without a prescription. the evidence mounts against the accused gunman in the killing of unitedhealthcare's ceo. police saying a gun seized from the suspect matches shell cases found at the crime scene. other evidence found near the

scene now suggesting a direct link to luigi mangione. the fbi director for the last seven years appointed by president trump now says he will step down before trump returns to the white house. the reaction to o christher wray's departure. nbc's continuing investigation into the shadowy body broker business, the chiropractor leasing human remains out of a las vegas strip mall. the fami of a hawaii woman missing for over a month says she's been found safe. still questions remain around hannah kobayashi's disappearance. and after a community theater was targeted by thieves, the town rallied together to make sure a holiday classic still makes it to the stage. it's thursday, december 12th. "early today" starts right now. good morning, i'm frances rivera. today the suspect in the murder of unitedhealthcare's ceo luigi

mangione remains locked up in a pennsylvania state prison, fighting extradition on murder charges. the lapd says evidence is mounting. the gun was found when mangione was picked up at a pennsylvania mcdonald's and matches evidence found at the manhattan crime scene. >> we were able to match that gun to the three shell casings that we found in midtown. we're also able at our crime lab to match the person of interest's fingerprints with fingerprints that we found on both the water bottle and the kind bar. >> the murder sparking outrage against the health insurance industry. in new york city, fake wanted posters appeared targeting top

officials of insurance companies. now to a transition in the works at the fbi. fbi director christopher wray announcing that he will step down before the inauguration. president-elect trump had already nominated a new director, meaning wray would be expected to resign or be fired. nbc's peter alexander has more. >> reporter: fbi director christopher wray revealing to bureau employees he will resign before president-elect trump takes office. >> i've decided the right thing for the bureau is for me to serve until the end of the current administration in january and then step down. >> reporter: wray was selected by trump in 2017, but he's leaving three years before his ten-year term is up, after trump made clear he wanted wray out. >> this is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing e values and principles that are so important in how we do our

work. >> reporter: trump has spent years attacking the fbi and justice department for what he says have been partisan prosecutions against him, as he slammed wray ian interview with kristen welker over his role in the classified documents investigation. >> i can't say i'm thrhrilled th him. he invaded my home. i'm suing the country over it. he invaded mar-a-lago. i'm very unhappy with the things he's done. >> reporter: trump calling wray's resignation a great day for america, as it will end the weaponization of what has become known as the united states department of injustice. trump had already picked the man he wanted to replace wray, kash patel meeting with republican senators. patel is a former federal prosecutor and trump defender. critics have questioned his qualifications for the job and sounded alarms about his calls to go after those he said unfairly targeted trump.

patel names roughly 60 people in his book as being part of the quote, deep state. >> do you want kash patel to launch investigations into people on that list? >> no, he's going to do what he thinks is right. >> reporter: the fbi association is praising wray for his steady focus on doing the work that keeps our country safe. >> this is not easy for me. i love this place. >> reporter: there are still questions about whether the senate will confirm patel. no senate republicans are publicly against him, but he is facing scrutiny for past comments, including vowing to turn the fbi building into a deep state museum. nbc news has learned that atel told a top senator this week that he will not do that according to a source familiar with their conversation. back to you. >> peter, thank you. president-elect trump says he wants carey lake to be the voice of voice of america. she ran failed campaigns for

senate and government. he says under her leadership. the voa will chronicle achievements. on their website they say they are committed to providing comprehensive coverage. they emphasize a firewall, prohibiting interference by government officials in the independent reporting of the news. ime" magazine is set to name president-elect trump as his 2024 person of the year. according to two sources familiar with the matter. the magazine will officially name trump later today. the president-elect is listed as one of ten finalists for the title. he was person of the year in 2016 as well. mr. trump is here in new york city this morning, where he will ring the opening bell at the new york stock exchange. it will be his first time doing it despite his decades as a businessman in the big apple. a month after going missing, a hawaii woman, hannah kobayashi, has been found safe according to her family.

think did not say when or where the 30-year-old was found. shy was last seen crossing into mexico via foot. her fair died by suicide in los angeles where he had travelled to look for her. the family was at one point investigating whether she was part of a green card marriage scam. but their lawyer now says the evidence is inconclusive. the family has asked for privacy. the wisconsin father of three who allegedly faked his own death and vanished to europe has turned himself in. ryan borgwardt was charged with obstruction. after officials got word that his passport was used in canada, they contacted him. he sent this proof of life video in november. >> good evening. i'm in my apartment. i am safe, secure.

no problem. >> borgwardt entered a not guilty plea. his next court appearance is set for january 13. he could face a fine and nine months in jail. fire crews are battling a wildfire in malibu that has exploded due to high winds. the franklin fire has torched more than 4,000 acres and is just 7% contained. the blaze has destroyed several homes, forcing evacuation orders and warnings for 20,000 people. >> it's dangerous. it's causing a lot of damage and can cause a lot more damage. so we're just monitoring it so we know when to leave. >> officials say the flames could take some time to contain, due to steep, rugged terrain. as of last night, more than 6,000 people were still evacuated from the area. the cause of the fire is still under investigation. the great lakes can't catch a break from the lake-effect snow. nbc meteorologist angie lassman

is tracking another winter blast. i can't remember how many times we've said lake-effect snow. >> and we're only at the beginning of the season, frances. many more rounds of this lake-effect snow to go i have a feeling. we do have it happening right now. 5 million people under winter alerts. you can see across the snowbelt area, no surprise here that we're going to pick up additional snow from what we dealt with even last week. places downwind of the lake, that's where you'll see the heaviest of the snow bands setting up on lake ontario and lake erie. this is going to be happening through the day today. we'll see a lot less tomorrow. some of the lighter snow bands may stick around, but that starts to wrap up. between now and then we have a potential for a couple of feet in some of those most persistent bands, but i think more widespread, about a foot to foot and a half across this region. meanwhile, chilly air has filtered in. we have bitter cold warnings for parts of the upper midwest.

temperatures into the single digits and feeling well below zero in some spots with the wind chill. this is gog into this afternoon. cleveland tops out at 22 degrees with mostly-sunny skies. and that's a look at your forecast, frances, back to you. >> okay, thanks so much, angie. elon musk's riches have reached new heights. his net worth has surpassed $400 billion, making him the first person to reach the mile stone. his estimated wealth has been estimated at $404 billion. it's his ownership in spacex that makes up the bulk of his wealth. we're back in a minute with our nbc news investigation into

the shadowy body broker business and the man at the center. busins and the man at the center. alright kids come on. it's time for bed! ( ♪♪ ) good morning, mr. snuggles. make breakfast special with the cocoa and hazelnutty goodness of nutella. ( ♪♪ ) with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis my skin was no longer mine. my active psoriatic arthritis joint symptoms held me back. don't let symptoms define you... emerge as you, with clearer skin. with tremfya®, most people saw 100% clear skin... ...that stayed clear, even at 5 years. tremfya® is proven to significantly reduce joint pain, stiffness, and swelling. serious allergic reactions and increased risk of infections may occur. before treatment, your doctor should check you for infections and tb. tell your doctor if you have an infection, flu-like symptoms or if you need a vaccine. emerge as you with clear skin. ask your doctor about tremfya®. ♪♪

grim allegations at a las vegas strip mall after a chiropractor lost his license and then began dealing with the dead. liz kreutz has more. >> reporter: this is the latest image for a chiropractor turned self- self-help guru who h a now bankrupt company. >> the body brokers take those bodies and will many times cut them into parts and ship those parts to different users, you know, the heads may go one place, the limbs may go another place. >> reporter: he began the labs after losing his chiropractic license for misconduct. he pivoted to the body broker

business. there was a lawsuit claiming he used company money for personal expenses like his wife's false eyelashes and allegations that he mishandled human remains. here in this vegas strip mall was the office. it's here where they received and held dozens of bodies which they obtained from different places, including funeral homes and the university of texas health science center. the health science center, which was at the center of our investigation earlier this year, provided nasiri with dozens of bodies and body parts. the center alleged he shipped remains back in dirty containers, including one likened to a scrap cardboard box that he failed to return nearly 20 feet and that he was holding more than 30 of the center's bodies for far longer than promised in the med ed labs

maxed-out freezer. he made headlines for the body of a veteran with covid. nasiri telling nbc news he didn't know the way the body was going to be used. >> it all bothers me. we should be treating these individuals with more respect. >> reporter: dr. tom champni helps oversee the program. >> my goal is to start early on, humanizing these individuals. >> reporter: is there much regugulation? >> there's no regulation. there's no licensing. >> reporter: there's no inspection. >> no. >> reporter: no one's going to med ed labs? >> no. there's probably more regulations about what you do with a refrigerator than a body. >> reporter: over the phone,

nasiri, who canceled our sit-down interview says we respect our donors, but his practices raise questions about the lack of oversight of the industry. as nbc news previously uncovered, the lack of regulation is what allowed the university of north texas health science center to make millions, in part by taking in, cutting up and leasing out the body parts of unclaimed people. and in some cases like that of michael coleman, while their own loved ones searched for them. >> he wasn't nothing. that's's how they treated him. that he was a nothing. when he was everything to me. >> reporter: the center has inspired its manager, new regulation is being worked on to regulate body sales. >> it is the wild, wild west. and that cannot be allowed. >> reporter: but for now the industry continues to grow. and nbc news' review of corporate filing finds that

nasiri may still be active in it. a new industry is at the site under his brother's name. there are posts with inspirational quotes like this one. the most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. chris rock reveals the secret history of snl. and you will get a sentimental feeling when you hear what history brenda lee is making this holiday season. ee i making this holiday season. especially when they've been using toilet paper that doesn't hold up. hold it, mister! here's new charmin ultra strong. it cleans better*, you can count on it. new charmin ultra strong has a diamond-weave texture that's more durable and it cleans better* so you can use less. ahh, much better. hey! you passed the clean test, and your math test. oh yeah! we all go. why not enjoy the go with charmin. many remedies you take for chest congestion

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snl was created in 1942. is that right? jackie robinson used to be an intern here. >> that's not true. >> people don't know this, but lorne michaels is actually haitian. >> that's wrong. >> been haitian the whole time. can't you tell? tupac got shot on that stage.

>> chris rock dives into some deep snl lore. he returns for his fourth go around as host alongside musical guest gracie abrams. and speaking of the show's golden anniversary, fans will be able to go behind the scenes at the studio, snl 50, beyond saturday night. it hits peacock on january 16. and i love what they're going to delve into. it's basically the audition process. and actually dig up some old archives and stuff that's been tucked away. >> oh, can't wait for that. what will brenda lee find under the christmas tree this year. how about some history? earlier this week, rocking around the christmas tree cracked the billion stream barrier on spotify and honored by the recording academy of america for going seven times platinum. she celebrated her 80th birthday on tuesday and said she was

dumbfounded by her spotify numbers and can't even think that high. it is such an iconic christmas song. we love that one. >> which one, this one or "all i want for christmas this year"? >> i mine, on repeat. one after another. >> i'll stick with this one. my husband can't do -- >> "all i want for christmas?? ""? >> no more. when we come back, back on the shrines. e come back, back o the shrines. shrines. puffs plus lo shrines. to soothe her with ease. puffs plus lotion is gentle on sensitive skin and locks in moisture to provide soothing relief. a nose in need deserves puffs indeed. america's #1 lotion tissue. (♪♪) “the darkness of bipolar depression made me feel like life was moving on without me. ththen i fou a chance to let in the lyte.” discover caplyta. unlike some medicines that only treat bipolar i, caplyta is proven to deliver significant symptom relief from both bipolar i & ii depression. and in clinical trials,

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ask your doctor about tremfya today. ♪ ♪♪ [laughters] mom. ♪♪ mmmmmmm. repeat the sounding joy. [laughters] kinder joy. [laughters] open a world of surprise. we are back with a holiday show that must go on, and the community that came together to keep the tradition alive. maya eaglin has the story. >> reporter: for these dancers in canton, michigan, the holiday

season means showtime. more than 80 dancers performing the nutcracker. marking the 40th anniversary production from the ballet company. >> it is just a magical part of the holiday season. >> reporter: despite months of rehearsing, the curtain almost didn't go up. >> the holiday spirit under fire after thieves stole a storage container. >> reporter: this ring camera video capturing the moment this trailer and thousands of dollars worth of props inside were stolen, sending the show scrambling to replace them. community members stepping in, raising more than $18,000. as many parents got to work. >> i built these clocks. hopefully these last another 40. >> reporter: another 40 years but not another grinch. finally, opening night. what's the vibe? what's everyone feeling? give me some words. >> happy! >> excited! >> reporter: new props decorating the stage, along with

the holiday spirit. now stronger than ever. >> if no one ever volunteered to help, then the show wouldn't happen. >> it means the world. ♪ ♪ >> it's the nutcracker family, and now it's become the community family that has come together to put this show on. ♪ ♪ [ applause ] >> reporter: for a community that fought hard and worked together to keep the tradition alive. maya eaglin, nbc news, canton, michigan. >> props to them all for making it happen and keeping that tradition alive. now to a rhode island teen's lawn that's been transformed into something spectacular for the holidays and for good meaning. 16-year-old jeffrey hill sets up a display of nearly 60 christmas decorations all around his house each year in honor of his friend and classmate, lily golub who died unexpectedly. he channeled his grief into something positive called lights

for lily. >> just seeing it up and all the happy people, especially, like ms. golub, it's, you can't put it into words. i want to keep the happiness going, honestly. just for, like, lily, for, like, for me, for the whole town, everybody. >> and last year, light for lily raised $1300 for a scholarship in lily's name. the display will be up until the beginning of january. coming up on "today", the latest on the ongoing mystery in the skies over new jersey where dozens of drones have been spotted, insid

at five, one of the final acts from president biden. hundreds of sentences commuted. dozens of people pardoned overnight. we break down who is included in the biggest single day act of clemency. plus, a new twist in california's housing crisis. one of the state's biggest insurance