Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The note was addressed to "Receptionist" and "Bank Manager" and referred to the man in front of her as "Bomb Hostage." Mere minutes before the bomb squad could arrive. He seemed like any other ordinary customer who might have come in that day except for one very odd thing he had a large, metal collar around his neck. The bank teller went through emotional distress and would need a personal injury lawyer for her case. It all started with a phone call on September 20, 2003, less than a month after Wells' death. So what happened in that four year gap that led police to conclude that Wells was a collaborator and not a hostage? 10 Pieces Of Evidence To Give A Car Accident Lawyer. But in subsequent years, authorities uncovered an intricate criminal plot and concluded Wells was no pure victim. Posted on July 30, 2011 by Vincit Omnia Veritas. Acellphone was inside the case but wasn't wired to anything. The story of Brian Wells is about a pizza delivery guy, a bomb collar, and a bank robbery. Kenneth Barnes was reportedly a retired TV repairman, a drug dealer, and a friend of Diehl-Armstrong's. A few years later, though, the footage did leak out thanks to a Washington, D.C. radio shock-jock, who obtained the video from an unknown source and posted it on his website. While they were in route, something strange happened the bomb around Wells' neck began beeping faster and faster. 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. PEOPLE has been given exclusive access to the detailed notes recovered by investigators who searched Wells car. Diehl-Armstrong also said she wasnt responsible. She was acquitted of the crime because it was believed he was violent and abusive towards her. As Wells was apprehended by the Erie police, the bomb detonated, making a hole in his chest area and killing Wells on the spot. Behind the murder was a woman named Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong who suffered from multiple mental illnesses and personality disorders. Suburb for 52 Years: U.S. 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. A mans voice told them, I have a dead body in my freezer. The caller was Marjorie Diehl-Armstrongs former fianc, Bill Rothstein. At the time, Wells appeared to be a hostage of the same crime he had just committed. When authorities arrived, Brian was found standing in a parking lot outside his car. By the end of 2004, Marjorie was determined as knowing the difference between right and wrong, and therefore declared competent able to stand trial. Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. 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 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 cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Hoopsick introduced the two, and later felt regret for the decision, saying that Wells was innocent. He walked up to a bank teller and handed her a note, informing her that he needed $250,000 in a bag. 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. 11 hours ago, by Eden Arielle Gordon Mere seconds later, it exploded, leaving a 5-inch gash in Wells chest. Police also took Wells' instructions and put together a route to follow. Rothstein would have a better chance with a personal injury lawyer for his case. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. WebMarjorie Diehl-Armstrong, the Pizza Bombers mastermind, has been identified. Editor's Note: The following contains spoilers for the Netflix docuseries Evil Genius. At a news conference announcing the indictments, Mary Beth Buchanan, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania at the time, said Wells had also been part of the plot. Whoever put the bomb collar on Brian Wells never intended for him to live through the day. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 4) William Ansel "Bill" Rothstein and Kenneth Barnes were also involved in the crime. 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. Bill went to the police station for questioning, and explained how he and Marjorie had been friends for years, and that she would often call on him for help, which is how he ended up with a dead dude in his freezer. The law enforcement official told the AP that Buchanan would not disclose what the investigators concluded, but would say that the government is confident they know how and why Wells died. Woman questionedAn attorney, Lawrence D'Ambrosio, has said the FBI has repeatedly interviewed his client about Wells' death. Wells then followed the next set steps of his instructions, which directed him to a McDonald's near the bank, where he'd find a note with more instructions under a stone in the parking lot. A still showing Brian Wells from Netflix's "Evil Genius: The True Story of America's Most Diabolical Bank Heist". 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. 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. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The case involved nearly 1,000 interviews and as many leads, Buchanan said. 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. all while wearing a bulky contraption around his neck, covered in a T-shirt that ominously read "Guess." This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. A prosecutor in the case once reportedly described the suspects as twisted, intellectually bright, dysfunctional individuals who outsmarted themselves., Barnes pleaded guilty to weapons and conspiracy charges and remains in prison while Diehl-Armstrong was convicted and later died behind bars. Wells, 46, was killed Thursday afternoon when a bomb attached to the collar exploded after a bank robbery. 7. He had a bomb locked around his neck like a handcuff, resulting in a giant protrusion out the front of his t-shirt. A new Black Mirror episode called Shut Up And Dance also eerily dramatises a similar crime. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. As Clark predicted, this was no ordinary bank robbery.. Rob Thomas happened to die when Marjorie was 38--because she shot him SIX TIMES while he slept. To be fair, it's not a terrible plan, and it seems at first, Wells was only meant to wear a fake bomb. Wells and Barnes never knew each other until Barnes began looking for a patsy for Diehl-Armstrong's bomb plot. Some people out there disagree, though. Wells made off with $9,000, the most the teller could give him. He was also walking with a cane, which police later found out was an expertly crafted, hand-made handgun. The Rothstein died of terminal cancer before he could face any charges, according to multiple news reports. Subscribe at iTunes or Google Play. Now in a state mental hospital, Marjories testimony against Bill would be useless. All right, well we've had those before, and many times you arrive on scene and they're hoax devices. She was unable to access more than $8,702, which he took. But things took yet another turn when Marjorie was found mentally incompetent to stand trial by the court in 2004. Rothstein would have a better chance with a personal injury lawyer for his case. The keyholes on the collar did nothing. As she got older, though, her mental condition began to worsen. 'We know all the details'"The government knows what happened the day of the incident. Bill said that six weeks earlier, Marjorie had called him in a panic, saying shed shot and killed her boyfriend, James Roden. Ken also said that he and Marjorie had followed Brian to the bank, watching from a vehicle parked across the street. She earned another 30 years for using a bomb in the crime. Those armchair detectives aren't alone, either. Please consult us at Robert J. DeBry & Associates for a professional, experienced lawyer. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? She had also been diagnosed with cancer, the Erie Times-News reported at the time. 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. The defense noted that Wells only took $8,701 from the bank. He handed the teller a note demanding $250,000. Its going to go off. The device began to make beeping noises about 20 minutes after Wells was handcuffed, according to the FBI. Wells was on the way to his second destination when he was stopped by Erie police. The official synopsis for Oxygen's Dateline: Secrets Uncovered episode, titled, Death Trap, reads: The bone-chilling case dates back to August 2003. They were engaged in their 20s, but it didnt last. He knew this because he was going to be the one killing her dad--but for the fee of $250,000. Does anyone have the actual video of the bomb going off or any aftermath pictures? When the investigators told her who they were, she went berserk according to State Police Supervisor Lamont King, screaming at them to get out of the house. Marjorie was considered a child prodigy, was good at music and graduated at the top of her class. . 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. Truth is stranger than fiction in the case ofMarjorie Diehl-Armstrong and Brian Wells. How Black Filmmakers Are Reclaiming Their History Onscreen. 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. 12 hours ago, by Alexis Jones There was some conjecture that Brian Wells knew about the bomb plot. 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. At about 2:20 p.m., Wells entered a bank and presented the teller a demand note. He found it, according to All That's Interesting. 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. The collar bomb exploded, leaving a 5-inch gash on his chest. He had a short cane in his right hand and But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. It was merely two pipe bombs and kitchen timers, according to Wired. "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.' 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. Roden's killing led police to question Diehl-Armstrong in the Wells case because Roden's body was found in the freezer of a man named William Rothstein, who has since died. For better treatment in prison, Diehl-Armstrong would finally tell everything she knew about Brian Wells, the pizza bomber. But that attire wasn't his choice at all. Wells fell backwards and was motionless. After Marjorie broke off the engagement, she really began struggling with her mental disorders, including bipolar and depression. By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from POPSUGAR. 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. 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. The death was ruled accidental, though, so she was never charged. However, after only 2 years, in 1992, Marjorie was rushing Richard to hospital with a serious head injury. So it seemed like Brian had really been jumped, but the police obviously had to get to the bottom of it. They lived together for nine years without event. A bizarre robbery plot involving mental illness, a love triangle and a ticking bomb placed around the neckof an unwilling robberleads to multiple murders. 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." No one knows for sure who wrote them. , Awesome, Youre All Set! Please select the topics you're interested in: Would you like to turn on POPSUGAR desktop notifications to get breaking news ASAP? Barnes was sentenced to 45 years in federal prison, and Diehl-Armstrong was sentenced to life in prison, where she died in 2017. 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. They arrested Rothstein and brought him in for questioning. They used the time limits from the pages and found that it was physically impossible for someone to complete the steps necessary in the 55 total minutes allotted. 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. She had killed her first husband by shooting him six times while he sat on the couch, but successfully managed to convince a jury that it was in self-defense. He was betrayed, though, and the false bomb was switched out with a real one, according to All That's Interesting. Wells is shown sucking on a lollipop inside the bank, wearing a collar bomb and carrying a cane-shaped firearm. However, that day, he discovered it was accurate when it was too late. 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. She was also not unknown to Erie, PA law enforcement. Shortly after the heist, the metal collar device fastened to him exploded, killing him while he sat cross-legged and handcuffed on the ground. She said the investigators set her up and the government framed her, and that Bill was the true mastermind.The jury reached a verdict on November 1st , 2010, finding Marjorie guilty. 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 Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. WebBrian Wells collar bomb explosion. D'Ambrosio did not immediately return a message left at his office Friday. for having him store a corpse in his freezer. And that was the end of him, Lamont King, a former Pennsylvania State Police supervisor, says in the documentary. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 14 hours ago, by Monica Sisavat 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. . When he was cornered shortly after the robbery, the contraption around Brian Wells's neck did prove to be a live collar bomb, which detonated shortly thereafter, killing him in plain view of nearby press, civilians, and authorities. While investigating, the FBI got another tip involving Kenneth Barnes, who confirmed their suspicion that Marjorie was the mastermind. With a high IQ, she also excelled at college and got a Masters degree. This was a lengthy and complex investigation, Morrow said. The police called in the bomb squad. 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. Until something clearly went wrong, that is. Ken pled guilty to his role in the conspiracy and was sentenced to 45 years in prison, and on the stand, he testified against Marjorie.Ken also said that he and Marjorie had followed Brian to the bank, watching from a vehicle parked across the street. Rothstein was a compulsive hoarder, with trash and various knick-knacks piled high across his house. 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. The three Black men that Wells claimed forced the collar on him never existed. He died of an internal brain hemorrhage. They might be kidnappings, disappearances, or, yes, murders. Magazines, Digital This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. He was also a part of the pizza collar bomb case. In 1990, she married her next serious boyfriend, Richard Armstrong, who she called her one true love. By now, investigators are convinced Marjorie had something to do with the robbery/bombing. According to an FBI affidavit, Rothstein said his former fiance, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, had murdered her own boyfriend, James Roden, and stuffed his body in the freezer. If not for losing his life, he could have gotten a personal injury lawyer and built a case against them. 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. On August 27, 2003, Diehl-Armstrong, Barnes, Wells and other unindicted co-conspirators met to discuss the next days plot. Marjorie said he had fallen, and the coroner corroborated, saying the death was accidental. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 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. They asked Ken to help with the timing mechanism on the bomb. 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. But don't press "play" unprepared or you could find yourself unwittingly witnessing some seriously gruesome stuff. Instead, she gathered all the money she could from behind the counter and placed it in a bag for Wells. After leaving the bank, Wells was cornered by police in a parking lot. However, in one twist among many, it was not realistically possible for Wells to complete the instructions in enough time to save himself from the bomb. All Rights Reserved. Everyone can be their own personal Sherlock Holmes, and you don't even have to go outside. However, he was only able to get $8,702. She earned another 30 years for using a bomb in the crime. 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. Was only able to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details intriguing! Is used to store the user Consent for the fee of $ 250,000 was accidental Brian the... Would need a personal injury lawyer for her case she got older though. Out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience on a lollipop inside the ofMarjorie. On July 30, 2011 by Vincit Omnia Veritas tell everything she knew about Brian is. Convinced Marjorie had followed Brian to the bottom of it state mental hospital, Marjories testimony Bill! Hours ago, by Eden Arielle Gordon Mere seconds later, it exploded, a... Better chance with a cane, which police later found out was an expertly,! 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