In 2003, Wells, a 46-year-old pizza delivery driver from Erie, got involved in a bank robbery and had a homemade bomb strapped around his neck. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. [27] The details of events at the tower that led to the bomb being attached to Wells' neck have never been firmly established, but evidence suggests there was a struggle and that Barnes, Diehl-Armstrong, Rothstein, and Stockton were all present at that time. He got the 45-year sentence in December 2008, but after his testimony and Diehl-Armstrong's conviction, a judge halved the sentence in 2011. After watching this terrifying expos on how the big business of divorce ruins the lives of parents and children caught in the crossfire, you'll think twice about ever popping the question. Jessica Hoopsick. 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. Also Read: Netflix Orders Idris Elba Comedy 'Turn Up Charlie,' Duplass Brothers' True Crime Series 'Evil Genius'. https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/13935350-74/woman-involved-in-erie-collar-bomb-case-jailed-on-prostitution-charge-in-greensburg. Thanks to the tireless efforts of groups like ACT UP and TAG, the country has made substantial progress on the issue, but remember this battle when society inevitably finds another population to stigmatize and stand up before it's too late. A report in US Weekly reveals that on August 28, 2003, a pizza deliveryman named Brian Wells robbed a PNC Bank in Erie, Pennsylvania. [57], In 2018, Jessica Hoopsick admitted to her involvement in the plot. Did Jessica hoopsick get charged? Its unclear whether authorities and prosecutors will decide to pursue charges against Hoopsick or any others after Hoopsicks new confession. 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 evidence in the case. Barbara Schroeder and Trey Borzillieri, the creators of Evil Genius, told TIME they believe Hoopsick was moved to finally speak out because she couldnt hold in her secret any longer. Related: Evil Genius on Netflix explained all the HUGE questions we're left with. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital When he was arrested after robbing the bank, the bomb went off and killed Wells. Authorities brought her to Westmoreland County on Friday. On August 31, 2003, Wells's coworker at the pizza store and its only other delivery driver, Robert Thomas Pinetti, was found dead in his home after suffering a drug overdose. This was just posted in our local paper. [11] Investigators do not believe Rothstein ever attempted suicide. On the other hand, neighbors described Wells as almost child-like; could his mental state be an explanation for his behavior? With everything I read and everything I heard, I believe that he was completely innocent. [30][31], Wells was instructed to claim that three black men had forced the bomb on him and were holding him as a hostage. Technically, she could be charged, Schroeder said, but every agency we spoke to said there was no interest.. Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, as one judge described her, was a coldly calculated criminal recidivist and serial killer. She had experienced a lifetime of murder, mayhem, and mental illness. 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. She was arrested for driving without a license. At the bank, Brian Wells handed a teller a note demanding $250,000 within the next 15 minutes. After being offered $5,000, Hoopsick suggests Wells and gives up his work schedule at the pizzeria. In custody, Rothstein claimed Diehl-Armstrong had murdered her then-boyfriend Roden with a 12-gauge shotgun during a dispute over money. And he was the first person to find out she had passed away. Whether or not he was involved at any point, he was certainly a victim. rams defensive scheme . Jessica Hoopsick, a prostitute whom Brian Wells frequented, became a key witness for the FBI in unraveling the pizza bomber case. Less than two years since the September 11 attacks, many at first believed the incident to be terrorism-related. You can contact Paul at 724-850-2860, ppeirce@tribweb.com or via Twitter @ppeirce_trib. Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, pa Ed Palattella can be reached at 870-1813 or by email. "Jessica Hoopsick eventually gonna tell her son she's the one who gift wrapped his dad to his killers or nah" New Details About The Woman From 'Evil Genius' On Netflix, A post shared by Strange Matters Podcast (@strangematterspodcast), 8 Best True Crime Podcasts For People Who Just Love Being Scared, Meet 'Outer Banks' Star Drew Starkey's Rumored Girlfriend & Learn All About His Past Relationships, 'Outer Banks' Star Madelyn Cline Discusses Life With Her Boyfriend After Split From Co-Star Chase Stokes, Francesca Farago Clarifies Her Relationship Status With Her Boyfriend As She Appears On Netflix's 'Perfect Match', Who Is Bill Rothstein? [50] On September 9, the judge determined she was now competent. [51] She asked for a change of venue, arguing extensive media coverage of the case prevented her from receiving a fair trial in Erie. Jessica Hoopsick Friends Photos Videos More Friends Photos Videos About Work Self-Employed Worked at Panos' Restaurant 1995 - 2005 College Studied medical assistant at Great Lakes Institute of Technology High school No schools to show Photos See all photos Others Named Jessica Hoopsick Jessica Hoopsick Jessica Hoopsick Jessica Hoopsick See more The investigation determined the plot was masterminded by Diehl-Armstrong to receive an inheritance by hiring Barnes with the money from the bank robbery to kill her father. Barnes is expected to be released in 2027, according to FCI Coleman Low, the federal correctional facility where hes currently incarcerated in Florida. [52], On November 1, 2010, Diehl-Armstrong was convicted of armed bank robbery, conspiracy to commit armed bank robbery, and of using a destructive device in a crime. Loosely inspired by the Brian Wells case, the plot follows a stoner pizza delivery boy who is forced into wearing a bomb in order to rob a bank. [43], In late 2005, Barnes, who was in jail on unrelated drug charges, was turned in by his brother-in-law after revealing details of the crime to him. Who is Brian Wells, the man with the collar bomb around his neck? Was he an accompliceor was he ambushed and forced to carry out a heist he couldnt possibly have successfully performed? This tragedy may have caused Wells to drop out after receiving failing grades. [1] Wells was seen leaving Rothstein's house the day before the incident, and investigators believe he participated in a rehearsal. Plus, if Wells was voluntarily enlisted, the risk was increased as he may have shared the plot info with friends like Rob Pinetti. "The Farm: Life Inside Angola Prison" (1998): This doc chronicles the lives of several inmates inside the nation's largest prison. Wells' family said he was not a willing participant in the incident. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ETNoneill. Greensburg police Detective John Swank reported in court documents that he was working a prostitution detail June 23 when he replied to an advertisement listed on the website Skip the Games for a Busty Blond, 27-years-old.. We could do a Good Genius, too., The best documentaries are enlightening, infuriating and sometimes even frightening Making a Murderer certainly was. [64], A collection of news articles that reported developments in the Wells story was analyzed in a scientific study of information novelty. This tragedy may have caused Wells to drop out after. William Ansel "Bill" Rothstein (January 17, 1944 July 30, 2004) dated Diehl-Armstrong in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It seemed like this person had information. He had no parts in the planning. He was a pizza delivery driver and he had a clean criminal record. Massage Beds & Heat Mats. She is believed to have killed Roden to prevent him from informing authorities about the robbery plot. Theres always some underlying reason for her cooperation. He was granted immunity for his testimony against Diehl-Armstrong, but was never called to testify in court due to illness. I definitely want justice for Brians memory. She died of breast cancer at 68 in April 2017 while she was serving her sentence at a federal womens prison close to Fort Worth, Texas. 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. [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. According to neighbors and friends, Wells was described as hardworking and reliable. Jessica Hoopsick, Self: Evil Genius: The True Story of America's Most Diabolical Bank Heist. And some of them end up taking their own lives as a result. Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong masterminded a 2003 robbery plot in Pennsylvania that led to the bombing death of pizza delivery man Brian Wells. It started as a chance at information and it turned into a real relationship. Madeleine O'Neill can be reached at 870-1728 or by email. Both employees and owners of the pizzeria say he was a trusted worker. Magazines, Capture a Year of Painand Resiliencein Ukraine, Or create a free account to access more articles. Magazines, Digital I want people to know he was innocent., MORE: Why We Are Drawn to True Crime Shows, In the documentary, Hoopsick says a conspirator approached her to find a gopher who could be scared into robbing a bank. 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. Movies. 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. For her to have the self awareness to say, I used to be the prettiest girl in town but she took herself to see someone at 23 because she felt there was something wrong with her mind and no one taking her that seriously, thats when I felt sorry for her Her level of self awareness was dazzling., For Schroeder andBorzillieri, the story is far from over. Following an attempt to rob a PNC Bank, and while surrounded by police, Wells was murdered when an explosive collar locked to his neck detonated. "The thing that's accurate that she does say that I fully agree with as the investigator is that she introduced [Brian Wells] to these people. Brian Douglas Wells Just hit 'Like' on our Digital Spy Facebook page and 'Follow' on our @digitalspy Twitter account and you're all set. Her court-appointed lawyer, Mark Del Duca, of Pittsburgh, called the attack an "alcohol- and drug-fueled event. makes no sense to me at all. Floyd Arthur "Jay" Stockton Jr. (1947 August 10, 2022) was a convicted rapist of a disabled teenager. jessica hoopsick child with brian wellscircle magazine phone number. 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.. Western Pennsylvania's trusted news source. One electronic timer hung down over the chest. [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. Does Unforgotten work without Nicola Walker? She said, I have a lot of remorse for a lot of the stuff I did and a lot of shame and guilt. [63] In May 2018, Netflix released Evil Genius: The True Story of America's Most Diabolical Bank Heist, a documentary series about the case. As a U.S. district judge, he presided over the pizza bomber case, including Diehl-Armstrong's trial in 2010 at the federal courthouse in Erie. By Samantha Maffucci Written on May 18, 2018. . Borzillieri explained when he read a 2007 document that was unsealed, he knew Hoopsick had more information than she had previously let on. After he robbed a PNC Bank in Summit Township, Erie County, he was stopped by state police in a parking lot with the bomb still strapped around his neck. The footage was subsequently leaked to a shock jock on DC101, a radio station in Washington, D.C. who posted it on his website in September 2003. "I just want to apologize to the family. [22][47], On July 29, 2008, U.S. District Court Judge Sean J. McLaughlin made an initial finding that Diehl-Armstrong was mentally incompetent to stand trial due to a number of mental disorders, indicating this ruling would be reviewed after she had received a period of treatment in a mental hospital. We just couldnt get enough from her. One of the prostitutes he frequented, Jessica Hoopsick, knew Kenneth Barnes, who dealt crack and whose house was used by prostitutes. I definitely want justice for Brians memory. They just want Brian Wells to be a co conspirator. 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. Rothstein said she subsequently paid him $2,000 to help hide the body and clean the crime scene at her house. He wasnt out to hurt nobody. Please consult your doctor before taking any action. . Here's What Could Happen Next in the Collar Bomb Case, "Was pizza deliverer a robber or a victim? The man who claims to have been her common-law husband, Mark Marvin, who lives near Poughkeepsie, New York, has unsuccessfully argued in federal court that Diehl-Armstrong might not be dead, and if she is dead, that the government should release her remains to him for a Quaker burial. "So, if you look at the scheme that way, that was her idea to get the money for that reason. [5][37] Traffic congestion in the area delayed the bomb squad's arrival but personnel from the ATF still considered their response appropriately quick. "Divorce Corp." (2014): As if the criminal justice system hasn't failed enough Americans, this documentary makes family law seem downright criminal. Saw it on Facebook. Thomas also went out to purchase more crack cocaine when she woke up after the assault on Butler, Assistant District Attorney Jeremy Lightner said. Samantha Maffucci is an associate editor for YourTango. In the documentary, she expressed regret for her actions, and revealed that Wells didnt have any prior knowledge of the heist. Diehl-Armstrong, who outlived her parents and had no siblings or children, is buried in a cemetery near there, according to the Bureau of Prisons. RELATED:Who Is Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong? So, she admits that and that's still accurate. Apparently she's being charged with setting Brian up. [15] Rothstein was admitted to the Millcreek Community Hospital on July 23, 2004, having previously been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma showing diffuse, large-cell type myeloproliferative lymphoma, and died on July 30 that year at the age of 60. The only defendant who went to trial in the case. [54] In November 2012, the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed her conviction. In her free time, you can find her obsessing about cats, wine, and all things Vanderpump Rules. Ummm how would the public know already what the arrest is for ? They are "adamant" that Jessica is lying however i think they are just trying to cover their ass. In 2003, Brian Wells robbed a bank with a bomb collar around his neck, but who was the mastermind behind the notorious crime? 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. Lightner said Hoopsick gave a statement to police and would have been subpoenaed to testify if Thomas took her case to trial. "The Central Park Five" (2012): Documentarian Ken Burns examines the 1989 case of five black and Latino teenagers who were convicted of raping a white woman in Central Park, and spent between six and 13 years in prison before a serial rapist confessed. Marvin claims Diehl-Armstrong was a Quaker like he is. She told me that she had just been in that recent four-part Netflix documentary, Evil Genius, Swank reported. Are examples of Marjorie happening around the world?, Schroeder added, Its easy to say she was mentally ill and the system didnt do what it shouldve done, her parents didnt do what they shouldve done maybe everyone bears a little blame The saddest moments for me are the amount of therapy and analysis she had. In May, she was named general counsel ofKraken, a San-Francisco based cryptocurrency exchange. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Deceased (19492017) The deceased Rothstein and Wells were named as un-indicted co-conspirators. Brmikor mdosthatja a kivlasztott belltsait az Adatvdelmi lehetsgek oldalon. Is 30 minutes or less a true story? "This was an attack that was incredibly violent and it was incredibly depraved," Lightner said. Stockton, 70, is believed to be living in Washington state. 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