Minutes before a bomb squad arrived, the device Wells was wearing exploded his death captured by local news cameras. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. Around midday on August 28 2003, 46-year-old delivery driver Brian Wells clocked in for his usual lunchtime shift at Mama Mias Pizzeria in Erie, Pennsylvania. As Clark predicted, this was no ordinary bank robbery.. The world was stunned when Brian Wells strode into a bank armed with a shotgun cane and with a bomb strapped around his neck Credit: SUN. Kenneth Barnes was reportedly a retired TV repairman, a drug dealer, and a friend of Diehl-Armstrong's. 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As it so happened, Rothstein also lived in the house right next to the broadcast tower where Wells claimed to be fitted with the bomb collar. This is an FBI handout photo of the collar device used to secure a bomb to Brian Wells' neck. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The indictment alleges that Diehl-Armstrong solicited Barnes in July 2003 to help rob a bank. Diehl-Armstrong and Barnes both face initial appearances in federal court this week. At the time, police didn't make anything of it, but as they uncovered more clues in the case, they found this hoarding to be a recurring theme in their investigation. Wells' brother, John Wells, 44, of Phoenix, said the family won't be happy until justice is meted out. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. No one was charged as authorities struggled to determine who was behind the plot and whether Wells was an innocent victim or willing participant. Marjories high school sweetheart was a guy named Bill Rothstein. Her co-conspirators were her then-boyfriend James Roden, who she murdered in the course of the crime, her ex-fiance Bill Rothstein, and another friend, Ken Barnes. She was convicted with conspiracy to commit bank robbery with the utilization of a destructive device, and she was sentenced to life in prison on February 28th 2011. He, too, died in prison in 2019. She wanted to kill her own father, who she accused of wasting a fortune that she was meant to inherit, according to Wired. On August 28, 2003 at about 1:30 p.m., the co-conspirators used a pay phone to order two pizzas for delivery to a remote TV tower site, which happened to be next door to one of the conspirators houses. It had been locked around him by three people in order to compel him to do what they wanted and return with $250,000. 1 day ago, by Chanel Vargas The story of Brian Wells is about a pizza delivery guy, a bomb collar, and a bank robbery. Wells fell backwards and was motionless. Retired FBI agents Jim Fisher and Jerry Clark, who was prominently featured in Evil Genius, also believe Rothstein was responsible for the crime. According to police, Wells himself helped plan the scheme and agreed to wear the collar to throw authorities off the trail and let his co-conspirators get away with a bank robbery. Another suspect, Kenneth Barnes a longtime friend of Diehl-Armstrongs told authorities that Diehl-Armstrong solicited him to kill Roden and also Diehl-Armstrongs father because he was giving away money she believed was her inheritance to charities and friends. The total was $8,702, far short of a quarter million dollars, according to Wired. The bomb was attached to the collar, authorities said. The first steps of the instructions told him to drive back across town, go into a specific PNC bank, and hand a note to the teller. A balding man with thick glasses, the only thing that made him stand out was his strange choice in attire. A witness pointed authorities to a man named Kenneth Barnes (another compulsive hoarder), a close friend of Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, claiming that Barnes had been involved in the bomb collar case. Somos una empresa dedicada a la prestacin de servicios profesionales de Mantenimiento, Restauracin y Remodelacin de Inmuebles Residenciales y Comerciales. At the time, Wells appeared to be a hostage of the same crime he had just committed. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. They believe that he was an unfortunate hostage and merely forced to go along with the plot. With cameras pointed at handcuffed Brian Douglas Wells as he was sitting on the road surrounded by the police cars, 15 minutes before the bomb squad arrived, the The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Authorities said he was holding a loaded homemade shotgun that looked like a walking cane and wearing a T-shirt over an improvised explosive device, which he showed the teller, according to FBI records. , Awesome, Youre All Set! While some might expect the Netflix series to tread lightly around the violent death of Brian Wells, Evil Genius is a particularly jarring reminder that there are no guidelines restricting gruesome images from being shown onscreen. He was also a part of the pizza collar bomb case. She was unable to access more than $8,702, which he took. The pizza delivery man, who was reportedly a hostage in the deadly crime, left the PNC bank in a petrified state as if someone was controlling his every movement. Federal prosecutors on Wednesday announced an indictment against Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, 58, and Kenneth Barnes, 53, for allegedly helping to plot and carry out the botched scheme that culminated on August 28, 2003, when Brian Wells was stopped by police after robbing an Erie bank. Magazines, 15 of the Most Fascinating True Crime Stories Ever Told, Or create a free account to access more articles, What to Know About the Shocking Case Behind Netflix's True Crime Docuseries. IE 11 is not supported. The astounding true story is chronicled in episode 23 of the series' season 8. Wells would be the delivery driver. While the Troopers kept their distance from Wells, waiting for the bomb squad to arrive and confirm the bomb story, the device around Wells neck suddenly stopped beeping. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! A weird move for a guy who had a bomb unwillingly around his neck, forcing him to do the bidding of the people who forcibly put it there. In interviews, Rothstein cooperated and told police that he didn't kill James Roden. The riveting episode airs exclusively on the popular true crime network Oxygen on Wednesday, December 21, 2022, at 7 pm Eastern Time (ET). The scavenger hunt notes contained language like we and us, implying there were multiple conspirators involved. Buchanan did not immediately return calls for comment after the meeting, but earlier Friday said she called it because, "In more complicated cases, I like to meet personally with the law enforcement agencies to discuss the case and, in many cases, review the evidence myself.". In July 2007, four years after the robbery, federal prosecutors announced that Barnes and Diehl-Armstrong were believed to have been responsible, along with other conspirators including Wells, who was involved in a limited extent with the planing.. The FBI thought one possible scenario was that the maker was a shop teacher with a background in electronics, and had a workshop at their house. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Some people out there disagree, though. The story of Brian Wells is about a pizza delivery guy, a bomb collar, and a bank robbery. Starring Jesse Eisenberg and Danny McBride, 30 Minutes Or Less, is about a pizza delivery guy who is kidnapped by some criminals who strap a bomb around his neck and force him to rob a bank. WebBrian Wells: The Pizza Bomber Case eponine aka epi 1.07K subscribers Subscribe 69 Share 10K views 3 years ago Welcome (back)! Mere seconds later, it exploded, leaving a 5-inch gash in Wells chest. However, that day, he discovered it was accurate when it was too late. Barbara Schroeder, Evil Genius writer-director with co-director Trey Borzillieri, drew from years of work including countless interviews with Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, whom prosecutors have described as one of the pizza bombing plots masterminds. The sentence would begin as soon as she finished serving her time, or was paroled, for killing James Roden. Diehl-Armstrong also said she wasnt responsible. Netflixs new four-part docuseries Evil Genius: The True Story of Americas Most Diabolical Bank Heist, dives into a high-profile 2003 crime known as the collar bomb case. WebThe story of Brian Wells is about a pizza delivery guy, a bomb collar, and a bank robbery. In 1984, she murdered her next boyfriend, Robert Thomas, in his sleep, shooting him six times. Near the end of 2005, police received the final clue that led them to conclude that Brian Wells participated in the robbery. Shortly after, Bill was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Wells family was present for this announcement and vocally protested the allegation. This powerful, booby-trapped bomb can be removed only by following our instructions ACT NOW, THINK LATER OR YOU WILL DIE! The notes led Brian on a bizarre scavenger hunt, giving him time extensions on the bomb exploding for each step completed. The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections said Hoopsick had been in the state prison system for theft between May 2012 and July 2014, when she was paroled. It took eight police a whopping four days to get rid of the mess shed collected, and they filled up at least six dumpsters with trash. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Even if Wells could have somehow beat the timers and finished the treasure hunt, he would never have been able to remove the bomb on his own. Relatives said she had fallen out of touch with her family, and several phone numbers provided by two of her latest attorneys were either disconnected or belonged to other people. After an argument, she allegedly shot him twice with a 12-gauge shotgun. She would then use proceeds from the robbery to pay Barnes to kill her father and collect an inheritance, the indictment says. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. The You have reached your limit of free articles. The caller ordered two sausage and pepperoni pizzas and asked that they be delivered to a road on the edge of town. You'll find yourself captivated by the four-part show, which dives deep into the investigation surrounding the murder of Brian Wells (also known as "the Pizza Bomber") and attempts to find links between other mysterious deaths in the town. Heres what to know about the collar bomb case: On Aug. 28, 2003, Wells was working as a pizza deliveryman when he walked into a PNC Bank in Erie, Pa. at about 2:20 p.m. and handed the teller a note demanding $250,000. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Authorities, according to the Plain Dealer, have described Rothstein as helping plan the robbery and bombing. You can find out everything about the weird, complex crime in Oxygens weekly. According to Ken, Marjorie also killed James -- remember, he was her ex, who was found in Bills freezer -- because he threatened to tell police about her plot. Suburb for 52 Years: U.S. Brian Wells, a pizza delivery man, robbed a PNC Bank in Pennsylvania on August 28, 2003. all while wearing a bulky contraption around his neck, covered in a T-shirt that ominously read "Guess." Minutes later, with police surrounding him nearby, that man, Brian Wells, pleaded for help. An award-winning journalist who has worked forRolling Stone and MTV News, Chris enjoys prog rock, cycling, Marvel movies, IPAs, and roller coasters. The police called in the bomb squad. And that was the end of him, Lamont King, a former Pennsylvania State Police supervisor, says in the documentary. Later on, it was disclosed that a woman named Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong planned the entire crime. Pennsylvania pizza deliveryman Brian Wells, 46, leaned against a police car in handcuffs and begged authorities to defuse the explosive device locked around his neck. The keyholes on the collar did nothing. A 46-year-old pizza delivery man with a bomb fastened around his neck robbed a Pennsylvania bank in August 2003, walking out with more than $8,000 in cash. About 12 minutes later, Wells left the bank with nearly $9,000 and headed to the McDonalds next door, where he retrieved another note from under a rock. Mere minutes before the bomb squad could arrive. The bomb exploded before bomb technicians arrived. After Diehl-Armstrong was separately convicted for fatally shooting Roden, a fellow inmate with whom she was incarcerated told authorities that Diehl-Armstrong had confessed to killing Roden because he threatened to expose the collar bomb plot to authorities, according to the FBI. This is one of the most movie-esque murder plots ever committed and its the subject of Oxygens weekly. In 1990, she married her next serious boyfriend, Richard Armstrong, who she called her one true love. So if you plan to watch Evil Genius but want to avoid witnessing a real person's tragic death, be sure to shut your eyes around 10 minutes in to the first episode . Long Waits, Short Appointments, Huge Bills. The collar and box were a bomb, and they'd go off in 15 minutes if he didn't get the money, according to All That's Interesting. The official synopsis for Oxygen's Dateline: Secrets Uncovered episode, titled, Death Trap, reads: The bone-chilling case dates back to August 2003. It all started with a phone call on September 20, 2003, less than a month after Wells' death. Here at Robert J. DeBry & Associates we analyze cases such as these and help those who need to build cases for wrongful death, injury and more. How Black Filmmakers Are Reclaiming Their History Onscreen. Marjorie was considered a child prodigy, was good at music and graduated at the top of her class. Para nosotros usted es lo ms importante, le ofrecemosservicios rpidos y de calidad. However, instead of bombs, information is the explosive motivator. WebMarjorie Diehl-Armstrong, the Pizza Bombers mastermind, has been identified. They asked Ken to help with the timing mechanism on the bomb. Not only was his life at stake, but the lives of those around him and his family and friends. The hair-raising case also involved two other individuals named William Ansel "Bill" Rothstein and Kenneth Barnes. The three-count indictment, returned on July 9, contains charges of conspiracy to commit bank robbery, armed bank robbery, and using and carrying a destructive device in a crime of violence. While investigating, the FBI got another tip involving Kenneth Barnes, who confirmed their suspicion that Marjorie was the mastermind. While waiting for the bomb squad to arrive, the collar bomb went off, and after a few struggling breaths, Wells died on the pavement he was seated on. The Bizzare Collar Bomb Bank Robbery A free documentary about Brian Wells by Buzzfeed Unsolved Netwoemrk. With a high IQ, she also excelled at college and got a Masters degree. Police found two notes from Brians car explaining how to remove the bomb along with the phrase, 'act Hoopsick, who was never officially deemed a conspirator, could not be reached for comment by TIME. Meanwhile, here are some truly mind-blowing facts about the case to whet your whistle. But at a 2007 news conference that drew the ire of Wells family, prosecutors said he was not entirely innocent and had a limited role in planning the robbery. Initially, Wells thought he was an active planner in the robbery but would realize that his diabolical accomplices Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, Bill Rothstein, and Kenneth Barnes made him an unwilling participant. Evidence kits, and more 3 years ago Welcome ( back ) best true crime content meted.. Category `` Necessary '' he did n't kill James Roden month after Wells ' brother, Wells. Rushing Richard to hospital with a phone call on September 20, 2003 less... 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