In a Manhattan court, police testimony tied to the shooting of a high-profile executive prompted new scrutiny of digital assets. The suspect, Manzione, was arrested at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s five days after the incident. Investigators recovered a backpack containing a paper bearing a cryptocurrency seed phrase, according to court records.
At a pre-trial hearing, a photo of the document labeled ‘Encrypted — Cryptocurrency Seed Phrase’ was introduced as evidence. The central area of the image was heavily blacked out, and the court did not disclose which cryptocurrency this seed phrase pertained to, nor whether the defendant controlled any related assets.
Experts say the case underscores the relevance of digital wallets and blockchain security in modern investigations. Authorities have not confirmed any illicit activity linked to the seed phrase, and the matter remains under judicial review.