federal involvement was anticipated. Agnifilo also questioned Wasser's claim she feared a bomb, noting no effort was made to clear the restaurant or call a bomb squad.

The Missing 11 Minutes

The most contentious issue at the hearing was roughly 11 minutes of missing bodycam footage during transport of evidence from the McDonald's to the police station. Prosecutors say Wasser turned her camera off during that interval. At some point while the evidence was in transit, Wasser and an officer identified as Fox exchanged custody of a separate bag — a transfer not captured on video. When Wasser's bodycam recording resumes, she is still wearing the gloves she used while searching and is shown at the station placing the backpack on a table and opening the front compartment, where the handgun appears.

Agnifilo suggested the weapon may have been found earlier — while officers were stopped in a patrol vehicle — and accused Wasser of failing to account for the missing footage. Wasser denied finding the gun before arriving at the station.

Context And Next Steps

Prosecutors have also played bodycam footage from other officers, the 911 call from the McDonald's, and uncensored video of the Dec. 4 shooting during the hearings. Testimony has included arresting officers and corrections staff. The resolution of the suppression issues — whether the search and chain of custody were lawful and whether the missing footage undermines evidence — could shape what is allowed at trial.