5 key details about Brian Douglas Wells' murder

The story of Brian Douglas Wells, a pizza delivery man caught in a bizarre and tragic plot, continues to capture attention years after the shocking events unfolded. The case will be featured in the upcoming episode of Very Scary People season 6 on ID and will air on January 12, 2025. Titled The Man Eater, the episode explores the details of a deadly scheme involving a bank heist, a collar bomb, and a string of conspirators.

On August 28, 2003, in Erie, Pennsylvania, Brian Douglas Wells became an unwitting participant in a planned crime. Strapped with an explosive collar and forced to rob a bank, his ordeal ended tragically when the bomb detonated. The case, later dubbed the Pizza Bomber or Collar Bomb Heist, became a national sensation, sparking debates about whether Brian was a victim or an accomplice.

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5 key details related to Brian Douglas Wells' murder case

1. The shocking bank heist

Very Scary People is streaming on Prime Video (Image via Unsplash @Curated Lifestyle)

As reported by CNN, on 28 August 2003, Brian Douglas Wells, a 46-year-old pizza delivery man, was made to rob a PNC Bank in Erie, Pennsylvania. He wore a collar bomb around his neck as he made off with over $8,000 after leaving a note that demanded $250,000 at the bank's teller's window.

Police apprehended him shortly after outside the bank. Despite pleading for help, claiming he was a victim of a deadly plot, the bomb detonated before the bomb squad arrived, killing him instantly in a horrifying scene broadcast on live television.

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2. The heist was planned by a group of conspirators

As the CNN reports suggest, further investigation of the case revealed that Brian's death was part of an elaborate plot orchestrated by a group of conspirators.

Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, Kenneth Barnes, and other accomplices were involved in creating the deadly plan, intending to use Brian to carry out the robbery under pressure. They allegedly lured him to deliver a fake pizza order to a secluded location, where the bomb was forcibly attached to his neck. The case became known as the Pizza Bomber Heist.

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3. The game played with Brian Douglas Wells

Brian Douglas Wells was forced to play the game to regain freedom (Image via Unsplash @ Maxim Hopman)

The conspirators designed a manipulative scheme for Brian Douglas Wells, providing him with instructions to complete a series of tasks to defuse the bomb. The note directed him to retrieve keys and codes necessary for unlocking the bomb device, which had four locks and a combination dial, scattered around the area, promising freedom if he succeeded.

However, investigators later determined the game was a plan, as the device was designed to explode regardless of his progress.

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4. The role of Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong in the whole scenario

One of the locals with a history of mental illness and criminality was identified as the mastermind who played this major role. Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong and her accomplices intended to use the money for their agendas, which would involve settling debts and carrying out more crime.

Later, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong was convicted of conspiracy and armed bank robbery, as reported by CNN. She was eventually sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole and died in prison due to breast cancer at the age of 68 on April 4, 2017.

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5. Media attention and significance of the case

The Pizza Bomber case attracted a lot of media attention because of the shocking circumstances surrounding it. The case was featured in documentaries, books, and television shows such as Evil Genius, Dateline: Secrets Uncovered, and Very Scary People. Each has a different representation in the exploration of this haunting case, revealing new insights and perspectives.

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Stay tuned for more news and updates, and watch the latest episodes of Very Scary People on ID and Amazon Prime Video.