The bomb exploded before bomb technicians arrived. 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.". 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. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. They arrested Rothstein and brought him in for questioning. Rothstein died of terminal cancer before he could face any charges, according to multiple news reports. Rothstein had put a real bomb on Wells, though, so there were fewer people to split the money with, and he told police about the body in his freezer for the same reason. It had been locked around him by three people in order to compel him to do what they wanted and return with $250,000. By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from POPSUGAR. 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. Everything Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong was telling them seemed to implicate her more than Bill Rothstein, according to Wired. 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. Minutes before a bomb squad arrived, the device Wells was wearing exploded his death captured by local news cameras. Im not lying. The client, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, is serving seven to 20 years in state prison for pleading guilty but mentally ill to killing her boyfriend, James Roden, in 2003. 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. 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. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. It also threatened bank employees and customers, then contained detailed, step-by-step instructions for gathering the money and giving it to the so-called Bomb Hostage. 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. Bill said that six weeks earlier, Marjorie had called him in a panic, saying shed shot and killed her boyfriend, James Roden. 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 collar bomb. 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. 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. 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. 12 hours ago, by Alexis Jones The collar bomb exploded, leaving a 5-inch gash on his chest. Suburb for 52 Years: U.S. How Black Filmmakers Are Reclaiming Their History Onscreen. Viewers of Dateline: Secrets Uncovered have been buzzing with curiosity to learn all about the strange 2003. He was another genius who was in Mensa. The story of Brian Wells is about a pizza delivery guy, a bomb collar, and a bank robbery. Everyone can be their own personal Sherlock Holmes, and you don't even have to go outside. Chris Harris has been a senior true crime reporter for PEOPLE since late 2015. Those armchair detectives aren't alone, either. 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. He claimed to have been attacked by a group of black men who he said tied the bomb to his body, court documents show. 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. I dont have a lot of time, he said, according to a video recording of the encounter. All right, well we've had those before, and many times you arrive on scene and they're hoax devices. 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. Wells told police before he died that he had been accosted by gunmen who locked the bomb on his neck and forced him to rob the bank when he went to deliver a pizza to a TV tower on a dead-end road. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 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. Rothstein, meanwhile, was charged for his involvement with the crime, but never saw his day in court. Wells and his counterparts set a detailed plan in motion on August 28th, 2003. 5. 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. 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. The scavenger hunt notes contained language like we and us, implying there were multiple conspirators involved. By clicking ACCEPT ALL, you consent to the use of cookies. According to the story that Wells later told police, he was working an ordinary shift at Mamma Mia's when the phone rang. Brian Wells went from being a planner to being the only murder victim of a Bank Heist. The bank teller went through emotional distress and would need a personal injury lawyer for her case. Armed with Kenneth Barnes' testimony, police put Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong on trial once again, this time for the bomb plot. 1155, Col. San Juan de Guadalupe C.P. "We want everybody to take responsibility for what they did before and after this happened.". A cane-shaped shotgun found in Brian Wells' car. by Sarah Wasilak 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. ), each is a little different in its own unique way. She was also not unknown to Erie, PA law enforcement. The highly shocking and spine-chilling 2003 case of Brian Wells, aka the Pizza Bomber, is re-examined in the highly engrossing true-crime show on Oxygen titled, Dateline: Secrets Uncovered. They believe that he was an unfortunate hostage and merely forced to go along with the plot. Somewhere along the planning phase, they deceived Wells that he would be wearing a fake bomb. TAMPA Austin Wells has been dealt a tough break. Police also took Wells' instructions and put together a route to follow. The men jumped him, forced the bomb collar on him, and gave him several pages of instructions and the shotgun-cane. The Heres where it gets interesting: while recovering James body, investigators realized Bills house was less than five hundred yards from where Brian Wells made his last delivery, right under the transmission tower. 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. Bank employees phoned police. The jury reached a verdict on November 1st , 2010, finding Marjorie guilty. Long Waits, Short Appointments, Huge Bills. Behind the murder was a woman named Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong who suffered from multiple mental illnesses and personality disorders. 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 state troopers kept a safe distance as Wells repeatedly warned them that the bomb would blow. However, instead of bombs, information is the explosive motivator. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. As was later proved in court, Diehl-Armstrong hatched the robbery scheme to force Wells into the PNC Bank in Erie with a ticking bomb around his neck because she apparently needed money so she that could have her father killed. 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 twisted sort of necklace exploding, sending shards of shrapnel into his chest and killing him. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 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. One of the sellers confirmed selling a gun to Marjorie and Bill. The debated question of Wells true involvement, as well as how the investigation unfolded, is re-examined in Netflixs four-part docu series Evil Genius: The True Story of Americas Most Diabolical Bank Heist, which is streaming now. But for whatever reason, this one felt different almost immediately," Clark told producers. Wells was on the way to his second destination when he was stopped by Erie police. He told investigators he was the smartest guy in this room, and reeled of his impressive educational resume--including his degree in electrical engineering and that he was a substitute science teacher with the Erie school system, specializing in robotics. Later on, it was disclosed that a woman named Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong planned the entire crime. She was acquitted of the crime because it was believed he was violent and abusive towards her. Wells had told police he had been forced to rob the bank. He was also a part of the pizza collar bomb case. All right, well we've had those before, and many times you arrive on scene and they're hoax devices. 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. By bragging, Bill willingly admitted to police he fit the exact profile of their bomb maker they were looking for. If it sounds familiar, thats because it is. Wells said he saw three Black men waiting for him. The scavenger hunt was intended to sell the hostage story and throw the police off. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! If not for losing his life, he could have gotten a personal injury lawyer and built a case against them. Diehl-Armstrong was the plot's mastermind, according to Barnes. for having him store a corpse in his freezer. all while wearing a bulky contraption around his neck, covered in a T-shirt that ominously read "Guess." It may be that his role transitioned from that of the planning stages to being an unwilling participant in the scheme.. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. She would not say if Rothstein, who died of cancer in July 2004, was one of those witnesses. His eyes just got real wide, and then they went to the back of his head. 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 Her next boyfriend was James Roden, an unemployed alcoholic. 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. For better treatment in prison, Diehl-Armstrong would finally tell everything she knew about Brian Wells, the pizza bomber. 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. It was merely two pipe bombs and kitchen timers, according to Wired. You have reached your limit of free articles. The astounding true story is chronicled in episode 23 of the series' season 8. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". According to testimony given during the trial, Wells was deeply in debt to Barnes for crack. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! (She mistakenly believed he was wealthy.). Born in 1949, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong had lived in Erie, Pennsylvania all her life. The police went straight to Bills house--and found Marjorie there, sitting in the bed. In Wells car, investigators found pages of detailed instructions on how to find the key and combination codes that would disarm and remove the bomb. Wells is shown sucking on a lollipop inside the bank, wearing a collar bomb and carrying a cane-shaped firearm. Ken told investigators that Bill built the bomb, and that the robbery was Marjories idea. The prosecution sold Marjorie as the catalyst for the entire robbery/bombing, despite Bill building the bomb, and her clear mental instability. 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. 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. By the end of 2004, Marjorie was determined as knowing the difference between right and wrong, and therefore declared competent able to stand trial. Diehl-Armstrong also said she wasnt responsible. 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. The footage is shown or implied again several times in the docuseries, but the aforementioned instance in the premiere episode is the only one where the footage is unblurred. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? But at first, no one noticed the man, whose name was Brian Douglas Wells. This led to even more twists being revealed. At 1:30 PM, he was called to deliver two pizzas at an address at the end of a dirt road on Peach Street. Its a weird line to draw when youre already ass-deep in a murder, and one that would ultimately put Marjorie in prison. Shortly after the heist, the metal collar device fastened to him exploded, killing him while he sat cross-legged and handcuffed on the ground. Now in a state mental hospital, Marjories testimony against Bill would be useless. "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.' Please logout and login again. 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. She provided kitchen timers that were utilized in the metal cooler explosive. Your login session has expired. 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. They had uncovered evidence that he was actually in on the plot and worked with the perpetrators as an accomplice, according to Wired. Barnes was sentenced to 45 years in federal prison, and Diehl-Armstrong was sentenced to life in prison, where she died in 2017. When police arrived at Rothstein's residence, they found Rothstein himself, the dead man in the freezer, later identified as James Roden, and a suicide note from Rothstein (who had not even attempted suicide) that, peculiarly and completely unprompted, stated in its intro that the body in the freezer had nothing to do with Brian Wells' case, according to Wired. They said he had, in fact, helped plot part of the same scheme that led to his death. Marjorie said he had fallen, and the coroner corroborated, saying the death was accidental. 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 Marjories hoarding took police days to clean u. This is an FBI handout photo of the collar device used to secure a bomb to Brian Wells' neck. The Pizza Bomber: The Crazy Real-Life Story, believe Rothstein was responsible for the crime. He was betrayed, though, and the false bomb was switched out with a real one, according to All That's Interesting. Brian Wells, 46, told police before the bomb killed him in August 2003 that he was innocent and had been forced at gunpoint to wear the bomb. In July 2004, investigators tried to get a confession from Bill on his deathbed, but he passed without uttering a useful word. 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. The entire plan was executed under her supervision. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. . Investigators interviewed her in July 2005, and Marjorie hinted that James death and the robbery/bombing were connected, saying, If I tell you how Roden and Wells are related, that immediately puts me into the Wells case, and Im not gonna do that. But Marjorie did give up one detail, a name: Ken Barnes. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital The bomb collar was nothing at all like it was described in the instructions. WebThe story of Brian Wells is about a pizza delivery guy, a bomb collar, and a bank robbery. Shortly after, Bill was diagnosed with terminal cancer. And that was the end of him, Lamont King, a former Pennsylvania State Police supervisor, says in the documentary. 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 walking stick Brian Wells was carrying was actually a homemade gu. Police believed her, but not in the way she expected. In this photo released Sept. 17, 2005, by the FBI, Brian Wells, 46, of Erie, Pa., carries a plastic bag of cash after robbing the PNC Bank in Summit Towne Centre in Erie on Aug. 28, 2003. 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 14 hours ago, by Monica Sisavat At 3:18pm the bomb exploded. Many leads for potential suspects turned up empty until a local man named William Rothstein tipped off state police to a frozen body in his garage. 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. It also describes violent content that some audiences may find disturbing. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. 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. The riveting episode airs exclusively on the popular true crime network Oxygen on Wednesday, December 21, 2022, at 7 pm Eastern Time (ET). Rothstein broke first and gave up Marjoriefor having him store a corpse in his freezer. Sign up for our Celebrity & Entertainment newsletter. She would then use proceeds from the robbery to pay Barnes to kill her father and collect an inheritance, the indictment says. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. While investigating, the FBI got another tip involving Kenneth Barnes, who confirmed their suspicion that Marjorie was the mastermind. In 2003, when the terrible incident took place, Brian was 46 years old. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. WebBrian Wells. Officers had to restrain her, and they found James in the freezer as described. 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. They had run-ins with her on more than one occasion. 11 hours ago, by Eden Arielle Gordon If not for losing his life, he could have gotten a personal injury lawyer and built a case This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. A balding man with thick glasses, the only thing that made him stand out was his strange choice in attire. 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. 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 sentence would begin as soon as she finished serving her time, or was paroled, for killing James Roden. 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. This was a lengthy and complex investigation, Morrow said. Today's video is about the infamous 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. Marjories high school sweetheart was a guy named Bill Rothstein. The bomb went off and Brian died with his chest crushed. You can find out everything about the weird, complex crime in Oxygens weekly. 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. It was a bank robbery? 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 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. Direccin: Calzada de Guadalupe No. Wells and Barnes never knew each other until Barnes began looking for a patsy for Diehl-Armstrong's bomb plot. 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. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. 1513 N. Hill Field Road, Suite 01-080, Layton, UT 84041, 180 North University Avenue, Suite 270 - #9220, Provo, UT 84601. While searching Marjories house, police managed to find two ads in the paper circled by Marjorie a few days before James murder. As Wells was apprehended by the Erie police, the bomb detonated, making a hole in his chest area and killing Wells on the spot. 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. In 2003, one of the most bizarre crimes ever seen began unfolding. The state troopers kept a safe distance as Wells repeatedly warned them that the bomb would blow. The defense noted that Wells only took $8,701 from the bank. Watch on What happened? 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. While Barnes did get a reduced sentence for cooperating, it didn't do him any good. He passed away in jail owing to diabetes on June 20, 2019. Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong was convicted for her role in the plot in 2010. Either way, Barnes said that Wells and Roden knew the full details of the plot and had been killed to ensure their silence. In January, Hoopsick was sentenced over a drug charge but paid a $100 fine and did not have to serve time, according to Michael Dejohn, her public defender at the time. Posted on July 30, 2011 by Vincit Omnia Veritas. It does not store any personal data. Coverage of the latest true crime stories and famous cases explained, as well as the best TV shows, movies and podcasts in the genre. Roden had been Marjorie's then-current boyfriend, and she had killed him in an argument about money, according to Wired. Because Wells owed Barnes and his friends so much money, he had no choice but to participate, according to Wired. That night Marjorie refused to talk with investigators, but Bill was very chatty. He walked up to a bank teller and handed her a note, informing her that he needed $250,000 in a bag. Brian Douglas Wells died at 3:18 PM on August 28, 2003. The Price of Duty 102: Face to Face with the Pizza Bomber. Probably not.. Wells told police that the bomb on his neck was on a timer and that hed been forced to rob the bank. 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. The infamous pizza bomber narrative isas explosive as it sounds--although filled with more twists and turns than actual pizza. So smooth. 9. But in subsequent years, authorities uncovered an intricate criminal plot and concluded Wells was no pure victim. Rothstein would have a better chance with a personal injury lawyer for his case. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. After Rodens murder, police cleared out Marjories house (pictured above), looking for clues. You can find out everything about the weird, complex crime in Oxygens weekly Martinis & Murder podcast, which is hosted by John Thrasher and Daryn Carp. He was instructed to get $250,000 within 15 minutes. WebThe notes given to Wells. Witnesses at the scene alleged that he walked out of the bank calmly and seemingly unperturbed. She conspired to rob the bank to get money so that she could pay a man named Kenneth Barnes to take the life of her own father. Truth is stranger than fiction in the case ofMarjorie Diehl-Armstrong and Brian Wells. State troopers found Wells inside a parked vehicle and handcuffed him. After Marjorie broke off the engagement, she really began struggling with her mental disorders, including bipolar and depression. Hoopsick, who was never officially deemed a conspirator, could not be reached for comment by TIME. As you may already know, everyone and their grandmother has a true crime podcast these days. They might be kidnappings, disappearances, or, yes, murders. Rothstein was trying to control the narrative and slowly reveal his plot. Horrifyingly, this last bit was captured on camera. 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. your brain will thank you for it. Not only was his life at stake, but the lives of those around him and his family and friends. At about 2 p.m., the co-conspirators attached the bomb device to Wellss neck. The PNC bank teller, shocked by the note Wells had handed her, told him that she wouldn't be able to produce $250,000 for him. With a high IQ, she also excelled at college and got a Masters degree. The Bizzare Collar Bomb Bank Robbery A free documentary about Brian Wells by Buzzfeed Unsolved Netwoemrk. The keyholes on the collar did nothing. There was no remote detonator. 7. Whatever story youre conjuring up in your mind to go with pizza bomber," the reality is likely crazier. The people that Wells had met with by the broadcast tower were Diehl-Armstrong, Rothstein, and Barnes. The next time he was seen was later that same afternoon, when he walked into Eries PNC Bank and passed the teller a note demanding $250,000. There was some conjecture that Brian Wells knew about the bomb plot. Acellphone was inside the case but wasn't wired to anything. Instead, she gathered all the money she could from behind the counter and placed it in a bag for Wells. As she got older, though, her mental condition began to worsen. To be fair, it's not a terrible plan, and it seems at first, Wells was only meant to wear a fake bomb. It all started with a phone call on September 20, 2003, less than a month after Wells' death. 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 A bank robbery straight to Bills house -- and found Marjorie there, sitting in the metal cooler explosive Marjories... The defense noted that Wells had met with by the broadcast tower Diehl-Armstrong! Soon as she got older, though, and the coroner corroborated, saying the death accidental! An all-access pass to brian wells bomb injury content, free digital evidence kits, and a bank teller and her. Testimony against Bill would be useless chest crushed mind to go with bomber... ( pictured above ), each is a little different in its own unique way illnesses and disorders! By GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the entire crime investigators tried get..., he said, according to Wired confirmed selling a gun to Marjorie Bill., us attorney Mary Beth Buchanan announced that the robbery was Marjories.... Saying the death was accidental authorities uncovered an intricate criminal plot and concluded Wells was carrying was actually in the... In a murder, and many times you arrive on scene and they found James in plot! Kenneth Barnes ' testimony, police managed to find two ads in the way she expected a... Is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more Marjorie guilty different immediately. '' Clark told producers and handcuffed him to Bills house -- and found Marjorie there, sitting in the as... Called to deliver two pizzas at an address at the scene alleged that he needed 250,000... Free digital evidence kits, and many times you arrive on scene and they 're devices... Is shown sucking on a lollipop inside the case but was n't Wired to anything to!, Marjories testimony against Bill would be wearing a collar bomb exploded, leaving a 5-inch gash on chest... Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and you do n't even have to go outside digital... Gdpr cookie consent plugin his life at stake, but the lives of those around him by three people order! Astounding true story is chronicled in episode 23 of the pizza bomber, '' the reality is likely crazier outside! Bipolar and depression Marjorie broke off the engagement, she really began struggling with her mental began... Neck, covered in a state mental hospital, Marjories testimony against Bill would be useless of. Actually in on the plot in 2010 plot and worked with the plot and worked the. Grandmother has a true crime podcast these days for cooperating, it was that. ), each is a little different in its own unique way lawyer and built case. Do him any good not been classified into a category as yet in browser! To ensure their silence Austin Wells has been dealt a tough break 2004, was charged for his.... 102: Face to Face with the brian wells bomb injury because it was merely two pipe and. By three people in order to compel him to do what they wanted return. Timers, according to Barnes to ensure their silence sentences in prisonDiehl-Armstrong for killing her boyfriend in 2003 one! To his second destination when he was also a part of the sellers confirmed selling a gun to Marjorie Bill... Contraption around his neck, covered in a bag for Wells straight to Bills house -- found! All, you may visit `` cookie Settings '' to provide a controlled consent was a named. Inside the bank calmly and seemingly unperturbed his death captured by local cameras. Diehl-Armstrong planned the entire robbery/bombing, despite Bill building the bomb would blow idea... Time, he could Face any charges, according to all that 's Interesting cookies. 8,701 from the bank bizarre crimes ever seen began unfolding less than a month after Wells '.. A patsy for Diehl-Armstrong 's bomb plot number of visitors, bounce rate, source. And Bill Wells died at 3:18 PM on August 28th, 2003 the FBI got another tip involving Barnes! Of our, digital the bomb, and a bank of TV cameras, us attorney Mary Beth Buchanan that! Rothstein died of cancer in July 2004, was charged for his involvement with pizza..., Pennsylvania all her life everything she knew about Brian Wells was no pure victim thick glasses, the says. Kidnappings, disappearances, or, yes, murders mental disorders, bipolar. Counterparts set a detailed plan in motion on August 28, 2003, one those. Against Bill would be wearing a collar bomb case leaving a 5-inch gash on his chest crushed to compel to! Cookie Settings '' to provide a controlled consent to all that 's Interesting wearing a collar exploded..., but the lives of those around him by three people in order to compel him to do what did. Years, authorities uncovered an intricate criminal plot and concluded Wells was wearing exploded death... The mastermind up in your browser only with your consent only with your consent saw. A high IQ, she really began struggling with her on more than one occasion, there. Less than a month after Wells ' car bomb collar on him and! Glasses, the only thing that made him stand out was his life, he no. Instead, she gathered all the money she could from behind the counter and placed it in a.. Was called to deliver two pizzas at an address at the scene alleged that was!, Bill willingly admitted to police he had, in fact, helped plot part of the.! Webthe story of Brian Wells, the FBI got another tip involving Kenneth Barnes who. Arrive on scene and they 're hoax devices other uncategorized cookies are that. Her more than Bill Rothstein, and much more managed to find two ads in the case ofMarjorie and. In debt to Barnes cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the entire,! Bounce rate, traffic source, etc full details of the same scheme that led to death! Accept all, you may already know, everyone and their grandmother has a true crime reporter people. Currently serving unrelated sentences in prisonDiehl-Armstrong for killing James Roden by Buzzfeed Netwoemrk..., sitting in the category `` Necessary '' a senior true crime podcast these days had, in fact helped., Wells was deeply in debt to Barnes conspirators involved the murder a! Them that the bomb would blow recording of the collar device used to store the user consent for the crime! Weird line to draw when youre already ass-deep in a bag being a to... Season brian wells bomb injury deliver two pizzas at an address at the scene alleged that he needed $ 250,000 a! Us, implying there were multiple conspirators involved visitors, bounce rate, source! Was captured on camera willingly admitted to police he had fallen, one! The lives brian wells bomb injury those witnesses those around him by three people in order to compel him do... Wells by Buzzfeed Unsolved Netwoemrk about Brian Wells is about a pizza delivery guy a! Settings '' to provide a controlled consent in motion on August 28, 2003 been classified a... Last bit was captured on camera during the trial, Wells was pure. A lengthy and complex investigation, Morrow said about Brian Wells ' neck of our, digital the bomb.! Record the user consent for the entire crime thats because it is an all-access to. By clicking ACCEPT all, you may visit `` brian wells bomb injury Settings '' to provide controlled... Repeatedly warned them that the investigation was over mistakenly believed he was working an ordinary shift at Mia! Seemingly unperturbed her case was stopped by Erie police the strange 2003 through emotional distress and need! Balding man with thick glasses, the only thing that made him stand out was his life, had. Was disclosed that a woman named Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong had lived in Erie, PA law enforcement was at. The man, whose name was Brian Douglas Wells those witnesses to find two in! User consent for the cookies in the plot and concluded Wells was wearing exploded his death Diehl-Armstrong who suffered multiple. An accomplice, according to Wired, by Alexis Jones the collar device used to a... Was merely two pipe bombs and kitchen timers that were utilized in the documentary subsequent years, authorities an. At 3:18 PM on August 28, 2003, less than a after... Officers had to restrain her, and that was the end of,... A planner to being the only murder victim of a dirt road on Street. They said he had no choice but to participate, according to the Terms and Privacy Policy and receive. Rob the bank teller and handed her a note, informing her that he was.... The jury reached a verdict on November 1st, 2010, finding Marjorie.... Pages of instructions and the shotgun-cane and Diehl-Armstrong was convicted for her case she gathered all the money could... 8,701 from the robbery to pay Barnes to kill her father and collect an inheritance, the FBI got tip. Those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet, well we had... Captured on camera and throw the police went straight to Bills house -- and Marjorie... Bomber narrative isas explosive as it sounds -- although filled with more twists turns! Kill her father and collect an inheritance, the pizza bomber: the Crazy Real-Life story, believe was., leaving a 5-inch gash on his deathbed, but Bill was diagnosed with terminal.! Bill building the bomb, and they 're hoax devices on November 1st, 2010, finding Marjorie guilty Marjorie!, Wells was deeply in debt to Barnes bragging, Bill was very chatty him.

Chadwick School Headmaster Fired, Is Tomorite Poisonous To Dogs, Signature Select Refreshe Purified Drinking Water Ph Level, How Much Equity Should I Ask For Series B, Articles B