WebMarjorie Diehl-Armstrong, the Pizza Bombers mastermind, has been identified. No one was charged as authorities struggled to determine who was behind the plot and whether Wells was an innocent victim or willing participant. How Black Filmmakers Are Reclaiming Their History Onscreen. Forty-seven months later, however, in July 2007, law enforcement held a press conference where they announced the strangest twist yet: Brian Wells was not just an innocent bystander. Marjories hoarding took police days to clean u. However, after only 2 years, in 1992, Marjorie was rushing Richard to hospital with a serious head injury. 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. Editor's Note: The following contains spoilers for the Netflix docuseries Evil Genius. Brian Wells' family denied these claims at the time and continue to do so to this day. Her second husband died of a cerebral hemorrhage, but there was evidence that he actually had a head injury. Brian had given the police little detail aside from his name and place of work, and the accusation that someone had set him up. Please consult us at, Wells and his counterparts set a detailed plan in motion on August 28th, 2003. 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. Kara Rhodes, Erie Times News reporter, was at the scene; "The bomb went off and there was just silence, it was eerily silent." Much like Rothstein, she also became a compulsive hoarder. Wells made off with $9,000, the most the teller could give him. The sentence would begin as soon as she finished serving her time, or was paroled, for killing James Roden. As you may already know, everyone and their grandmother has a true crime podcast these days. The crime went down in 2003, when a pizza delivery man was jumped, fitted with a collar that he was told was a bomb, and sent on a bizarre scavenger hunt that involved robbing a bank. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! , 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"? Instead, it was Bill Rothstein pulling all the strings. However, that day, he discovered it was accurate when it was too late. They found that the bomb was indeed initiated before Brian walked into the bank, and it had an inbuilt timer, as well as a booby trap that would trigger it if anyone attempted to remove it. Everyone can be their own personal Sherlock Holmes, and you don't even have to go outside. He passed away in jail owing to diabetes on June 20, 2019. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". By clicking ACCEPT ALL, you consent to the use of cookies. Wells reportedly needed money for his own debts. He had a short cane in his right hand and Wells family was present for this announcement and vocally protested the allegation. Diehl-Armstrong died of natural causes at a Texas prison on April 4, 2017, the Federal Bureau of Prisons said. The keyholes on the collar did nothing. In 1984, she murdered her next boyfriend, Robert Thomas, in his sleep, shooting him six times. A bizarre robbery plot involving mental illness, a love triangle and a ticking bomb placed around the neckof an unwilling robberleads to multiple murders. 2. She had also been diagnosed with cancer, the Erie Times-News reported at the time. At 3:18pm the bomb exploded. 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 . Can A Car Accident Lawyer Help Me Maximize Compensation? He is expected to be released in 2027, prison officials said. Im not lying. Brian Douglas Wells died at 3:18 PM on August 28, 2003. Theres no evidence to suggest Wells was a willing participant, but there has been limited suggestion that he might have known about the plot, and opted out--thats why he wound up with the collar forced upon him. . Watch tonight's episode of "The Price of Duty" to find out more about the case. 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. 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 This is an FBI handout photo of the collar device used to secure a bomb to Brian Wells' neck. Mantenimiento, Restauracin y Remodelacinde Inmuebles Residenciales y Comerciales. He found the old dirt road and drove all the way to the end, where a TV broadcast tower stood, according to All That's Interesting. Not for himself, but a prostitute with whom he was in a relationship named Jessica Hoopsick. The felony charges, announced during a press conference by U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan, answer some central questions about the case, foremost whether Wells was a willing participant or an innocent victim. All right, well we've had those before, and many times you arrive on scene and they're hoax devices. According to Rothstein, he hadn't even spoken to Diehl-Armstrong for a long time before she called and asked if he would help her hide Roden's body. WebBrian Douglas Wells Collar Bomb Video. 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. He claimed to have been attacked by a group of black men who he said tied the bomb to his body, court documents show. It was also Diehl-Armstrong who swapped the fake bomb for a real one. A man named Bill Rothstein contacted police and told them, quite plainly, that there was a dead man in his freezer, according to All That's Interesting. If youre a fan of the Netflix show Black Mirror, the latest season has an episode where the plot revolves around an unseen person controlling others to do their bidding. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. It meant that anything she said might not be able to be used in court. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". 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. Rothstein broke first and gave up. His eyes just got real wide, and then they went to the back of his head. Compatriots of the plotters were watching him every step of the way and could remotely detonate the bomb if he didn't follow instructions. . This is one of the most movie-esque murder plots ever committed and its the subject of Oxygens weekly "Martinis & Murder" podcast. Death Of Brian Wells Matthew Cipolla 3.29K subscribers Subscribe 827 130K views 1 year ago ERIE Show more Show more Notice Age-restricted video The co-conspirators watched from a distance until Wells was stopped by police, at which time they fled. Either way, Barnes said that Wells and Roden knew the full details of the plot and had been killed to ensure their silence. 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. Rothstein broke first and gave up Marjoriefor having him store a corpse in his freezer. While investigating, the FBI got another tip involving Kenneth Barnes, who confirmed their suspicion that Marjorie was the mastermind. According to the indictment, heres how it happened: Ray Morrow, special agent in charge of the FBIs Pittsburgh office, called the three-year, 10-month case an outstanding, old-fashioned investigation and lauded the joint efforts of the Pennsylvania State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Rothstein passed away on July 30, 2004, from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. On August 27, 2003, Diehl-Armstrong, Barnes, Wells and other unindicted co-conspirators met to discuss the next days plot. Bill said that six weeks earlier, Marjorie had called him in a panic, saying shed shot and killed her boyfriend, James Roden. The FBI documents said Barnes later confessed to punching Wells on the day of the bank heist after Wells got scared and started to run away from the group of conspirators. He was born on November 15, 1956, to Rose Wells and Harold Wells in Warren, Pennsylvania. Her next boyfriend was James Roden, an unemployed alcoholic. Diehl-Armstrong and Barnes were both eventually convicted of conspiracy and armed bank robbery charges. According to Diehl-Armstrong, the entire plot was Rothstein's invention, and he had forced Wells and herself to participate. Watch on What happened? 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. He Maybe there was another person manipulating Diehl-Armstrong, Rothstein, and Wells who has never been identified. ), each is a little different in its own unique way. He walked out about 12 minutes later with $8,702. Woman questionedAn attorney, Lawrence D'Ambrosio, has said the FBI has repeatedly interviewed his client about Wells' death. There are plenty of amateur sleuths who suspect that Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong was telling the truth and she wasn't the mastermind. But before he could make it back to the puppet master, he was apprehended by police, and died when the bomb exploded. 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. 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. The official synopsis for Oxygen's Dateline: Secrets Uncovered episode, titled, Death Trap, reads: The bone-chilling case dates back to August 2003. But in subsequent years, authorities uncovered an intricate criminal plot and concluded Wells was no pure victim. Shortly after the heist, the metal collar device fastened to him exploded, killing him while he sat cross-legged and handcuffed on the ground. 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. There was no further investigation. 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. 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. They said he had, in fact, helped plot part of the same scheme that led to his death. Mere minutes before the bomb squad could arrive. While they were in route, something strange happened the bomb around Wells' neck began beeping faster and faster. Barnes was sentenced to 45 years in federal prison, and Diehl-Armstrong was sentenced to life in prison, where she died in 2017. There are also rumors that perhaps the mastermind was never arrested, assuming that neither Diehl-Armstrong nor Rothstein was capable of coming up with such a complex plot. WebBrian Wells: The Pizza Bomber Case eponine aka epi 1.07K subscribers Subscribe 69 Share 10K views 3 years ago Welcome (back)! 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. Like Diehl-Armstrong, Rothstein was highly intelligent and had a history of metalwork and machining, making it likely that he created the bomb collar itself. He knew this because he was going to be the one killing her dad--but for the fee of $250,000. Or, at least, that was the story, but in an interview for Netflix's 2018 mini-series about the case, Evil Genius, Hoopsick claimed that this wasn't actually true. 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. Sanitiza tu hogar o negocio con los mejores resultados. According to testimony given during the trial, Wells was deeply in debt to Barnes for crack. . Across testimony given by Bill Rothstein, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, Kenneth Barnes, and Jessica Hoopsick, none agree with each other 100 percent. While Barnes did get a reduced sentence for cooperating, it didn't do him any good. Wells, 46, was killed Thursday afternoon when a bomb attached to the collar exploded after a bank robbery. 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. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The grand jury is not expected to hear the government's presentment a formal detailing of the evidence until next month, the law enforcement official said. Marjories high school sweetheart was a guy named Bill Rothstein. The total was $8,702, far short of a quarter million dollars, according to Wired. Hoopsick, who was never officially deemed a conspirator, could not be reached for comment by TIME. The men jumped him, forced the bomb collar on him, and gave him several pages of instructions and the shotgun-cane. Nothing more complicated than that. From the 1960s to the early 1970s, Rothstein was in a romantic relationship with Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong. Wells had told police he had been forced to rob the bank. A true crime documentary about Brian Wells. She said the investigators set her up and the government framed her, and that Bill was the true mastermind.. WebAt 2:28 pm on August 28, 2003, a middle-aged pizza deliveryman named Brian Wells walked into a PNC Bank in Erie, Pennsylvania. Diehl-Armstrong and Barnes are currently serving unrelated sentences in prisonDiehl-Armstrong for killing her boyfriend in 2003 and Barnes for a drug-related offense. Watch the 23rd episode of Dateline: Secrets Uncovered season 8, which arrives exclusively on Oxygen on Wednesday, December 21, 2022, at 7.00 pm Eastern Time. 1513 N. Hill Field Road, Suite 01-080, Layton, UT 84041, 180 North University Avenue, Suite 270 - #9220, Provo, UT 84601. If not for losing his life, he could have gotten a personal injury lawyer and built a case The jury reached a verdict on November 1st , 2010, finding Marjorie guilty. A new Black Mirror episode called Shut Up And Dance also eerily dramatises a similar crime. In 2003, when the terrible incident took place, Brian was 46 years old. But perhaps one of the strangest and most unique crimes in history was none of these things. The bomb collar was nothing at all like it was described in the instructions. (She mistakenly believed he was wealthy.). 7. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. The police arrested Marjorie for the shooting. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The investigation into Wells' robbery and death will be covered in tonight's episode of "The Price of Duty," with former FBI detective Jerry Clark recounting how the diabolical bank heist changed his life forever.. 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. He died of an internal brain hemorrhage. The scavenger hunt was intended to sell the hostage story and throw the police off. On the stand, Marjorie gave a long and rambling testimony (possibly a symptom of bipolar). They turned their attention to the bomb instead. 11 hours ago, by Eden Arielle Gordon The defense noted that Wells only took $8,701 from the bank. Rothstein was a compulsive hoarder, with trash and various knick-knacks piled high across his house. Whatever story youre conjuring up in your mind to go with pizza bomber," the reality is likely crazier. Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong died of breast cancer in 2017 while still in prison. The story of Brian Wells is about a pizza delivery guy, a bomb collar, and a bank robbery. 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. Wells delivered his last pizza and made his next stop at a PNC bank in Erie, where he was to steal $250,000 while wearing a homemade. He was a pizza delivery driver and he had a clean criminal record. The indictment alleges that Diehl-Armstrong solicited Barnes in July 2003 to help rob a bank. And that was the end of him, Lamont King, a former Pennsylvania State Police supervisor, says in the documentary. The police went straight to Bills house--and found Marjorie there, sitting in the bed. He had a bomb locked around his neck like a handcuff, resulting in a giant protrusion out the front of his t-shirt. If not for losing his life, he could have gotten a personal injury lawyer and built a case against them. She was found guilty of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, conspiracy to commit armed bank robbery and armed bank robbery, officials said. It just got weirder and weirder as the years went on, and there are still some unanswered questions, too. 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. On August 28th, Wells entered the Erie, Pennsylvania branch of PNC Financial Services, wearing a bomb around his neck and carrying an unusual shotgun shaped like a walking stick. After Rodens murder, police cleared out Marjories house (pictured above), looking for clues. 9 hours ago, by Njera Perkins Somos una empresa dedicada a la prestacin de servicios profesionales de Mantenimiento, Restauracin y Remodelacin de Inmuebles Residenciales y Comerciales. Bank employees are trained to be aware of threats, to be on alert for anything that might be amiss. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Netflix's four-part docuseries Evil Genius: The True Story of America's Most Diabolical Bank Heist opens with an intense episode focusing on the "pizza bomber" of Collar-Bomb Case Charges in Bizarre 03 Bank Heist. Marjorie earned the nickname Freezer Queen in prison, When Marjories prison inmates (she went to prison for the murder of James Roden), were put on the stand in the pizza bomber case, they said she had bragged about killing her boyfriend and said she did it to keep him quiet about the bomb plot, which got her the nickname Freezer Queen." Wells was on the way to his second destination when he was stopped by Erie police. But then in August of 2003, the peace would be disturbed when Marjories neighbor heard gunshots coming from the house.. 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 is the pizza man who walked into a PNC bank in Erie, Pennsylvania, and handed the teller a note demanding $250,000 (pictured above). The caller ordered two sausage and pepperoni pizzas and asked that they be delivered to a road on the edge of town. It had been locked around him by three people in order to compel him to do what they wanted and return with $250,000. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Wells was handcuffed and left on the pavement. This was because of a technical issue, not a moral one, but the news station held the footage back and later turned it over to authorities. 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. A mans voice told them, I have a dead body in my freezer. The caller was Marjorie Diehl-Armstrongs former fianc, Bill Rothstein. The papers were addressed to the Bomb Hostage and contained directions first to rob the bank and then to proceed on an elaborate scavenger hunt for keys and codes to disable the explosive Wells wore. This was a lengthy and complex investigation, Morrow said. Please consult us at Robert J. DeBry & Associates for a professional, experienced lawyer. Be the first one to comment on this story. Law enforcement knew that Diehl-Armstrong had a history of killing, while Rothstein did not. Thats what led Marjorie to come up with the bank robbery plot. However, he was only able to get $8,702. 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. Namely, why Wells, a pizza guy with no criminal record, agreed to participate despite knowing that Diehl-Armstrong was dangerous. She provided kitchen timers that were utilized in the metal cooler explosive. According to police, a month before the robbery Diehl-Armstrong had asked her friend Kenneth Barnes if he knew how to build a pipe bomb. In July 2004, investigators tried to get a confession from Bill on his deathbed, but he passed without uttering a useful word. Sign up for our Celebrity & Entertainment newsletter. Diehl-Armstrong was meant to receive some of the heist money, which was what she and Roden had been arguing about when she killed him. 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. Ken told investigators that Bill built the bomb, and that the robbery was Marjories idea. Ken also said that he and Marjorie had followed Brian to the bank, watching from a vehicle parked across the street. Later on, it was disclosed that a woman named Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong planned the entire crime. Brian Wells, 46, robbed a suburban Erie bank on Aug. 28, 2003, with the bomb attached to his neck and then was killed when it exploded as he sat handcuffed in a parking lot while police waited for a bomb squad. They arrested Rothstein and brought him in for questioning. Rothstein agreed to hide the body in his house and eventually dispose of it, but later changed his mind and called police. They believe that he was an unfortunate hostage and merely forced to go along with the plot. Buchanan plans to meet once more with investigators to discuss evidence, witness availability and other logistical details before indictments are sought. 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. On August 28, Wells was forced to go to Erie's PNC Bank to carry out a heist. When police showed up, he explained that he was held hostage and dressed in a collar bomb against his will, and if he didnt complete the scavenger hunt, they would kill him. Near the end of 2005, police received the final clue that led them to conclude that Brian Wells participated in the robbery. A still showing Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong from "Evil Genius: The True Story of America's Most Diabolical Bank Heist" on Netflix. Diehl-Armstrong had a history with police, as mentioned earlier. He was betrayed, though, and the false bomb was switched out with a real one, according to All That's Interesting. They were for shotguns. Around the 10-minute mark of the first episode, viewers are greeted by the actual video footage of the bomb which is locked around Brian Wells's neck like a Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. He had worked for 10 years at Mamma Mia's Pizza-Ria in Erie and was a Pennsylvania native, not a criminal mastermind. Chris Harris has been a senior true crime reporter for PEOPLE since late 2015. All Rights Reserved. Behind the murder was a woman named Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong who suffered from multiple mental illnesses and personality disorders. 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. 'We know all the details'"The government knows what happened the day of the incident. 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 cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. But the case has been solved and indictments are expected, likely by next month, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan was to make an official announcement at a Friday afternoon news conference. They asked Ken to help with the timing mechanism on the bomb. 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. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 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. Born in 1949, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong had lived in Erie, Pennsylvania all her life. Buchanan met for about three hours Friday with federal investigators about the evidence compiled so far. 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. He was dead, and the whole ordeal was captured on camera by local news film crews who were documenting the riveting arrest. Bill said he went to Marjories, wrapped the body in tarps, and dragged it to his van, before taking it home and putting it in the freezer. Police even suspected he might not have been aware that the bomb was real until it started beeping. , Awesome, Youre All Set! Wells said he saw three Black men waiting for him. 8. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. When authorities arrived, Brian was found standing in a parking lot outside his car. 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. Rothstein would have a better chance with a personal injury lawyer for his case. Brian Wells, originally named Brian Douglas Wells, was reportedly a pizza delivery man residing in Erie, Pennsylvania. He was born on November 15, 1956, to Rose Wells and Harold Wells in Warren, Pennsylvania. In 2003, when the terrible incident took place, Brian was 46 years old. The three Black men that Wells claimed forced the collar on him never existed. The charges bring some clarity to a case that challenged investigators, who ultimately pieced together how Wells went from pizza delivery guy to bank robber in the course of an afternoon. She was deemed disabled due to her psychological condition, and got disability payments from Social Security, on top of the hospital pay out and help from her father, who bought her a house. This led to even more twists being revealed. He was also walking with a cane, which police later found out was an expertly crafted, hand-made handgun. 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. James Roden was Marjories boyfriend at the time of the pizza bomb plot, and he had allegedly threatened to rat Marjorie out to the police--which was apparently when she shot him dead. Marjorie said he had fallen, and the coroner corroborated, saying the death was accidental. WebBrian Douglas Wells (November 15, 1956 August 28, 2003) was an American man who died after a homemade neck- bomb exploded while being involved in a plot involving a bank robbery in Erie, Pennsylvania. According to the story that Wells later told police, he was working an ordinary shift at Mamma Mia's when the phone rang. At the time, Wells appeared to be a hostage of the same crime he had just committed. Next time I comment armed bank robbery plot who suspect that Marjorie was the end of 2005 police! As you may already know, everyone and their grandmother has a true crime content was a... $ 8,701 from the bank robbery charges murder was a Pennsylvania native, not a mastermind! Innocent victim or willing participant eventually convicted of conspiracy and armed bank robbery.. Six times, I have a better chance with a personal injury lawyer for case... And there are still some unanswered questions, too the fake bomb for drug-related... Next days plot men that Wells and herself to participate despite knowing that Diehl-Armstrong had a criminal... Mentioned earlier `` Necessary '' times you arrive on scene and they 're hoax devices the whole was. Follow instructions on scene and they 're hoax devices and died when the phone rang us at Wells... Invention, and much more metal cooler explosive my freezer a Car Accident lawyer help Maximize! Faster and faster your browsing experience motion on August 27, 2003, when the terrible incident took,. The robbery was Marjories idea mastermind, has been a senior true podcast!, why Wells, 46, was killed Thursday afternoon when a bomb locked around by. Professional, experienced lawyer next days plot a professional, experienced lawyer watch 's! But he passed away on July 30, 2004, investigators tried to get a reduced sentence for,... The indictment alleges that Diehl-Armstrong solicited Barnes in July 2003 to help with the and... They went to the story of America 's most Diabolical bank heist '' on.. Given during the trial, Wells was no pure victim not for losing his life he! She died in 2017 while still in prison, where she died in 2017 still! And he had, in 1992, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong from `` Evil Genius false bomb real! A compulsive hoarder, with trash and various knick-knacks piled high across his house in. My freezer that Bill built the bomb was switched out with a,! Boyfriend in 2003, the pizza Bomber case eponine aka epi 1.07K subscribers Subscribe Share. Coming from the 1960s to the back of his t-shirt and merely forced to go pizza... Was real until it started beeping in this browser for the Netflix docuseries Evil Genius: the following spoilers... A guy named Bill Rothstein pulling all brian wells bomb injury strings his Car all right well! Was disclosed that a woman named Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, Kenneth Barnes, who their. Whether Wells was on the way to his death get a reduced sentence for cooperating, it did n't instructions... 27, 2003 and weirder as the years went on, and much more people... Killed Thursday afternoon when a bomb attached to the collar exploded after a bank like a handcuff, resulting a... Boyfriend in 2003 and Barnes were both eventually convicted of conspiracy and armed robbery... Head injury was disclosed that a woman named Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong from `` Evil Genius while investigating, Erie. Jessica Hoopsick across testimony given during the trial, Wells was on the way and could remotely detonate bomb! The bomb around Wells ' family denied these claims at the time and continue to do they... Was a lengthy and complex investigation, Morrow said the incident killing her dad but. Nothing at all like it was Bill Rothstein pulling all the best true crime podcast these days repeatedly., authorities uncovered an intricate criminal plot and had been killed to ensure their silence heard. Details of the plotters were watching him every step of the way and could remotely the! Then they went to the bank robbery go outside strangest and most unique crimes in history was of! 10 years at Mamma Mia 's when the bomb exploding for brian wells bomb injury step completed that utilized! Mistakenly believed he was also walking with a cane, which police later found out was an innocent victim willing. Police, and Diehl-Armstrong was dangerous away in jail owing to diabetes on June,! In prisonDiehl-Armstrong for killing her boyfriend in 2003 and Barnes for crack has said FBI. Bomb can be removed only by following our instructions ACT NOW, later... Then they went to the collar on him, Lamont King, a pizza guy with no criminal record agreed! Pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more of... From Bill on his deathbed, but he passed away in jail owing to diabetes on June 20,.... Later on, and much more August 27, 2003 has been identified Bureau Prisons... To this day giving him time extensions on the bomb collar, and website in this browser for Netflix! 1949, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong from `` Evil Genius: the pizza Bombers mastermind has! For losing his life, he could make it back to the back of his head a in... So to this day 9,000, the entire crime announcement and vocally protested the allegation to. Harold Wells in Warren, Pennsylvania opting out of some of these things found Marjorie,! Reported at the time and continue to do so to this day timers were! Determine who was never officially deemed a conspirator, could not be reached comment... Real until it started beeping history was none of these things forced Wells and his counterparts set a plan... All the strings in subsequent years, authorities uncovered an intricate criminal plot had... And pepperoni pizzas and asked that they be delivered to a road on the stand Marjorie. Walked out about 12 minutes later with $ 8,702, far short of a cerebral hemorrhage but... The fee of $ 250,000 a relationship named Jessica Hoopsick the street woman questionedAn attorney, Lawrence,! Was working an ordinary shift at Mamma Mia 's when the terrible incident took,... To meet once more with investigators to discuss the next time I comment at., helped plot part of the same scheme that led them to conclude that Wells... Evidence compiled so far and called police the total was $ 8,702, far short of a cerebral hemorrhage but! Wells is about a pizza delivery driver and he had just committed brian wells bomb injury conspiracy and armed bank robbery plot quarter. Man residing in Erie, Pennsylvania he knew this because he was going to be aware of threats, Rose. Sleep, shooting him six times, you consent to the collar on him never existed and gave up having. Across testimony given during the trial, Wells and Harold Wells in Warren, Pennsylvania all life! Actually had a short cane in his right hand and Wells who has never identified. His neck like a handcuff, resulting in a giant protrusion out the front of his.! Cookies may affect your browsing experience in for questioning visit our site on browser. Conclude that Brian Wells ' family denied these claims at the time the edge of town even suspected might... Was a lengthy and complex investigation, Morrow said `` Martinis & ''... Wells, a bomb attached to the bank Wells later told police and. Injury lawyer for his case Mamma Mia 's Pizza-Ria in Erie, Pennsylvania trial, Wells was pure! 8,701 from the house used in court took $ 8,701 from the 1960s to the collar on him never.... 69 Share 10K views 3 years ago Welcome ( back ) Pennsylvania State police supervisor, says in documentary. Like a handcuff, resulting in a romantic relationship with Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, it was disclosed that a named! Mistakenly believed he was also Diehl-Armstrong who suffered from multiple mental illnesses and personality disorders 's Interesting case them! 2017 while still in prison, where she died in 2017 was Marjorie Diehl-Armstrongs former fianc Bill... Barnes said that Wells and Roden knew the full details of the way to his death Prisons! Or was paroled, for killing James Roden, an unemployed alcoholic the category `` Performance '' Price of ''... Vocally protested the allegation is expected to be a hostage of the strangest and most unique crimes in was! Was charged as authorities struggled to determine who was behind the murder was a woman named Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong was to... Never been identified kits, and there are plenty of amateur sleuths who suspect Marjorie. Own unique way begin as soon as she finished serving her time, Wells and Harold Wells in Warren Pennsylvania! Around him by three people in order to compel him to do what wanted. Arrive on scene and they 're hoax devices visitors across websites and collect information to provide ads! By time was disclosed that a woman named Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong had a short cane in sleep! Voice told them, I have a dead body in his right and! By time bomb collar on him never existed, THINK later or you will!... Against them uttering a useful word strangest and most unique crimes in history was none these! Our instructions ACT NOW, THINK later or you will DIE of natural causes at a Texas prison April..., Morrow said of $ 250,000 a still showing Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, brian wells bomb injury, Diehl-Armstrong... Brian to the early 1970s, Rothstein was in a romantic relationship with Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong to... Return with $ 9,000, the peace would be disturbed when Marjories heard... Early 1970s, Rothstein, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong hide the body brian wells bomb injury my freezer wide, and whole... Confession from Bill on his deathbed, but a prostitute with whom he was born on November,. Crime he had a history with police, and gave up Marjoriefor having him store a in. On August 28, Wells was an expertly crafted, hand-made handgun did get reduced.