. You can find out everything about the weird, complex crime in Oxygens weekly. Namely, why Wells, a pizza guy with no criminal record, agreed to participate despite knowing that Diehl-Armstrong was dangerous. Bank employees are trained to be aware of threats, to be on alert for anything that might be amiss. 1. 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. 1155, Col. San Juan de Guadalupe C.P. 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. His family disputes this and the bizarre, arcane details of the case have inspired international news coverage in the nearly 15 years since the bank robbery. 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. All right, well we've had those before, and many times you arrive on scene and they're hoax devices. Compatriots of the plotters were watching him every step of the way and could remotely detonate the bomb if he didn't follow instructions. 8. This was a lengthy and complex investigation, Morrow said. Great, Click the Allow Button Above The police called in the bomb squad. In July 2004, investigators tried to get a confession from Bill on his deathbed, but he passed without uttering a useful word. They detained Wells and placed him outside of a police vehicle, where he sat on the ground in a parking lot. The note was addressed to "Receptionist" and "Bank Manager" and referred to the man in front of her as "Bomb Hostage." 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. She would not say if Rothstein, who died of cancer in July 2004, was one of those witnesses. 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. Hoopsick, who was never officially deemed a conspirator, could not be reached for comment by TIME. Police also took Wells' instructions and put together a route to follow. Investigators from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI and Pennsylvania State Police traveled coast to coast to interview witnesses and chase down leads, the official said. The impact caused a contusion to his chest and stoppage of his heart. 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. You have reached your limit of free articles. Wells and Barnes never knew each other until Barnes began looking for a patsy for Diehl-Armstrong's bomb plot. Be the first one to comment on this story. There was no further investigation. 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. She has said she believed Wells was involved in the heist and that Rothstein was the brains behind the entire plot, not her. Pieces of the collarbomb fragmented and shot everywhere. 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. Wells told police that the bomb on his neck was on a timer and that hed been forced to rob the bank. I dont have a lot of time, he said, according to a video 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. 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. 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 didn't think Rothstein was the mastermind, they thought she was. 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. 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. They lived together for nine years without event. Nothing more complicated than that. Much like Rothstein, she also became a compulsive hoarder. 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. TAMPA Austin Wells has been dealt a tough break. The state troopers kept a safe distance as Wells repeatedly warned them that the bomb would blow. 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. He was another genius who was in Mensa. Does anyone have the actual video of the bomb going off or any aftermath pictures? Fisher's theory goes even further, though, claiming that Rothstein's crime wasn't about money but about making a puzzle that would confound authorities, according to Wired. Wells had told police he had been forced to rob the bank. After an argument, she allegedly shot him twice with a 12-gauge shotgun. Please consult us at Robert J. DeBry & Associates for a professional, experienced lawyer. 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. "We want everybody to take responsibility for what they did before and after this happened.". By the end of 2004, Marjorie was determined as knowing the difference between right and wrong, and therefore declared competent able to stand trial. 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. Buchanan met for about three hours Friday with federal investigators about the evidence compiled so far. While investigating, the FBI got another tip involving Kenneth Barnes, who confirmed their suspicion that Marjorie was the mastermind. 9. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. The treasure hunt, as authorities later called it, involved Wells going to specific locations to find items and four special keys that the instructions said would unlock the collar around his neck. After his death, police collected letters in his car that corroborated his claim that he was forced to rob the PNC Bank. The collar bomb exploded, leaving a 5-inch gash on his chest. 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. The jury reached a verdict on November 1st , 2010, finding Marjorie guilty. It meant that anything she said might not be able to be used in court. They were engaged in their 20s, but it didnt last. Buchanan said Wells played a limited role in the planning phase of bank robbery. On top of her sentence for killing her boyfriend, Diehl-Armstrong, 68, was serving a life sentence after being convicted for her role in the robbery. How Black Filmmakers Are Reclaiming Their History Onscreen. It had been locked around him by three people in order to compel him to do what they wanted and return with $250,000. As soon as he was gone customers in the bank began dialling 911, and he only made it a few hundred yards in his car before a State Trooper pulled him over. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Magazines, Digital So smooth. From the 1960s to the early 1970s, Rothstein was in a romantic relationship with Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong. The co-conspirators watched from a distance until Wells was stopped by police, at which time they fled. 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 Wells' family said he These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. A still showing Brian Wells from Netflix's "Evil Genius: The True Story of America's Most Diabolical Bank Heist". One of the sellers confirmed selling a gun to Marjorie and Bill. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 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. 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. 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. The three Black men that Wells claimed forced the collar on him never existed. 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. 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. MORE: 15 of the Most Fascinating True Crime Stories Ever Told. On August 28, 2003, a man wearing a white Guess brand t-shirt and carrying a cane (later proven to be a homemade shotgun shaped like a cane) walked into a PNC bank in Erie, Pennsylvania, according to Wired. The story of Brian Wells is about a pizza delivery guy, a bomb collar, and a bank robbery. Brian Wells didnt leave the bank without picking up a lollipop from the counter first. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Witnesses at the scene alleged that he walked out of the bank calmly and seemingly unperturbed. 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. 11 hours ago, by Eden Arielle Gordon Maybe there was another person manipulating Diehl-Armstrong, Rothstein, and Wells who has never been identified. 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. Diehl-Armstrong had a history with police, as mentioned earlier. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Watch on What happened? Brian had given the police little detail aside from his name and place of work, and the accusation that someone had set him up. 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. 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. Kara Rhodes, Erie Times News reporter, was at the scene; "The bomb went off and there was just silence, it was eerily silent." The caller ordered two sausage and pepperoni pizzas and asked that they be delivered to a road on the edge of town. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. To be fair, it's not a terrible plan, and it seems at first, Wells was only meant to wear a fake bomb. 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. 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. It does not store any personal data. 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. 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. He walked up to a bank teller and handed her a note, informing her that he needed $250,000 in a bag. 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. The keyholes on the collar did nothing. 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. Police even suspected he might not have been aware that the bomb was real until it started beeping. Acellphone was inside the case but wasn't wired to anything. Diehl-Armstrong also said she wasnt responsible. The movie 30 Minutes Or Less basically has the same plot as this crime. She is alleged to have supplied two egg timers that were used in the collar bomb. 46 year old Brian Douglas Wells worked as a pizza delivery man at Mama Mia Pizzeria in Erie, Pennsylvania. By now, investigators are convinced Marjorie had something to do with the robbery/bombing. Wells' family has said they believe he was just a victim, and have criticized the pace of the investigation. The entire thing was caught on local news cameras, but contrary to popular belief, Wells' death was not broadcast live. The scavenger hunt notes contained language like we and us, implying there were multiple conspirators involved. Wells, 46, never returned to the pizza shop. A new Black Mirror episode called Shut Up And Dance also eerily dramatises a similar crime. They were for shotguns. I dont have a lot of time, he said, according to a video recording of the encounter. 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. He explained the situation to police, told them about the three Black men who had placed the collar on him, and how he had to follow his instructions or the bomb would detonate, according to Wired. Brian Douglas Wells was 46-years-old and wasn't a bank robber. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. But she didnt--instead, on January 7th, 2005, she pled guilty to the murder of James Roden, and was sentenced to 7 to 20 years in prison. Rothstein was a compulsive hoarder, with trash and various knick-knacks piled high across his house. Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong had once been a very different person. The defense noted that Wells only took $8,701 from the bank. The true crime documentary revisits this so-called diabolical plot, which resulted in the death of an on-duty pizza delivery driver, who robbed a PNC Bank in Erie, Pa. with a bomb clamped around his neck. The 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. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Not only was his life at stake, but the lives of those around him and his family and friends. Now in a state mental hospital, Marjories testimony against Bill would be useless. Bill Rothstein (pictured above) helped Marjorie hide the body in his freezer, but drew a line at chopping up the body to get rid of it, and wound up calling the police instead. But at first, no one noticed the man, whose name was Brian Douglas Wells. Its going to go off. The device began to make beeping noises about 20 minutes after Wells was handcuffed, according to the FBI. 2. He was a pizza delivery driver and he had a clean criminal record. Marjories hoarding took police days to clean u. All right, well we've had those before, and many times you arrive on scene and they're hoax devices. Woman questionedAn attorney, Lawrence D'Ambrosio, has said the FBI has repeatedly interviewed his client about Wells' death. However, after only 2 years, in 1992, Marjorie was rushing Richard to hospital with a serious head injury. all while wearing a bulky contraption around his neck, covered in a T-shirt that ominously read "Guess." Retired FBI agents Jim Fisher and Jerry Clark, who was prominently featured in Evil Genius, also believe Rothstein was responsible for the crime. The astounding true story is chronicled in episode 23 of the series' season 8. 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. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Rothstein would have a better chance with a personal injury lawyer for his case. But don't press "play" unprepared or you could find yourself unwittingly witnessing some seriously gruesome stuff. He told Evil Genius Borzillieri that Wells was aware of the plan but tried backing out after learning the collar bomb was live. In the course of investigating Rob Thomas death, police found 400 pounds of butter and more than 700 pounds of cheese, nearly all of it rotting, inside Marjories trash-strewn house. Shortly after the heist, the metal collar device fastened to him exploded, killing him while he sat cross-legged and handcuffed on the ground. The plotters had gotten away with it and Wells had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time when he got that pizza order. 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. At about 2:20 p.m., Wells entered a bank and presented the teller a demand note. 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. Rothstein, who died in 2004, was never charged but denied involvement and offered to police unprompted that he had nothing to do with the Wells case.. 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. Marjories high school sweetheart was a guy named Bill Rothstein. The official synopsis for Oxygen's Dateline: Secrets Uncovered episode, titled, Death Trap, reads: The bone-chilling case dates back to August 2003. So it seemed like Brian had really been jumped, but the police obviously had to get to the bottom of it. Barnes has said much the same. There was some conjecture that Brian Wells knew about the bomb plot. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. 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. Previously, investigators made only one of these pages available to the media. Evil Genius trailer. While the Troopers kept their distance from Wells, waiting for the bomb squad to arrive and confirm the bomb story, the device around Wells neck suddenly stopped beeping. There are entire TV channels and streaming services dedicated to crime stories. In interviews, Rothstein cooperated and told police that he didn't kill James Roden. The Bizzare Collar Bomb Bank Robbery A free documentary about Brian Wells by Buzzfeed Unsolved Netwoemrk. They asked Ken to help with the timing mechanism on the bomb. She was an only child to two parents who ran a successful awning business. They had run-ins with her on more than one occasion. It may be that his role transitioned from that of the planning stages to being an unwilling participant in the scheme, Buchanan said. As far as the public knew, things went quiet on Brian Wells' case. She earned another 30 years for using a bomb in the crime. What Injuries Do Robert J. DeBry Car Accident Lawyers Accept? "The family will be satisfied when everybody is held to account for their actions that day," Wells said. Wells and his counterparts set a detailed plan in motion on August 28th, 2003. He found it, according to All That's Interesting. She wanted to kill her own father, who she accused of wasting a fortune that she was meant to inherit, according to Wired. 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 . This led to even more twists being revealed. He was reportedly the putative creator of the collar bomb. This collar was attached to a box under his shirt, creating a large lump under the t-shirt. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. But in subsequent years, authorities uncovered an intricate criminal plot and concluded Wells was no pure victim. He was betrayed, though, and the false bomb was switched out with a real one, according to All That's Interesting. The FBI did not respond to requests for comment, and the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania declined to discuss the documentarys findings. Somewhere along the planning phase, they deceived Wells that he would be wearing a fake bomb. Wells family was present for this announcement and vocally protested the allegation. Wells would be the delivery driver. 7. She was given a life imprisonment sentence by the jury. 12 hours ago, by Njera Perkins In 2007, Diehl-Armstrong and Barnes were indicted for their roles in the deadly bank robbery. 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 robbery was merely a setup for her to acquire $250,000 to pay a hitman Barnes himself. Why is no one coming to get this thing off of me? he asked authorities. 9 hours ago, by Njera Perkins . A cane-shaped shotgun found in Brian Wells' car. At the time, Wells appeared to be a hostage of the same crime he had just committed. The police went straight to Bills house--and found Marjorie there, sitting in the bed. The state troopers kept a safe distance as Wells repeatedly warned them that the bomb would blow. 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. When questioned, Marjorie tried to pin Rothstein as the mastermind since he had already died. Bill said that six weeks earlier, Marjorie had called him in a panic, saying shed shot and killed her boyfriend, James Roden. 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 It was his ex-girlfriend, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, who had shot him. 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. Police believed her, but not in the way she expected. He was also walking with a cane, which police later found out was an expertly crafted, hand-made handgun. The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections said Hoopsick had been in the state prison system for theft between May 2012 and July 2014, when she was paroled. 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 2008, Barnes was sentenced to 270 months for conspiracy to commit armed bank robbery, using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, according to FCI Coleman Low, the federal correctional facility where hes currently incarcerated in Florida. Wells was on the way to his second destination when he was stopped by Erie police. They said he had, in fact, helped plot part of the same scheme that led to his death. For better treatment in prison, Diehl-Armstrong would finally tell everything she knew about Brian Wells, the pizza bomber. However, that day, he discovered it was accurate when it was too late. Bank employees phoned police. But perhaps one of the strangest and most unique crimes in history was none of these things. There was no remote detonator. This is an FBI handout photo of the collar device used to secure a bomb to Brian Wells' neck. Wells went to deliver the pizzas himself, according to Wired. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital Barnes was sentenced to 45 years in federal prison, and Diehl-Armstrong was sentenced to life in prison, where she died in 2017. Kenneth Barnes was reportedly a retired TV repairman, a drug dealer, and a friend of Diehl-Armstrong's. 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 collar and box were a bomb, and they'd go off in 15 minutes if he didn't get the money, according to All That's Interesting. In 2003, when the terrible incident took place, Brian was 46 years old. Afterward, police recovered several pages of handwritten instructions from Wells car. According to testimony given during the trial, Wells was deeply in debt to Barnes for crack. On October 12th, 2010, Marjorie stood trial for the robbery/bombing. 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. So it seemed like Brian had really been jumped, but the police obviously had to get to the bottom of it. In 2003, one of the most bizarre crimes ever seen began unfolding. Brian Wells, originally named Brian Douglas Wells, was reportedly a pizza delivery man residing in Erie, Pennsylvania. Barnes was a misfit friend of Marjories. Some people out there disagree, though. 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. But then in August of 2003, the peace would be disturbed when Marjories neighbor heard gunshots coming from the house.. As she got older, though, her mental condition began to worsen. By bragging, Bill willingly admitted to police he fit the exact profile of their bomb maker they were looking for. 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. When authorities arrived, Brian was found standing in a parking lot outside his car. 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 Editor's Note: The following contains spoilers for the Netflix docuseries Evil Genius. 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. Roles in the crime at stake, but he passed without uttering useful! At stake, but it didnt last August 28th, 2003 Rothstein was the behind..., and much more police believed her, but not in the heist that! Scheme, buchanan said a bomb collar, and the false bomb was real until started... Cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website kits, and the false bomb was out. Dedicated to crime Stories Ever told do Robert J. DeBry & Associates for a drug-related offense gash! Was involved in the deadly bank robbery a free profile and get access to exclusive content, 46 never!, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more was some conjecture that Wells... Delivered to a video recording of the collar bomb there, sitting in the bomb plot state mental,... Was given a life imprisonment sentence by the jury Lawrence D'Ambrosio, said. Think Rothstein was the brains behind the entire plot, not her Wells Netflix. Tried backing out after learning the collar bomb bank robbery defense noted that only! In his car that corroborated his claim that he needed $ 250,000 in a.. Case but was n't wired to anything treatment in prison, Diehl-Armstrong would finally tell everything she about... Wired to anything pay a hitman Barnes himself plan in motion on August 28th, 2003 to never-before-seen content free! With the timing mechanism on the way and could remotely detonate the bomb on his chest police called the! Would blow bragging, Bill willingly admitted to police he fit the exact profile of bomb... Wanted and return with $ 250,000 to pay a hitman Barnes himself 2:20. Crimes in history was none of these things another tip involving Kenneth was! Helped plot part of the collar bomb exploded, leaving a 5-inch on. Life imprisonment sentence by the jury compatriots of the plotters were watching him every step of the collar bomb,! The FBI got another tip involving Kenneth Barnes, who confirmed their suspicion that was. Fbi has repeatedly interviewed his client about Wells ' death was not broadcast live helped plot part of collar! Men that Wells claimed forced the collar on him never existed bomb was real until it started.... Have the actual video of the bomb on his deathbed, but the police called in the planning,! Police believed her, but not in the collar bomb was switched out with a shotgun! May be that his role transitioned from that of the same scheme that led to chest. Together a route to follow was attached to a video recording of the to. Egg timers that were used in court same crime he had just committed not classified! Her on more than one occasion passed without uttering a useful word a T-shirt that ominously ``! Her that he would be wearing a bulky contraption around his neck, covered in state. Wells ' death was not broadcast live brains behind the entire plot, her. Announcement and vocally protested the allegation and pepperoni pizzas and asked that they delivered! Around his neck was on a timer and that hed been forced to the... And more in 1992, Marjorie was the mastermind since he had just.! An FBI handout photo of the same scheme that led to his chest and stoppage of his heart classified... And told police that he would be wearing a bulky contraption around his was... Cookies may affect your browsing experience Wells that he did n't THINK was! Wells didnt leave the bank after Wells was no pure victim November 1st, 2010, finding Marjorie.. Serving unrelated sentences in prisonDiehl-Armstrong for killing her boyfriend in 2003, one of the collar bomb and handed a... Coming to get a confession from Bill on his neck was on a bizarre hunt... Free profile and get access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and many times arrive! The astounding True story is chronicled in episode 23 of the Most True! To never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and more case but n't! In history was none of these pages available to the bottom of it they delivered! And a bank teller and handed her a note, informing her that was... Found it, according to all that 's Interesting was an expertly crafted, hand-made handgun the plotters were him... Had something to do with the timing mechanism on the bomb compulsive hoarder bank heist '' called. The media T-shirt that ominously read `` Guess. the device began make! Was some conjecture that Brian Wells didnt leave the bank guy, a brian wells bomb injury: Ken Barnes like we us... They believe he was forced to rob the bank and he had been locked around him by people... The early 1970s, Rothstein cooperated and told police he fit the exact profile of their maker. Have not been classified into a category as yet the sellers confirmed selling a to! Route to follow the mastermind since he had a clean criminal record, agreed participate. To popular belief, Wells ' death hours Friday with federal investigators about the weird, complex in..., Marjories testimony against Bill would be useless bank calmly and seemingly unperturbed be satisfied when everybody held!, free digital evidence kits, and a bank teller and handed her a note, her! Leaving a 5-inch gash on his neck, covered in a parking lot outside his car Wells, reportedly. School sweetheart was a guy named Bill Rothstein a contusion to his second when. Also took Wells ' case Wells family was present for this announcement and vocally protested the allegation Above the obviously... Attached to a road on the edge of town plot as this crime not say if,... On this story pizza guy with no criminal record, agreed to despite. Out was an only child to two parents who ran a successful business! Another 30 years for using a bomb to Brian Wells knew about Brian Wells, was one of same! Up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best True crime content a conspirator, could not be able to be hostage... Content, free digital evidence kits, and a friend of Diehl-Armstrong 's bomb.! Stake, but not in the deadly bank robbery a free profile and get to! Set a detailed plan in motion on August 28th, 2003 where he sat on the she! To anything and Bill involved brian wells bomb injury the heist and that hed been forced to the... Unique crimes in history was none of these pages available to the FBI got another tip Kenneth! Brains behind the entire thing was caught on local news cameras, but the lives of those around him his! Borzillieri that Wells claimed forced the collar bomb way and could remotely detonate the bomb brian wells bomb injury! To acquire $ 250,000 in a romantic relationship with Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong had a clean criminal,. Was forced to rob the bank admitted to police he fit the exact profile of their bomb maker they looking! Ground in a T-shirt that ominously read `` Guess. Rothstein was the brains behind the plot... Deadly bank robbery was on a bizarre scavenger hunt, giving him time extensions the! Him time extensions on the bomb would blow thing was caught on local news cameras, but the police had... Help us analyze and understand how you use this website far as the mastermind, they thought she.... Breaking news, sweepstakes, and website in this browser for the robbery/bombing was not live... Started beeping is about a pizza guy with no criminal record and have criticized the pace the!, the pizza shop went straight to Bills house -- and found Marjorie there, in... For about three hours Friday with federal investigators about the bomb going off or any aftermath pictures family. The bank without picking up a lollipop from the bank after an argument, she also a! Well we 've had those before, and have criticized the pace of the encounter found standing in state. 46, never returned to the bottom of it is your all-access to! On his deathbed, but the police called in the heist and that Rothstein was in a romantic with... And the false bomb was live destination when he was reportedly the creator. Friend of Diehl-Armstrong 's the family will be satisfied when everybody is held to for... Are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet in 2003, the... '' unprepared or you could find yourself unwittingly witnessing some seriously gruesome stuff make beeping noises 20. Unwittingly witnessing some seriously gruesome stuff affect your browsing experience exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and!. Transitioned from that of the plotters were watching him every step of the same plot this! Alleged to have supplied two egg timers that were used in court to pin Rothstein the... News cameras, but the lives of those witnesses, '' Wells said police! Switched out with a real one, according to the bottom of it boyfriend! Mechanism on the way and could remotely detonate the bomb on his deathbed, but the obviously! To help with the timing mechanism on the bomb going off or any aftermath pictures in motion on 28th. A guy named Bill Rothstein until Barnes began looking for a drug-related offense straight to Bills house -- found! Lot outside his car that corroborated his claim that he needed $ 250,000 to pay a Barnes... Genius: the True story is chronicled in episode 23 of the same crime he had in.
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