Pizza Bomber: 20 Years Later, One Mystery Remains
The Pizza Bomb Heist: A Twisted Tale of Mystery and Betrayal
On August 28, 2003, the quiet town of Erie, Pennsylvania, was shaken to its core by a bizarre and tragic event. Brian Wells, a 46-year-old pizza delivery man, walked into a PNC bank with a shocking device strapped around his neck. Little did anyone know, this would be the beginning of a twisted tale of mystery and betrayal.
“Why isn’t anybody trying to get this thing off me?”
As Wells waited for the demanded $250,000, he nonchalantly grabbed a lollipop and leaned on a seemingly harmless cane. Unbeknownst to the bank employees, the cane was actually a disguised gun. Despite only managing to escape with less than $9,000, Wells appeared calm and unafraid as he left the bank swinging the cane.
Outside, Wells desperately tried to follow instructions to remove the collar, which he claimed was wired to a bomb. However, his attempts were cut short when police swiftly surrounded him and placed him in handcuffs.
“We have reason to believe that at some point he was coerced, that it was placed on his neck by another individual.”
While sitting on the pavement, Wells pleaded with the police officers for help. The tension escalated as a beeping sound emanated from the collar, and moments later, the bomb detonated, tragically ending Wells’ life.
The shocking images of that fateful day continue to haunt us, but one question remains unanswered: Why was no one held responsible for Wells’ death?
A Co-Conspirator or an Innocent Victim?
The authorities maintain that Wells was a co-conspirator in the plot, but the evidence supporting this claim is shaky at best. Wells’ family vehemently denies his involvement, insisting that he could not have been part of such a sinister plan.
One of the main witnesses who implicated Wells was Kenneth Barnes, a convicted crack dealer seeking to avoid murder charges. Barnes had every reason to lie about Wells’ involvement, as it would protect him and his co-conspirators from facing the death penalty.
Furthermore, the FBI stated that even if Wells had some involvement, it was limited to the early planning stages, and he never willingly agreed to wear the bomb collar that ultimately caused his demise.
“They screwed up big time.”
Despite these doubts, the authorities continue to consider Wells a co-conspirator. His sister, Jean Heid, passionately argues that her brother was innocent and blames the officers present for his tragic fate. She believes they failed to help an innocent man in their custody.
The case against Wells becomes even more questionable when considering his connection to Jessica Hoopsick, a prostitute who knew one of the co-conspirators. Hoopsick admitted to setting Wells up for the crime but maintained that he had no knowledge of the robbery plans.
With so many uncertainties surrounding Wells’ involvement, it is perplexing that no further investigations have been conducted to uncover the truth.
A Web of Intrigue Unraveled
While Wells’ role in the plot remains disputed, there is no doubt about the involvement of Kenneth Barnes, Floyd Stockton, William Rothstein, and Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong.
The investigation took a dramatic turn when Rothstein, a self-proclaimed genius, reported a dead body in his garage. This revelation led the police to uncover the connection between Rothstein, Diehl-Armstrong, and the payphone used to order the pizza that initiated the bank heist.
Diehl-Armstrong, a troubled former valedictorian, was charged with killing her boyfriend, James Roden, and was later implicated in the bomb plot. Despite providing some information about the Wells case, her statements were often contradictory, leaving investigators uncertain about her level of involvement.
As the pieces of the puzzle fell into place, it became clear that Rothstein had built the bomb and obtained some components from Diehl-Armstrong. However, he passed away before facing charges.
Diehl-Armstrong was convicted of the bomb plot and sentenced to life in prison. She died behind bars in 2017, leaving many unanswered questions in her wake.
With the passing of Barnes, Stockton, and Rothstein, the full truth may never be known. The pizza bomb heist remains a chilling reminder of the depths of human depravity and the enduring mysteries that can haunt a community.
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