Feds: Collar Bomb Victim Part Of Plot

Two Others Indicted In 2003 Bank Robbery And Death Of Pizza Deliveryman

(CBS/AP)  A pizza deliveryman who robbed a bank and was killed when the bomb around his neck exploded was not a hostage — he was a conspirator in the plot, federal authorities said Wednesday.

The deliveryman, Brian Wells, 46, had told police before the bomb exploded in August 2003 that he was an innocent victim and had been forced by gunmen to rob the bank.

However, in the indictments unsealed Wednesday, Wells is named as a co-conspirator in the bizarre case. Two other people, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong and her friend, Kenneth E. Barnes, are charged with bank robbery and conspiracy.

Authorities said the plot was concocted so Diehl-Armstrong, 58, could pay someone to kill her father.

Diehl-Armstrong and Barnes are accused of contriving a series of notes to make Wells appear to be "merely a hostage," according to the indictments..

Their plan was to get the money from Wells in a way that if he was caught, he could claim he was an unwilling participant, authorities said in court papers. According to the indictments, they locked a live bomb onto Well's neck to ensure he followed their instructions and turned over the money.

They came up with a bizarre neck-bomb plot to insure that Wells came back with the money, and that if caught, he could claim he was an innocent victim and that if something went wrong, Wells would die and could not testify against the others, reports CBS News Correspondent Cynthia Bowers.

"If he died, he could not be a witness," authorities said in the indictment.

U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan described Wells as having a limited role in the plot and couldn't comment on what his motive might have been for being involved. The bomb that killed Wells was on a timer but it was unclear if his co-conspirators planned on his death, she said.

"Sadly, the plans of these other individuals were much more sinister ... and he died as a result," Buchanan said. "It may be that his role transitioned from that of the planning stages to being an unwilling participant in the scheme."

As the feds tried to lay out their case today, there were emotional outbursts from Wells' distraught family, reports Bowers.

Wells' brother John said that no one would willingly put a bomb on themselves, stating, "I can't imagine that they're trying to get the public to believe this."

Diehl-Armstrong is currently serving a state prison sentence for killing her boyfriend, James Roden. In the indictment, authorities say she killed Roden to keep him from disclosing details of the robbery plot.

Barnes, 53, is jailed in Erie County on unrelated drug charges. Authorities have described him as Diehl-Armstrong's fishing companion.

Diehl-Armstrong was notified Tuesday that she may face charges of bank robbery, conspiracy and a firearms count, lawyer Lawrence D'Ambrosio said. He says she is innocent.

[chinesespy]

hopefully the others are killed in prison(hint,hint).

[rudy654-2009]

This story definitely sounds fishy from the get-go. I'm not buying this load of krapp that the victim was in on it, based on some guilty party's say so. I can imagine why the participants are lying, as it keeps them from suffering more severe punishment for murder. However, why the police and prosecutors are participating in these lies, leaves me wondering and suspicious as to what their role in all this is.

[incog-nito]

Maybe the cops are right. Maybe they got together and said: "You keep a lookout, you drive the getaway car, you die. Now let's go!"

[mpdsmith]

Yes you are right we do have radar guns, and portable breath testers for our use in common occurances. We do not use bolt cutters on a daily/weekly or yearly basis so why would we carry them? And no, You Idiot, they are NOT SOP. Until you can show me your BAR Card or a peace officer license, quit quoting laws and SOP's to me. And BTW, it's not officer but Chief Smith!!!

[dukeudevil]

Darwin Award?

[Renegade.Rivers]

Just reading the other post, seems that I am not the only one asking the obvious questions.

[Renegade.Rivers]

Believe what you will, but sometimes you got to think beyond the obvious, especially when the bizarre is beyond real. I don't blame the guy's brother for being outraged, because what is being claimed is outrageous. Especially when the FBI offers no evidence, beyond hearsay. They can't even offer a motive for him to be involved. If there is no motive, and if there is no evidence beyond hearsay, how can they deduce that he was a "limited partner" in the deal. The two that are being charged sound like pretty salty people, and at least one of them was mentally-ill. How could anyone believe a word they said? This is not to mention what they may have threaten the guy with if he did not cooperate, that no one will ever know about.

Please show us the real evidence if it exist, not smoke and mirrors, based on assumptions, and circumstantial evidence.

[Renegade.Rivers]

Anyone read anywhere what evidence they had to prove that he was involved? From what I read in the article, and In some others, it was the police taking the word of a couple of criminals. Could this be another case of the police using the confession to their advantage? Now are either one of those criminals going to admit that they kidnapped the guy, and forced him to do what he done, after putting a bomb around his neck? Of course not, because then they would be guilty of a lot more that conspiracy before the fact, to include kidnapping, and murder. For them to have any hope of ever getting out of prison again, they had to make him a part of the plan, and the police liked that story, because with him being a part of the conspiracy, then they weren't really responsible for trying to protect him.

[toldyouso21]

Diehl-Armstrong was notified Tuesday that she may face charges of bank robbery, conspiracy and a firearms count, lawyer Lawrence D'Ambrosio said. He says she is innocent.

But not of murder? Hmmmmmmm sounds like she, the "fishing companion" and the cops came to a new "deal" where she or Barnes (or both) says the man was in on it and they don't bring murder or even negligent homicide charges against either of them and that also gets the police off the hook for civil charges for failing to even attempt to assist a citizen. Both groups probably think it is a "slam dunk" that the public is stupid enough to buy it and that each 'wins' something. The girl and Barnes get less time and convictions and the cops do not have to hear about how they let a man who was a hostage die--and they don't have to pay millions in a settlement. This should still go to a jury and I hope the cops lose. This sounds about on par with the cop in Chicago beating up the female bartender, then threatening everyone who witnessed it.

[toldyouso21]

But a lousy pair of bolt cutters? Are you kidding?!!, Who can officer Smith, ticket, arrest, maim or kill with those?
Posted by thgdriver at 04:26 PM : Jul 11, 2007


Some bombs explode if any attempt is made to disconnect them.

[toldyouso21]

How do they know the man was a co-conspirator and not a victim? Because the 2 involved said so? Could they not be lying so that they do not also face murder charges? The victim is not alive to plead his case or defend himself and if the only thing the police have is the word of the other 2 criminals or evidence those 2 produce--then they may want to rethink this before they join the Duke former Prosecutor in the law enforcement hall of shame. The victim is already dead and cannot face a trial or be convicted. He has paid the ultimate price if he was involved--but if he wasn't this bs serves no purpose than to spread the blame and deflect from the other 2. Somehow, I doubt the victim was in on it and if he was--the people who put the collar on him should still pay the highest price. People cut all kinds of deals these days to lessen their time and cops want to buy it all.....

[myidoncbs]

This version of events is not believable. Even criminals are smart enough not to knowingly strap on a live bomb that is controlled by a timer. There's always a tiny, tiny, very slim chance that it is actually true (because we do live in a very strange world), but it seems awfully convenient that the cops, who killed him by not removing the bomb and by preventing him from following the directions he was supposed to follow to remove it, now can avoid any criminal liability for their negligence.

Note to self: when you get stuck to a bomb that's about to explode, do not expect any help from the cops.

[chinesespy]

kaboommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm !!!!!!!!!

[stezzer]

Delivering pizza at 46 can't have been much fun. If this story is true, I feel sorry for the poor fool.

He must have been desperate to get involved in this harebrained scheme.

[commentsrus]

Two more collar bombs and their plan would have been perfect. I think all bank robbers should wear them. Hell, set a couple diamonds in one and give it to Paris Hilton. Dip one in gold and let $0.50 have it.
I'm gonna nominate this guy for a Darwin Award.

[susanhelit]

Sounds to me like these guys watched a few too many 'Mission Impossible' episodes, and just hatched a ridiculous plot they figured had to work!

[bb19631]

this story is so far fetched, who do we believe?? honestly, why would anyone strap a bomb to his own neck??? i am sorry,but i dont buy it!!

[boston1954]

Well I guess that shows how much I know. I sure believed him back then.

[godofredo29]

And, if my grandmother had wheels, she'd be a wagon.

[f105thud]

Officer Smith.....

If you don't have bolt-cutters in your squad car, bring it to your sergeants attention.. They should be standard equipment for you all. They are required SOP!