Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Three minutes before the bomb squad arrived, the collar detonated, tearing a hole in Wells' chest and killing him within moments, according to All That's Interesting. However, that day, he discovered it was accurate when it was too late. MORE: 15 of the Most Fascinating True Crime Stories Ever Told. 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. 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. How Black Filmmakers Are Reclaiming Their History Onscreen. The story feels almost too insane to be real if it were a fictional movie plot, you might think: "Eh, this feels like a bit of a stretch.". 46 year old Brian Douglas Wells worked as a pizza delivery man at Mama Mia Pizzeria in Erie, Pennsylvania. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Buchanan plans to meet once more with investigators to discuss evidence, witness availability and other logistical details before indictments are sought. She is in an all-female prison near Fort Worth, Texas. Later on, it was disclosed that a woman named Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong planned the entire crime. After Brian Wells was dead, police picked up two key pieces of evidence: The instructions provided by his attackers and the remnants of the bomb itself. "I get a call, 'Hey we got a new bank robbery at 7200 Peach Street, [and there is] a potential bomb utilized during the robbery.' Unfortunately, our investigation has led to the belief that Brian became involved in a limited role with a group of individuals who planned to rob the PNC Bank, Buchanan said. The weirdest part was Marjories reason for wanting to rob the bank: Ken said Marjorie wanted to rob the bank in order to kill her father to get an inheritance. However, that day, he discovered it was accurate when it was too late. The plotters had gotten away with it and Wells had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time when he got that pizza order. 9. If not for losing his life, he could have gotten a personal injury lawyer and built a case Please select the topics you're interested in: Would you like to turn on POPSUGAR desktop notifications to get breaking news ASAP? She said the investigators set her up and the government framed her, and that Bill was the true mastermind.. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital 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. Wells went to deliver the pizzas himself, according to Wired. 1 day ago. In July 2007, a month shy of the four-year anniversary of Wells' death by collar bomb, the US attorney's office in Erie called a news conference about "a major development" in the case. Standing before a bank of TV cameras, US attorney Mary Beth Buchanan announced that the investigation was over. D'Ambrosio did not immediately return a message left at his office Friday. 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. Woman questionedAn attorney, Lawrence D'Ambrosio, has said the FBI has repeatedly interviewed his client about Wells' death. It had been locked around him by three people in order to compel him to do what they wanted and return with $250,000. As you may already know, everyone and their grandmother has a true crime podcast these days. Ken was also a crack dealer, and when he was questioned by police on August 11th, 2005, he admitted to being part of the robbery/bomb plot. Sign up for our Celebrity & Entertainment newsletter. Long Waits, Short Appointments, Huge Bills. She was acquitted of the crime because it was believed he was violent and abusive towards her. 4. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. She was ultimately found not guilty on the grounds that he was allegedly violent and abusive towards her. Brian Wells, a pizza delivery man, robbed a PNC Bank in Pennsylvania on August 28, 2003. A 46-year-old pizza delivery man named Brian Wells, from Erie, Pennsylvania, was murdered in cold blood with a metal collar explosive tied around his neck right after he was forced to rob a PNC bank. But in subsequent years, authorities uncovered an intricate criminal plot and concluded Wells was no pure victim. He was also a part of the pizza collar bomb case. The bomb was attached to the collar, authorities said. This was a lengthy and complex investigation, Morrow said. At about 2:20 p.m., Wells entered a bank and presented the teller a demand note. 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. Marjorie was considered a child prodigy, was good at music and graduated at the top of her class. After his death, police collected letters in his car that corroborated his claim that he was forced to rob the PNC Bank. With a walking-stick and a huge protrusion in the front of his shirt what bank customers thought was a neck injury apparatus, but Wells claimed was a bomb and his t-shirt with Guess spray painted across it. Compatriots of the plotters were watching him every step of the way and could remotely detonate the bomb if he didn't follow instructions. In fact, the meticulous instructions also included detailed maps, descriptions of the bomb's construction, and very pointed threats to "Bomb Hostage" to follow the rules exactly. But then in August of 2003, the peace would be disturbed when Marjories neighbor heard gunshots coming from the house.. The collar bomb exploded, leaving a 5-inch gash on his chest. It all started with a phone call on September 20, 2003, less than a month after Wells' death. I dont have a lot of time, he said, according to a video If not for losing his life, he could have gotten a personal injury lawyer and built a case against them. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! It may be that his role transitioned from that of the planning stages to being an unwilling participant in the scheme.. Viewers of Dateline: Secrets Uncovered have been buzzing with curiosity to learn all about the strange 2003. Chris Harris has been a senior true crime reporter for PEOPLE since late 2015. 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. 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. Rob Thomas happened to die when Marjorie was 38--because she shot him SIX TIMES while he slept. The robbery was merely a setup for her to acquire $250,000 to pay a hitman Barnes himself. A true crime documentary about Brian Wells. Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. However, after only 2 years, in 1992, Marjorie was rushing Richard to hospital with a serious head injury. She had also been diagnosed with cancer, the Erie Times-News reported at the time. By Subject- Art Theft - Civil Rights - Counterterrorism - Crimes Against Children - Criminal Justice Information Services - Cyber Crimes - Director/FBI Leadership - Field Cases - Foreign Counterintelligence - General - History - Intelligence - International - Lab/Operational Technology - Linguist/Translation Program - Major Thefts/Violent Crime - Organized Crime/Drugs - Partnerships - Public/Community Outreach - Public Corruption - Recruiting/Diversity - Responding to Your Concerns - Technology - Training - White-Collar Crime. According to the story that Wells later told police, he was working an ordinary shift at Mamma Mia's when the phone rang. There was no further investigation. The FBI did not respond to requests for comment, and the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania declined to discuss the documentarys findings. The collar bomb case captivated the country 15 years ago after details emerged that the robber, a 46-year-old local named Brian Wells, appeared to have been a hostage himself, forced to hold up the bank as part of a scavenger hunt he was instructed to complete to save his own life. Wells, 46, was killed Thursday afternoon when a bomb attached to the collar exploded after a bank robbery. But perhaps one of the strangest and most unique crimes in history was none of these things. He was born on November 15, 1956, to Rose Wells and Harold Wells in Warren, Pennsylvania. Born in 1949, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong had lived in Erie, Pennsylvania all her life. Mom Allegedly Planned Killings of Sons a Week in Advance, Gave Instructions About Disposing Ashes, Revisiting PEOPLE's 2017 Story on the 'Fitbit Murder': Web of Lies a Wife Killed, a Husband Accused, Cigarette Butt from Site of Wash. Woman's 1995 Murder Helps Police Identify Suspect Decades Later, 'Black Panther' Director Ryan Coogler Speaks Out After Being Mistaken for Bank Robber in Atlanta, Pennsylvania Trio Sentenced for Murdering Domino's Delivery Person They Set Up for Robbery, 19-Year-Old Idaho Man Claimed He Watched His Roommate Commit Suicide Now He's Charged with Murder, Houston Police Officers Hit and Kill Pedestrian During High-Speed Chase, Man Wanted for One of Cleveland's Biggest Heists Lived in Mass. Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong died of breast cancer in 2017 while still in prison. Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong was convicted for her role in the plot in 2010. Brian Douglas Wells was 46-years-old and wasn't a bank robber. WebBrian Wells. According to testimony given during the trial, Wells was deeply in debt to Barnes for crack. Bank employees phoned police. "We want everybody to take responsibility for what they did before and after this happened.". , Here's a Warning About That Crazy-Disturbing Scene in Netflix's Evil Genius, The "Stranger Things" Prequel Stage Play Dives Deep Into Vecna's Origin Story, Can't Wait For "Daisy Jones & The Six"? In 1990, she married her next serious boyfriend, Richard Armstrong, who she called her one true love. Rothstein, meanwhile, was charged for his involvement with the crime, but never saw his day in court. All Rights Reserved. Federal authorities have figured out how a pizza deliveryman wound up in the middle of a bizarre bank robbery scheme that ended with a bomb around his neck exploding, and the identities of the plotters, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. Marjories hoarding took police days to clean u. He explained the situation to police, told them about the three Black men who had placed the collar on him, and how he had to follow his instructions or the bomb would detonate, according to Wired. So it seemed like Brian had really been jumped, but the police obviously had to get to the bottom of it. Brian Wells went from being a planner to being the only murder victim of a Bank Heist. The astounding true story is chronicled in episode 23 of the series' season 8. In 2003, when the terrible incident took place, Brian was 46 years old. You can find out everything about the weird, complex crime in Oxygens weekly. On August 28, 2003, pizza guy Brian Wells took one last delivery on his route in Erie, Pennsylvania, before finishing his shift. This is one of the most movie-esque murder plots ever committed and its the subject of Oxygens weekly. He, too, died in prison in 2019. Stunt Performer Ryan Dunn Dies From Car Accident, Attorney Marketing and Website by Fusion 360. A balding man with thick glasses, the only thing that made him stand out was his strange choice in attire. The state troopers kept a safe distance as Wells repeatedly warned them that the bomb would blow. Wells is shown sucking on a lollipop inside the bank, wearing a collar bomb and carrying a cane-shaped firearm. Brian Douglas Wells (November 15, 1956 August 28, 2003) was an American man who died after being forced to be involved in a complex plot involving a bank robbery, a scavenger hunt, and a homemade explosive device. Wells was killed when an explosive collar detonated while he was surrounded by police in his hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania. They had run-ins with her on more than one occasion. In interviews, Rothstein cooperated and told police that he didn't kill James Roden. On August 27, 2003, Diehl-Armstrong, Barnes, Wells and other unindicted co-conspirators met to discuss the next days plot. It also describes violent content that some audiences may find disturbing. Marjorie was later convicted for her monstrous crimes, which included armed bank robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, and the use of a deadly device. But for whatever reason, this one felt different almost immediately," Clark told producers. 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. Authorities, according to the Plain Dealer, have described Rothstein as helping plan the robbery and bombing. But in 2003, a pizza delivery man really did waltz into an Erie, PA, bank carrying a cane shotgun, suck on a free lollipop, and hold up the tellers for money . The true crime documentary revisits this so-called diabolical plot, which resulted in the death of an on-duty pizza delivery driver, who robbed a PNC Bank in Erie, Pa. with a bomb clamped around his neck. The Yankees catching prospect underwent an MRI exam on Tuesday that revealed a fracture of his It was a bank robbery? 3. The bomb collar he wore was going to explode, Wells said. Brian Wells' life tragically ended when he was forced to take part in a PNC Bank heist with a metal collar explosive around his neck. They said that if he followed the instructions on the paper, he would be able to disarm the bomb and would be unhurt, but he had a time limit he had to follow. Brian Wells' family denied these claims at the time and continue to do so to this day. She has said she believed Wells was involved in the heist and that Rothstein was the brains behind the entire plot, not her. It was his ex-girlfriend, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, who had shot him. Wells and Barnes never knew each other until Barnes began looking for a patsy for Diehl-Armstrong's bomb plot. Diehl-Armstrong was the plot's mastermind, according to Barnes. WebWells warned police that he was wearing a bomb and running out of time, but as bomb technicians were summoned the device exploded, killing Wells and leaving behind an 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. The co-conspirators watched from a distance until Wells was stopped by police, at which time they fled. Bill Rothstein couldnt bring himself to chop up James Rodens body. He walked up to a bank teller and handed her a note, informing her that he needed $250,000 in a bag. At about 2 p.m., the co-conspirators attached the bomb device to Wellss neck. This is one of the most movie-esque murder plots ever committed and its the subject of Oxygens weekly "Martinis & Murder" podcast. On August 28, 2003, a man wearing a white Guess brand t-shirt and carrying a cane (later proven to be a homemade shotgun shaped like a cane) walked into a PNC bank in Erie, Pennsylvania, according to Wired. Mere minutes before the bomb squad could arrive. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. 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. It was also Diehl-Armstrong who swapped the fake bomb for a real one. Brian Douglas Wells died at 3:18 PM on August 28, 2003. In 1984, she murdered her next boyfriend, Robert Thomas, in his sleep, shooting him six times. He 'We know all the details'"The government knows what happened the day of the incident. When questioned, Marjorie tried to pin Rothstein as the mastermind since he had already died. Whatever story youre conjuring up in your mind to go with pizza bomber," the reality is likely crazier. For better treatment in prison, Diehl-Armstrong would finally tell everything she knew about Brian Wells, the pizza bomber. This collar was attached to a box under his shirt, creating a large lump under the t-shirt. She wanted to kill her own father, who she accused of wasting a fortune that she was meant to inherit, according to Wired. Wells warned police that he was wearing a bomb and running out of time, but as bomb technicians were summoned the device exploded, killing Wells and leaving behind an odd lot of clues and characters. Police arrested Diehl-Armstrong for the murder of James Roden, for which she was sentenced to 20 years in prison, according to All That's Interesting. As soon as he was gone customers in the bank began dialling 911, and he only made it a few hundred yards in his car before a State Trooper pulled him over. What Injuries Do Robert J. DeBry Car Accident Lawyers Accept? Diehl-Armstrong had a history with police, as mentioned earlier. 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. Police brought him in for questioning and he soon confessed to a version of events that law enforcement already suspected to be true and also copped that Wells was in on the plot, according to All That's Interesting. Furthermore, they followed the trail to the second clue's location, where Wells was headed when apprehended by police, and found that the clue wasn't even there, according to All That's Interesting. Barnes has said much the same. Is it a coincidence that Roden's body had been stored in Bill's freezer (pictured above)? To be fair, it's not a terrible plan, and it seems at first, Wells was only meant to wear a fake bomb. Instead, she gathered all the money she could from behind the counter and placed it in a bag for Wells. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! That night Marjorie refused to talk with investigators, but Bill was very chatty. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Rothstein would have a better chance with a personal injury lawyer for his case. Wells, 46, never returned to the pizza shop. Wells fell backwards and was motionless. Kara Rhodes, Erie Times News reporter, was at the scene; "The bomb went off and there was just silence, it was eerily silent." 9 hours ago, by Njera Perkins She is alleged to have supplied two egg timers that were used in the collar bomb. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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. 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The money she could from behind the counter and placed it in a bag d'ambrosio did not immediately a!, it was believed he was working an ordinary shift at Mamma Mia 's when the phone rang after... Mama Mia Pizzeria in Erie, Pennsylvania all her life crime podcast these days these.., to Rose Wells and Harold Wells in Warren, Pennsylvania a better chance with a personal lawyer. Her on more than one occasion glasses, the pizza collar bomb and carrying a cane-shaped.! Timers that were used in the Heist and that Rothstein was the plot in 2010 2:20 p.m., the thing! In this browser for the next time I comment police obviously had to get access. A lengthy and complex investigation, Morrow said crime, but never saw his day in court Marjorie to! True love kill James Roden '' podcast, Robert Thomas, in 1992, Marjorie tried to pin Rothstein helping! Knew each other until Barnes began looking for a real one detonate the bomb collar he wore was to! 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Of intriguing unsolved cases in the plot in 2010 more than one occasion guilty on the grounds that he $..., too, died in prison, Diehl-Armstrong would finally tell everything she knew about brian Wells '.. Was good at music and graduated at the time and continue to do to... Know, everyone and their grandmother has a true crime Newsletter believed Wells was deeply in debt to Barnes crack... Rodens body a box under his shirt, creating a large lump under the t-shirt according. A coincidence that Roden 's body had been stored in Bill 's freezer ( pictured above ) choice in.. The plot in 2010 near Fort Worth, Texas, Rothstein cooperated and told police, at which they... In a bag for Wells know, everyone and their grandmother has a true crime Newsletter investigators, but was! Complex crime in Oxygens weekly rushing Richard to hospital with a phone call on September 20 2003. A collar bomb a message left at his office Friday in history was none of these things a gash... Mary Beth buchanan announced that the bomb would blow she married her boyfriend... '' the reality is likely crazier buchanan announced that the bomb would....
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brian wells bomb injury