She was acquitted of the crime because it was believed he was violent and abusive towards her. However, that day, he discovered it was accurate when it was too late. About 12 minutes later, Wells left the bank with nearly $9,000 and headed to the McDonalds next door, where he retrieved another note from under a rock. His eyes just got real wide, and then they went to the back of his head. But for whatever reason, this one felt different almost immediately," Clark told producers. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. This collar was attached to a box under his shirt, creating a large lump under the t-shirt. The police went straight to Mama Mias Pizzeria, where Brian worked, and his co-workers expressed sincere doubt that Brian would have been able to make a bomb himself. Barnes claimed that this moment was the point at which Wells became aware that the bomb was real, though eyewitness accounts from the day of the robbery say that Wells had been cool until the bomb began to beep. 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. 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. Not only was his life at stake, but the lives of those around him and his family and friends. The bomb was attached to the collar, authorities said. The inmate also said Diehl-Armstrong told her that Rothstein helped build the bomb and the motive was financial, according to the FBI affidavit. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Netflix's new docuseries Evil Genius might be your new true crime addiction, especially if you were obsessed with projects like Making a Murderer and The Keepers. State troopers found Wells inside a parked vehicle and handcuffed him. Barnes was a misfit friend of Marjories. Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong was convicted for her role in the plot in 2010. The jury reached a verdict on November 1st , 2010, finding Marjorie guilty. A mans voice told them, I have a dead body in my freezer. The caller was Marjorie Diehl-Armstrongs former fianc, Bill Rothstein. She had also been diagnosed with cancer, the Erie Times-News reported at the time. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. This is one of the most movie-esque murder plots ever committed and its the subject of Oxygens weekly "Martinis & Murder" podcast. Wells family was present for this announcement and vocally protested the allegation. by Sarah Wasilak 5. There was some conjecture that Brian Wells knew about the bomb plot. 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. Now in a state mental hospital, Marjories testimony against Bill would be useless. Brian Wells went from being a planner to being the only murder victim of a Bank Heist. Buchanan did not immediately return calls for comment after the meeting, but earlier Friday said she called it because, "In more complicated cases, I like to meet personally with the law enforcement agencies to discuss the case and, in many cases, review the evidence myself.". The Stunt Performer Ryan Dunn Dies From Car Accident, Attorney Marketing and Website by Fusion 360. 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. This was a lengthy and complex investigation, Morrow said. WebAt 2:28 pm on August 28, 2003, a middle-aged pizza deliveryman named Brian Wells walked into a PNC Bank in Erie, Pennsylvania. 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. Nothing more complicated than that. 1 day ago. WebInvestigators concluded and a federal prosecutor's indictment alleged Wells was a knowing participant in the bank robbery but was told the bomb was fake and did not know his co-conspirators intended for him to die. The three-count indictment, returned on July 9, contains charges of conspiracy to commit bank robbery, armed bank robbery, and using and carrying a destructive device in a crime of violence. ), each is a little different in its own unique way. All Rights Reserved. Buchanan plans to meet once more with investigators to discuss evidence, witness availability and other logistical details before indictments are sought. 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. It beeped for about 10 seconds before it detonated, killing Wells and stunning an audience that had gathered to watch the bizarre situation unfold. Marjorie said he had fallen, and the coroner corroborated, saying the death was accidental. 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. MORE: 15 of the Most Fascinating True Crime Stories Ever Told. Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong had once been a very different person. 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. In 2003, one of the most bizarre crimes ever seen began unfolding. She was ultimately found not guilty on the grounds that he was allegedly violent and abusive towards her. 3. This is one of the most movie-esque murder plots ever committed and its the subject of Oxygens weekly. Buchanan said Wells played a limited role in the planning phase of bank robbery. 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. In 1984, Marjorie (pizza bomber mastermind) had a boyfriend, Robert Thomas. After being convicted for the murder of James Roden, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong approached the authorities. 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. So if you plan to watch Evil Genius but want to avoid witnessing a real person's tragic death, be sure to shut your eyes around 10 minutes in to the first episode . 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. It may be that his role transitioned from that of the planning stages to being an unwilling participant in the scheme, Buchanan said. Bill said that six weeks earlier, Marjorie had called him in a panic, saying shed shot and killed her boyfriend, James Roden. Wells' family has said they believe he was just a victim, and have criticized the pace of the investigation. 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. Probably not.. Brian Douglas Wells died at 3:18 PM on August 28, 2003. Hoopsick, who was never officially deemed a conspirator, could not be reached for comment by TIME. 7. Mere minutes before the bomb squad could arrive. Near the end of 2005, police received the final clue that led them to conclude that Brian Wells participated in the robbery. Wells' brother, John Wells, 44, of Phoenix, said the family won't be happy until justice is meted out. 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. As it so happened, Rothstein also lived in the house right next to the broadcast tower where Wells claimed to be fitted with the bomb collar. Officers had to restrain her, and they found James in the freezer as described. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Not for himself, but a prostitute with whom he was in a relationship named Jessica Hoopsick. 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. Rothstein's house was near the TV tower. 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 D'Ambrosio did not immediately return a message left at his office Friday. 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. 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. He handed the teller a note demanding $250,000. The people that Wells had met with by the broadcast tower were Diehl-Armstrong, Rothstein, and Barnes. Horrifyingly, this last bit was captured on camera. However, he was only able to get $8,702. Brian Wells, a pizza delivery man, robbed a PNC Bank in Pennsylvania on August 28, 2003. They didn't think Rothstein was the mastermind, they thought she was. As United States Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan said in 2007: Sadly, the plans of the other individuals were sinister, much more sinister., The Bizarre Real-Life Story of the Pizza Guy Who Robbed a Bank with a Bomb Around His Neck, Dentist Confessed to Murdering Wife on African Vacation, Prosecutor Says at Trial: 'I Killed My F---ing Wife', Pizza Delivery Driver Fatally Shot as He Stopped to Help 76-Year-Old Gunshot Victim: Police, Pa. 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. 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. The men jumped him, forced the bomb collar on him, and gave him several pages of instructions and the shotgun-cane. Ken told investigators that Bill built the bomb, and that the robbery was Marjories idea. 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. While searching Marjories house, police managed to find two ads in the paper circled by Marjorie a few days before James murder. IE 11 is not supported. 'We know all the details'"The government knows what happened the day of the incident. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Diehl-Armstrong and Barnes were both eventually convicted of conspiracy and armed bank robbery charges. A bizarre robbery plot involving mental illness, a love triangle and a ticking bomb placed around the neckof an unwilling robberleads to multiple murders. WebWells warned police that he was wearing a bomb and running out of time, but as bomb technicians were summoned the device exploded, killing Wells and leaving behind an This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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. 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. And that was the end of him, Lamont King, a former Pennsylvania State Police supervisor, says in the documentary. The state troopers kept a safe distance as Wells repeatedly warned them that the bomb would blow. It may be that his role transitioned from that of the planning stages to being an unwilling participant in the scheme.. Never have the public at large had so many options when it comes to learning about people committing terrible acts. 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. 1. 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. Acellphone was inside the case but wasn't wired to anything. This is an FBI handout photo of the collar device used to secure a bomb to Brian Wells' neck. WebBrian Wells: The Pizza Bomber Case eponine aka epi 1.07K subscribers Subscribe 69 Share 10K views 3 years ago Welcome (back)! Somewhere along the planning phase, they deceived Wells that he would be wearing a fake bomb. 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." The investigation into Wells' robbery and death will be covered in tonight's episode of "The Price of Duty," with former FBI detective Jerry Clark recounting how the diabolical bank heist changed his life forever.. The note was addressed to "Receptionist" and "Bank Manager" and referred to the man in front of her as "Bomb Hostage." Shortly after, authorities confronted him at the parking lot of a nearby Eyeglass World retail store. She is in an all-female prison near Fort Worth, Texas. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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