The case remained a mystery until Diehl-Armstrong and her fishing buddy, Kenneth Barnes, were indicted in 2007 on charges they concocted the plot along with her ex-boyfriend, William Rothstein. Jessica Hoopsick, a sex worker who had a relationship with Wells, confesses in the series' final moments that she suggested Wells to Barnes because of his kind and unquestioning nature.. The instructions also included a scavenger hunt, listing a series of strictly-timed tasks of collecting keys that would delay detonation and eventually defuse the bomb. Drew Griffin and David Fitzpatrick (August 8, 2011), Mania and Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong: Inside the Mind of a Female Serial Killer by Jerry Clark, Ed Palattella, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, Evil Genius: The True Story of America's Most Diabolical Bank Heist, 1973 Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce bank robbery, New details revealed in 'pizza collar bomb' heist, "A Childlike Pizza Deliveryman at the Center of a Puzzling Crime", "Collar-Bomb Case Charges in Bizarre '03 Bank Heist", "Woman in pizza bomber case to get nothing from father", "The Incredible True Story of the Collar Bomb Heist", "Erie's Diehl-Armstrong recalled as unique and deadly criminal", "Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong Cause of Death: How Did She Die? It started as a chance at information and it turned into a real relationship. Investigators concluded Wells was a willing participant in the robbery, but was told the bomb was fake. After a three-week trial in federal court in Erie, she was found guilty on Nov. 1, 2010, of the felonies of armed bank robbery, conspiracy to commit armed bank robbery and using a destructive device in a crime of violence. Borzillieri explained when he read a 2007 document that was unsealed, he knew Hoopsick had more information than she had previously let on. Before we go any further, we have to make sure: You've seen "Making a Murderer," right? In May, she was named general counsel ofKraken, a San-Francisco based cryptocurrency exchange. [5], Wells worked as a pizza delivery driver at the Mama Mia's Pizzeria in Erie for ten years before his death. The assistant U.S. attorney who prosecuted the pizza bomber case remains the lead federal prosecutor in Erie. In the documentary, she expressed regret for her actions, and revealed that Wells didnt have any prior knowledge of the heist. The sentence from Erie County Judge William R. Cunningham cut two to four years from the maximum possible sentence of 20 to 40 years in prison for third-degree murder, or an unpremeditated killing with malice. Jessica Hoopsick The 38-year-old Erie resident was working as a prostitute when she met Brian Wells, the victim in the pizza bomber case. The FBI elite agent who investigated the murder of Brian Wells -- a case that inspired Netflix's ' Evil Genius ' -- isn't buying the shocking twist at the . When he reached the counter, he began sucking a lollipop. EXCLUSIVE. Paul Peirce is a Tribune-Review staff writer. In 1973, when Wells was a 16-year-old sophomore, he dropped out of Erie's East High School and went to work as a mechanic. Yes but Im torn about this at least she tries to do the right thing eventually. He appeared confident as he left the bank, swinging his cane gun and the bag of money "like Charlie Chaplin" according to one witness. Was he involved from the beginning and a co-conspirator in the foiled plot? "Divorce Corp." (2014): As if the criminal justice system hasn't failed enough Americans, this documentary makes family law seem downright criminal. If shes not telling the truth, then I dont know who is.. They screwed up big time. Theres always some underlying reason for her cooperation. Massage Beds & Heat Mats. When he was arrested after robbing the bank, the bomb went off and killed Wells. After being offered $5,000, Hoopsick suggests Wells and gives up his work schedule at the pizzeria. His name was Brian Wells. McLaughlin resigned his seat on the bench on Aug. 16, 2013, to become executive vice president and general counsel at Erie Insurance Group, where he continues to work. [16][5] Rothstein was the putative creator of the collar bomb. The fact that shes saying it, you got to wonder why.. Floyd Arthur "Jay" Stockton Jr. (1947 August 10, 2022) was a convicted rapist of a disabled teenager. Is 30 minutes or less a true story? [3] The collar bomb-bank robbery plot was hatched to obtain enough money to pay Barnes to kill Diehl-Armstrong's father. How do you find the beginning inventory for a production budget? Ummm how would the public know already what the arrest is for ? Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ETNoneill. Her next court date is Oct. 68years (19492017) Do you need a ground wire for a dishwasher? 8 How did Brian Wells the pizza bomber die? The 38-year-old Erie resident was working as a prostitute when she met Brian Wells, the victim in the pizza bomber case. Getting her to tell us at the time was a whole other issue. Jessica Hoopsick-possible co-conspirator, prostitute, addict In 2003, Erie Pennsylvania, a 46-year old man robbed a PNC bank. The drug dealer testified against Diehl-Armstrong at trial in exchange for a plea deal that originally netted him a federal prison sentence of 45 years. He added: "I have to follow where the trail of evidence leads and the truth and what other people have said, including people who were independently interviewed that had some involvement in the case, their information is contrary to that, and that he did have some knowledge and that he did have a pre-planning meeting and that to his credit he tried to back out and they forced him to do [the heist] and told him [the bomb] was fake. Jessica Hoopsick. At the bank, Brian Wells handed a teller a note demanding $250,000 within the next 15 minutes. Hoopsick's involvement added a bizarre twist to an already unusual case, which ended Friday with Thomas' sentence of 18 to 36 years in state prison. Long Waits, Short Appointments, Huge Bills. Brian never would have done this.. makes no sense to me at all. Stockton, known as Jay, was wanted on charges that he raped a 19-year-old developmentally disabled woman in Washington in 2002. Apparently Jessica Hoopsick is currently getting arrested. She also claimed Wells was a victim of the conspirators and knew nothing of the planned heist prior to having the device locked to his neck by Floyd Stockton and given instructions to rob the bank. She kept well-known company: Jessica Hoopsick, infamous for her role in the pizza bomber case, was one of the people Thomas reached out to after her boyfriend's death, the prosecution said.. [1] Stockton died of acute respiratory failure in Bellingham, Washington at the age of 74-75. Who is Brian Wells, the man with the collar bomb around his neck? They just dont want to admit anymore wrongdoings. This tragedy may have caused Wells to drop out after receiving failing grades. He was the lead investigator on the case for the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. William Ansel "Bill" Rothstein (January 17, 1944 July 30, 2004) dated Diehl-Armstrong in the late 1960s and early 1970s. One of the convicted organizers of the plot, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, 68, died of natural causes in April 2017 at a Fort Worth, Texas, medical facility, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. She testified at Diehl-Armstrong's trial. Her father's estate had once been valued about $1.8 million, but gifts to friends had lowered the value to less than $120,000 at his death in January 2014, at the age of 95. The incident was shown live on television. Its probably drug or prostitution related. He was 60. New charges could be filed in the notorious collar bomb crime after a Netflix documentary revealed a confession from an alleged conspirator who may have implicated herself nearly 15 years later, according to the films creators and the federal investigators who led the case. 2023 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved. Stockton, 70, is believed to be living in Washington state. Please consult your doctor before taking any action. [51] She asked for a change of venue, arguing extensive media coverage of the case prevented her from receiving a fair trial in Erie. The pages warned that Wells would be under constant surveillance and any attempts to contact authorities would result in the bomb's detonation. [55] In January 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court denied her petition for certiorari, declining to hear her case. [45] Barnes's sentence was later reduced to 22.5 years after he testified against Diehl-Armstrong. Wells' family said he was not a willing participant in the incident. Swank said that he told Hoopsick that her name sounded familiar and asked if she had ever been arrested in Greensburg. [35] The bomb squad was first called at 3:04p.m., at least thirty minutes after the first 9-1-1 call from the bank and about ten minutes after Wells was arrested. Wells' family disputes this account of the events at the television tower; according to them, Wells was accosted at gunpoint by strangers and forced to participate. Jessica E. Hoopsick, 39, was arrested in Erie County this week after District Judge Chris Flanigan of Greensburg issued a bench warrant when she failed to appear at a July 26 hearing. Ed Palattella can be reached at 870-1813 or by email. He had no parts in the planning. Here's What Could Happen Next in the Collar Bomb Case, "Was pizza deliverer a robber or a victim? Something that shocked many viewers of Evil Genius wasBorzillieris relationship with Diehl-Armstrong. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. He had no idea what was going to happen to him., RELATED:Who Is Bill Rothstein? fucking loser these . [62], Due to its novelty and complexity, the story retains a fascination for many people. Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong/Age at death. This was just posted in our local paper. [39], Though the note claimed Wells would gain extra time by each key found, police later traveled the note's route and could not complete it in the allotted time, implying Wells would not have had enough time to get the bomb defused. The child she alleges to have had by Brian Wells would be her youngest known child. Warning: This post contains spoilers for Evil Genius: The True Story of Americas Most Diabolical Bank Heist on Netflix. She told me that she had just been in that recent four-part Netflix documentary, Evil Genius, Swank reported. What we hope were achieving is new truths and new depths within the truths., The big twist at the end, Schroeder said, is just another piece to the puzzle.. I'm very sorry," Thomas said in court. "So, if you look at the scheme that way, that was her idea to get the money for that reason. Please try again. [19][20], According to law enforcement reports, Wells participated in the planning of the bank robbery the day before and was aware of the complex plot; he believed the bomb would be fake but would serve as exculpatory evidence if he was caught. [33] The note stated the bomb would explode in fifteen minutes and that the full amount must be handed over within that time. Barnes later pleaded guilty and testified against Diehl-Armstrong. While co-conspirators claim that Wells was a part of the heist, his actions are confusing. In the 15 years since the incident happened, there was been debate over Wells involvement and who the real mastermind was or who the masterminds were in the crime. Jessica Hoopsick, Self: Evil Genius: The True Story of America's Most Diabolical Bank Heist. Hoopsick was among a few people that Thomas sought out when she wanted to buy crack cocaine after Butler's death, he said. Saw it on Facebook. She was a key character in "Evil Genius," the docuseries on the pizza bomber case, though her contention that Wells had no idea about the pizza bomber plot goes against most of the other . They just dont want to admit anymore wrongdoings. [59] Admitting to setting up Wells in exchange for money and drugs,[58] Hoopsick expressed regret for her role and said Wells had no advance knowledge of the robbery. In terms of Brian Wells is his behavior being described correctly? [2][23], The bomb used in the killing consisted of a hinged collar that worked like a large handcuff to go around the neck, four keyholes that went under the chin, and a rectangular section that contained two pipe bombs and two kitchen timers. ERIE TIMES-NEWS/FBI He was Rothstein's roommate. brian wells - according to her would never have even been involved had she not offered him up as a patsy. This episode is sad. Lucky you, because this documentary exposes a sad reality that grade-school students across the country are bombarded with so much homework and pressure to prepare for college before they even hit high school that they're already as stressed out as working adults. He wasnt out to hurt nobody. After being offered $5,000, Hoopsick suggests Wells and gives up his work schedule at the pizzeria. Did Jessica hoopsick get charged? With a note that demanded $250,000, he had a cane that he swung around like Charlie Chaplin, that was actually a gun, and a collar locked around his neck like a handcuff. [29][44] On December 3 that year, he was sentenced to 45 years in prison by a federal judge in Erie for his role in the crime. Netflix A kind of conclusion was offered at the end of the series when Jessica Hoopsick - a prostitute who had regular contact with both Brian Wells and Ken Barnes - confessed that she had. The film's similarity to the Wells case was criticized by Wells' family, but Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group said the cast and crew were not aware of the Wells case and the screenwriters were "vaguely familiar" with it.[66]. [50] On September 9, the judge determined she was now competent. 2023byTango Publishing Corporation All Rights Reserved. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. This one might also appeal to fans of HBO's "The Night Of" for its look at how the criminal justice system works and sometimes fails. He obtained straight As until he entered middle school. Thomas, 44, agreed to the sentence in a deal with prosecutors when she pleaded guilty to third-degree murder in the death of her boyfriend, 44-year-old Keeno Butler, earlier this month. ", "Both parties were extremely intoxicated," Del Duca said. Rothstein died of cancer before the grand jury returned its indictment. Evil Genius: The True Story of America's Most Diabolical Bank Heist premiered on Netflix earlier this month and ever since, debate has raged about the show's ending. Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong masterminded a 2003 robbery plot in Pennsylvania that led to the bombing death of pizza delivery man Brian Wells. The U.S. attorney at the time of the pizza bomber case was Mary Beth Buchanan, who left office in 2009. Technically, she could be charged, Schroeder said, but every agency we spoke to said there was no interest.. Known as the collar bomb case or pizza bomber case, the incident gained extensive media coverage, including the 2018 Netflix series Evil Genius. Butler 's death, he knew Hoopsick had more information than she had ever been arrested in Greensburg child... About this at least she tries to do the right thing eventually after robbing the bank, the in... Related: who is Bill Rothstein had no idea what was going to Happen to him.,:. 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