Defense seeks to suppress evidence in UHC CEO killing
Luigi Mangione has been fighting to exclude contested evidence in the New York murder case over the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, with a multiweek evidentiary/suppression hearing that included a Dec. 2 proceeding and a Day 4 postponement after Mangione fell ill. Police reported finding bullets in his bag and prosecutors disclosed handwritten “notes to self,” and the judge — who said he hopes to finish the hearing this week — has indicated he will rule on the exclusion motion in May; no immediate ruling has been issued.
📌 Key Facts
- Luigi Mangione, defendant in the UnitedHealthcare CEO killing, has been in New York court for pretrial evidentiary hearings focused on the admissibility of contested items; arguments in that dispute were presented Dec. 2.
- The defense is asking the judge to suppress/exclude evidence, and the evidentiary/suppression hearing had entered its third week by Dec. 16, with the judge saying he was hopeful the hearing would conclude that week.
- The judge told parties he will issue a ruling on the defense motion to exclude evidence in May, providing a clearer timeline for the suppression decision.
- A scheduled Day 4 of Mangione’s pretrial hearing was postponed on Dec. 5 because Mangione was reportedly ill; proceedings were to resume at a later date (TBD) and later continued into the multiweek hearing.
- Police found bullets in Mangione’s bag, a discovery that investigators say convinced officers he was the suspect in the UnitedHealthcare CEO killing.
- Prosecutors filed handwritten 'notes to self' attributed to Mangione that included lines such as 'Pluck eyebrows' and 'Keep momentum, FBI slower overnight.'
📊 Relevant Data
UnitedHealthcare's prior authorization denial rate for post-acute care increased from 10.9 percent in 2020 to 22.7 percent in 2022.
Senate Democrats release scathing report on Medicare Advantage denials — Washington State Hospital Association
Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic patients receive fewer referrals to specialist care for chronic pain management compared to White patients.
Exploring Racial Disparities in Chronic Pain Management — PMC - NIH
Denial rates for spinal procedures exceed 30 percent, even when recommended by qualified specialists.
The Most Commonly Denied Medical Procedures in 2025 — Counterforce Health
Black, Hispanic, and Asian patients are between two and three times more likely than White patients to have health insurance claims denied.
US health insurance claims more often denied for Blacks, Hispanics — The Black Wall Street Times
📰 Source Timeline (7)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- The judge said he will rule in May on the defense motion to exclude evidence.
- Confirms the venue as a New York murder trial for defendant Luigi Mangione.
- Sets a clearer timeline for the suppression decision following earlier hearings.
- The evidentiary/suppression hearing has entered its third week.
- The judge said he is hopeful the hearing will conclude this week.
- Prosecutors/filings revealed handwritten 'notes to self' by defendant Luigi Mangione that included lines such as 'Pluck eyebrows' and 'Keep momentum, FBI slower overnight.'
- Police found bullets in Luigi Mangione’s bag, and that discovery convinced officers he was the UnitedHealthcare CEO killing suspect.
- Day 4 of Luigi Mangione’s pretrial hearing was postponed.
- The judge said the delay was due to Mangione being ill.
- The evidentiary/pretrial proceedings will resume at a later date (TBD).
- Luigi Mangione returned to court on Dec. 2 for a hearing over disputed evidence in the UnitedHealthcare CEO killing case.
- The proceeding focused on admissibility of contested items; this updates prior notice of the defense’s suppression bid by confirming the evidentiary dispute was argued in court.
- No immediate outcome was reported in this update.