Brian Douglas Wells (November 15, 1956 – August 28, 2003) was a pizza delivery man who was killed by a time bomb explosive fastened to his neck, purportedly under duress from the maker of the bomb. After he was apprehended by the police for robbing a bank, the bomb exploded. The bizarre affair was subject to much attention in the mass media. Image File history File links Derived from public domain images featured at: http://commons. ... Image File history File links Current_event_marker. ... is the 319th day of the year (320th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 240th day of the year (241st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Pizza box redirects here. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article is concerned solely with chemical explosives. ... For English law on the criminal defence, see duress in English law. ... “Banker” redirects here. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

In July 2007, two conspirators, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong and Kenneth Barnes, were indicted for the robbery.

The event

Wells dropped out of high school in 1973. He had worked as a pizza delivery person for 30 years, and was considered a "valued and trusted employee". On the afternoon of August 28, 2003 Wells received a call to deliver two pizzas to an address a few miles from the Erie, Pennsylvania "Mamma Mia Pizzeria", where he worked. It was later found that the address was that of an unmanned radio tower at the end of a dirt road. Year 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. ... Nickname: Location in Erie County Location in the state of Pennsylvania Coordinates: County Erie County Founded 1795 Government  - Mayor Joseph Sinnott Area  - City  28. ... Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 280 miles (455 km)  - Length 160 miles (255 km)  - % water 2. ... Masts of the Rugby VLF transmitter in England Radio masts and towers are, typically, tall structures designed to support antennas (also known as aerials in the UK) for telecommunications and broadcasting, including television. ...

According to law enforcement reports, Wells was meeting people he thought were his accomplices, including Barnes. Wells participated in the planning for the robbery; he had been told the bomb was going to be fake^[1] and he was to claim that three black men forced the bomb on him and tell police he was a hostage.^[2]

At the radio tower Wells, for the first time, learned that the device was real. He wrestled with the men and tried to scamper away, but one of them fired a gun, causing Wells to stop. They gave him an oddly shaped cane, which was actually a shotgun, and told him to use it if he found trouble at the bank.

Wells then entered a bank with the sophisticated home-made shotgun and demanded $250,000. When police intervened, Wells claimed that three unnamed people had placed a bomb around his neck, provided him with the shotgun, and told him that he had to commit the robbery and several other tasks, otherwise he would be killed. For other uses, see Shotgun (disambiguation). ... ISO 4217 Code USD User(s) the United States, the British Indian Ocean Territory,[1] the British Virgin Islands, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Panama, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the insular areas of the United States Inflation 2. ... For other uses, see Shotgun (disambiguation). ...

Triple-banded metal collar that was locked around Wells' neck.

Cane-like shotgun used by Wells during the bank robbery.

At first, the police made no attempt to disarm the device. The bomb squad were finally called at 3:04 PM, at least 30 minutes after the first 9-1-1 call. At 3:18 PM, the bomb exploded, blasting a fist-sized hole in Wells' chest just three minutes before the bomb squad arrived. It is now believed that Wells was killed by Diehl-Armstrong and her co-conspirators to reduce witnesses against herself and others.^[1] Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... The collar on a draught animal is a robustly constructed leather and straw device that is intended to sit comfortably on the animals shoulders around its neck and support a set of hames that transfer the draught forces from the animal to the traces. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Look up cane in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Shotgun (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Bomb disposal is the process by which hazardous devices are rendered safe. ...

The story remained in the news for several days after the event, with various media outlets speculating as to whether Wells had been an innocent victim, a co-conspirator, or the lone perpetrator of these events. A $100,000 reward was offered by the FBI. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a federal criminal investigative, intelligence agency, and the primary investigative arm of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). ...

A note found on Wells had instructions for him to carry out four tasks—the first of which was the bank robbery—in a set period of time before the bomb went off. Wells would gain extra time with the completion of each task. However, it was later determined that regardless of what had unfolded, Wells would never have had enough time to complete the tasks to get the bomb defused.^[1]

Wells, was drawn into the plot through Barnes, whom he knew through a prostitute who often used Barnes' home as a place to have sex with customers^[1] The whole plot was hatched to get money to pay Barnes enough money to kill Diehl-Armstrong's father, so Diehl-Armstrong could get an inheritance, authorities said. But Wells got nowhere near the $125,000 needed for the killing. And, besides, the inheritance Diehl-Armstrong coveted was largely spent.

Media attention

At first when the story broke out, many people thought the incident was terrorism related^[3]. Terrorist redirects here. ...

On November 5, 2005, and January 6, 2007, and again most recently on July 14, 2007 the story of Brian Wells was featured on America's Most Wanted with newly released evidence in hopes that officials could gather new clues behind the puzzling case.^[4] is the 309th day of the year (310th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 6 is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 359 days (360 in leap years) remaining. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 195th day of the year (196th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... For the professional wrestling tag team, see Americas Most Wanted (wrestling). ...

On October 13, 2006, the story was featured on Anderson Cooper 360. The show dealt with the FBI's most mysterious cases, and featured John Walsh, host of America's Most Wanted. A document from the Erie police stated that "this investigation is now at a critical point." October 13 is the 286th day of the year (287th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Anderson Cooper 360° (pronounced Anderson Cooper three-sixty) is a news show on CNN featuring Anderson Cooper as host and anchor. ... The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the primary investigative arm of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), serving as both a federal criminal investigative body and a domestic intelligence agency. ... John E. Walsh (born December 26, 1945 in Auburn, New York) is the host of the TV show Americas Most Wanted. ...

On January 6, 2007, Brian Wells was featured on Fox News Channel's "In The Line Up" profiling new evidence regarding new suspects and new details in the case. January 6 is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 359 days (360 in leap years) remaining. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

2007 developments

On February 16, 2007 the Associated Press reported that "the case has been solved and indictments are expected, likely by next month." ^[1] A federal grand jury in Erie, PA was still hearing evidence in the case as of May 13, 2007, according to the Erie Times-News.[1] According to the paper, it appears that three suspects have been identified as perpetrators of the plot.[2] May 13 is the 133rd day of the year (134th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... The Erie Times-News is a daily morning newspaper in Erie, Pennsylvania. ...

On July 10, 2007 charges were filed against two individuals for crimes related to the robbery and death. Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong (who is currently imprisoned on an unrelated murder charge) was charged with three criminal acts: bank robbery, conspiracy to commit bank robbery and felony use of a firearm in connection with a crime. Kenneth Barnes (who is currently imprisoned on unrelated drug charges) was also charged without disclosure of the specific crimes. ^[5] is the 191st day of the year (192nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

On July 11, 2007 the US Attorney's office ^[6], and the FBI announced that Brian Douglas Wells had been named as a co-conspirator because of his participation in the planning of the robbery, and that Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong and Kenneth Barnes had been charged with felonies in the case. A third person in the case, Floyd Stockton, 60, was given immunity in a deal with prosecutors to testify against Barnes and Diehl-Armstrong^[1] Despite naming Wells as a co-conspirator, U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan said she couldn't comment on what his motive might have been.^[7] is the 192nd day of the year (193rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

Popular culture

The story of Brian Wells was used as a basis for the pilot episode of 2006 series Heist. It was also used as the basis for "Pas de Deux", an episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and and episode of CSI: Miami was based on the incident. Literary references to the crime include a mention in Dean Koontz's 2006 fictional thriller novel The Husband. A 2006 novel called "Blown Away" by G.M. Ford (ISBN 0060874392, ISBN 9780060874391) is a fictional story that mirrors the Wells case. The time-bomb collar is an element featured heavily in the Battle Royale franchise, pre-dating the Wells incident. A television pilot is a test episode of an intended television series. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Heist was an American television series that premiered March 22, 2006, on NBC, but was almost immediately cancelled due to low ratings [1]. The series was from acclaimed director Doug Liman and revolved around professional thief Mickey O Neil, (Dougray Scott) who created a team of experts to try to... Law & Order: Criminal Intent is a United States crime drama television series that began in 2001. ... CSI: Miami is a spinoff of the popular CBS network series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. ... Dean Ray Koontz (born July 9, 1945 in Everett, Pennsylvania), also known under a number of pseudonyms, including Leigh Nichols, is an American writer. ... The Husband is a novel that will be released in 2006 by the best-selling author Dean Koontz. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

There are also nonfictional popular culture references, including a feature on The 99 Most Bizarre: Crimes. It was one of the "Most Bizarre" on the show. A collection of news articles that reported developments in the Brian Wells story was analyzed in a scientific study of information novelty (see Figure 5 in Section 5.2 of the paper).

See also

• List of unusual deaths

This is a list of unusual deaths – unique causes or extremely rare circumstances – recorded throughout history. ...

References

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 193rd day of the year (194th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 193rd day of the year (194th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Plain Dealer is the major daily newspaper of Cleveland, Ohio. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 193rd day of the year (194th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 196th day of the year (197th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the professional wrestling tag team, see Americas Most Wanted (wrestling). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... is the 248th day of the year (249th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... ABC News is a division of ABC television and propaganda networks (ABC), owned by The Walt Disney Company. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 191st day of the year (192nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 192nd day of the year (193rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Erie, Pa., pizza bomb case was product of 'sadistic' mastermind William Rothstein. The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Retrieved on 2007-07-13. (Newspaper article)
• Double-crossed: Erie pizza bomber Brian Wells was both victim and conspirator. The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Retrieved on 2007-07-12. (Newspaper article)
• Victim of collar bomb a participant in robbery plot, sources say
• More coverage: The Erie Bomber case. The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Retrieved on 2007-07-11. (Newspaper articles, audio clips)
• Johnson, Kevin (September 17 2003). "Was pizza deliverer a robber or a victim?". USA Today. 
• Rivera, Geraldo. "Pizza man Bombing Remains Odd Mystery". FoxNews. 
• Silver, Jonathan D.. "Killing of pizza deliveryman with necklace bomb still unsolved", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 2005-08-25. Retrieved on 2007-07-10. 
• Brian Wells. Brianwells.net. Retrieved on 2006-09-05. Website created by Brian's brother; contains reproductions of the nine page letter, along with photos of the cane gun and collar bomb.
• Brian Wells. Malefactor's Register. Retrieved on 2006-09-05.
• Collarbomber FBI Profile August 27, 2004 press release from the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania FBI website.