Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. The entire plan was executed under her supervision. Unfortunately, our investigation has led to the belief that Brian became involved in a limited role with a group of individuals who planned to rob the PNC Bank, Buchanan said. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. The police went straight to Bills house--and found Marjorie there, sitting in the bed. Thats what led Marjorie to come up with the bank robbery plot. Wells fell backwards and was motionless. The law enforcement official told the AP that Buchanan would not disclose what the investigators concluded, but would say that the government is confident they know how and why Wells died. Woman questionedAn attorney, Lawrence D'Ambrosio, has said the FBI has repeatedly interviewed his client about Wells' death. TAMPA Austin Wells has been dealt a tough break. Much like Rothstein, she also became a compulsive hoarder. 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. In 1990, she married her next serious boyfriend, Richard Armstrong, who she called her one true love. Behind the murder was a woman named Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong who suffered from multiple mental illnesses and personality disorders. 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.. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Marjorie was considered a child prodigy, was good at music and graduated at the top of her class. While most crime stories have a lot of commonalities (the husband did it, and DNA can prove it! Born in 1949, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong had lived in Erie, Pennsylvania all her life. Rothstein's house was near the TV tower. The Pizza Bomber: The Crazy Real-Life Story, believe Rothstein was responsible for the crime. 12 hours ago, by Alexis Jones He was another genius who was in Mensa. Bank employees phoned police. 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. Pieces of the collarbomb fragmented and shot everywhere. Marjorie was later convicted for her monstrous crimes, which included armed bank robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, and the use of a deadly device. Namely, why Wells, a pizza guy with no criminal record, agreed to participate despite knowing that Diehl-Armstrong was dangerous. 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. In interviews, Rothstein cooperated and told police that he didn't kill James Roden. 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. But that attire wasn't his choice at all. At 1:30 PM, he was called to deliver two pizzas at an address at the end of a dirt road on Peach Street. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Even if Wells could have somehow beat the timers and finished the treasure hunt, he would never have been able to remove the bomb on his own. Four years after a pizza delivery man in Erie, Pennsylvania, robbed a bank with a time-bomb secured to his neck and then died when it detonated during a standoff with police, charges have been filed against two people for their alleged roles in the case. Near the end of 2005, police received the final clue that led them to conclude that Brian Wells participated in the 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. They were for shotguns. MORE: 15 of the Most Fascinating True Crime Stories Ever Told. They believe that he was an unfortunate hostage and merely forced to go along with the plot. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Marjorie said he had fallen, and the coroner corroborated, saying the death was accidental. 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. 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. 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 the investigators told her who they were, she went berserk according to State Police Supervisor Lamont King, screaming at them to get out of the house. Magazines, Digital Kenneth Barnes had already pleaded guilty as part of his deal in 2008, according to All That's Interesting. She said the investigators set her up and the government framed her, and that Bill was the true mastermind.. 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. After his death, police collected letters in his car that corroborated his claim that he was forced to rob the PNC Bank. If it sounds familiar, thats because it is. After Rodens murder, police cleared out Marjories house (pictured above), looking for clues. This led to even more twists being revealed. Sign up for our Celebrity & Entertainment newsletter. 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. Never have the public at large had so many options when it comes to learning about people committing terrible acts. 10. 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. An odd but smart guy, and a retired television repairman. 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 You'll find yourself captivated by the four-part show, which dives deep into the investigation surrounding the murder of Brian Wells (also known as "the Pizza Bomber") and attempts to find links between other mysterious deaths in the town. The collar bomb exploded, leaving a 5-inch gash on his chest. Rothstein broke first and gave up Marjoriefor having him store a corpse in his freezer. Brian Douglas Wells (November 15, 1956 August 28, 2003) was an American man who died after being forced to be involved in a complex plot involving a bank robbery, a scavenger hunt, and a homemade explosive device. Wells was killed when an explosive collar detonated while he was surrounded by police in his hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania. 46 year old Brian Douglas Wells worked as a pizza delivery man at Mama Mia Pizzeria in Erie, Pennsylvania. Somewhere along the planning phase, they deceived Wells that he would be wearing a fake bomb. Wells made off with $9,000, the most the teller could give him. So smooth. 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.". Previously, investigators made only one of these pages available to the media. She had also been diagnosed with cancer, the Erie Times-News reported at the time. Unfortunately, there was no DNA or fingerprint evidence on the bomb that could link it to its maker. Please logout and login again. A bizarre robbery plot involving mental illness, a love triangle and a ticking bomb placed around the neckof an unwilling robberleads to multiple murders. Wells was handcuffed and left on the pavement. Authorities said Wells then admitted to being the PNC bank robber. For better treatment in prison, Diehl-Armstrong would finally tell everything she knew about Brian Wells, the pizza bomber. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Horrifyingly, this last bit was captured on camera. Kara Rhodes, Erie Times News reporter, was at the scene; "The bomb went off and there was just silence, it was eerily silent." Wells then followed the next set steps of his instructions, which directed him to a McDonald's near the bank, where he'd find a note with more instructions under a stone in the parking lot. Rothstein, meanwhile, was charged for his involvement with the crime, but never saw his day in court. He is expected to be released in 2027, prison officials said. The indictment alleges that Diehl-Armstrong solicited Barnes in July 2003 to help rob a bank. The bomb was attached to the collar, authorities said. By clicking ACCEPT ALL, you consent to the use of cookies. The Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Rothstein was trying to control the narrative and slowly reveal his plot. Wells, 46, was killed Thursday afternoon when a bomb attached to the collar exploded after a bank robbery. So it seemed like Brian had really been jumped, but the police obviously had to get to the bottom of it. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. 1155, Col. San Juan de Guadalupe C.P. When questioned, Marjorie tried to pin Rothstein as the mastermind since he had already died. In 2003, one of the most bizarre crimes ever seen began unfolding. 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 She would then use proceeds from the robbery to pay Barnes to kill her father and collect an inheritance, the indictment says. After being convicted for the murder of James Roden, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong approached the authorities. They detained Wells and placed him outside of a police vehicle, where he sat on the ground in a parking lot. 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. 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