Although he subsequently removed the video at WJET's request, by then it had been posted to numerous video-sharing websites. After he telephoned police, Rothstein wrote a suicide note indicating his planned death had nothing to do with Wells. Barnes is expected to be released in 2027, according to FCI Coleman Low, the federal correctional facility where hes currently incarcerated in Florida. 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. And there were times when she showed her soft side.. This case is going to be looked at for years to come, and they don't want it known that they screwed up. "Yes.". 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. At the bank, Brian Wells handed a teller a note demanding $250,000 within the next 15 minutes. When Jessica Hoopsick, a hooker and intimate friend of Wells, was interviewed for 'Evil Genius', she told Trey Borzillieri, co-producer of the series, she was approached to find a "gopher". One of the prostitutes he frequented, Jessica Hoopsick, knew Kenneth Barnes, who dealt crack and whose house was used by prostitutes. The plot subsequently uncovered has been described as "one of the most complicated and bizarre crimes" in the history of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).[1]. Fifteen years later and key questions in the case labeled the pizza bomber and collar bomb heist remain the subject of debate, despite a prosecutor-endorsed theory of the crime. [50] On September 9, the judge determined she was now competent. "The Farm: Life Inside Angola Prison" (1998): This doc chronicles the lives of several inmates inside the nation's largest prison. Assuming this is real, does anyone else find it eerie (no pun intended) that she's sitting on the ground like Brian was when he was arrested? 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. Diehl-Armstrong had claimed that Rothstein was the mastermind of the plot and many believe he was the one who actually built the bomb. 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. "Either way, Mr Wells died a horrific death that we'll never forget him for, but the fact that he might not have had knowledge is not really related to the evidence gained.". He had no idea what was going to happen to him.. 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.. In custody, Rothstein claimed Diehl-Armstrong had murdered her then-boyfriend Roden with a 12-gauge shotgun during a dispute over money. You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, pa She is at the Westmoreland County Prison, unable to post bond of $10,000, according to court records. RELATED:8 Best True Crime Podcasts For People Who Just Love Being Scared, A post shared by @bluesbobb on May 17, 2018 at 9:56am PDT. All Rights Reserved. [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 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. She told me that she had just been in that recent four-part Netflix documentary, Evil Genius, Swank reported. She believed she could control people and she thought she had people at her beck and call, but when she died, there was no one to claim her body and she was buried in an unmarked grave. BRIAN Wells, a 46-year-old pizza delivery driver, strolled into a Pennsylvania bank one afternoon in 2003 before demanding $250,000, written on a note he passed to the teller. 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. Many are dead and just as many are alive, but since Aug. 28, 2003, a number of individuals have been involved in the pizza bomber case. Brian Douglas Wells http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/news/a858320/evil-genius-ending-jessica-hoopsick-confession-jerry-clark-bill-rothstein/. Apparently Jessica Hoopsick is currently getting arrested. When he entered PNC Bank and demanded $250,000, he was calm, even grabbing a lollipop before leaving with less than $9,000 in cash. TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. But if youve finished all 10 episodes of the true-crime saga, check out these docs currently streaming. Jessica Hoopsick, a woman who was Wells' prostitute and friend, confessed on the Netflix documentary Evil Genius that she set Wells up to participate in the crime by providing his name and delivery schedule to one of the conspirators in exchange for money and drugs. Jessica E. Hoopsick, of Erie, faces a prostitution charge in Greensburg. When he was arrested after robbing the bank, the bomb went off and killed Wells. They want to try and make themselves look "good" because they had overlooked so much evidence that could have solved this case years ago but failed to do so. Jessica Hoopsick. 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. Or, was he forced to take part in the robbery against his will? We feel this is a second chance at justice, Borzillieri said. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. The Federal Bureau of Prisons said Diehl-Armstrong died of natural causes at a Texas prison on April 4, 2017. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. I think that if anyone implicated themselves, it was her, as being a conspirator, in bringing him to the table, Wick said. All Marriage & Divorce results for Hoopsick. New Details About The Woman From 'Evil Genius' On Netflix, A post shared by Strange Matters Podcast (@strangematterspodcast) on Apr 15, 2017 at 5:11am PDT. While co-conspirators claim that Wells was a part of the heist, his actions are confusing. We just couldnt get enough from her. Wells' family said he was forced to rob the bank by the conspirators. Apparently it was for failure to appear for a prostitution charge. Mitchell scheduled Hoopsicks hearing for Aug. 16. He wasnt out to hurt nobody. (Spoiler alert: Do not read on if you havent watched Evil Genius). The bomb detonated and killed Wells. Then, at the documentary's end, Jessica Hoopsick, a prostitute frequented by Wells, drops the bombshell that she solicited him to get involved on behalf of Ken Barnes because he was "a. See additional information. Moreover, in 2008, U.S. District Court Judge Sean J. McLaughlin found that she was mentally incompetent to stand trial due to a variety of mental disorders. [32], Wells' corpse was found with nine pages of handwritten instructions addressed to "Bomb Hostage," directing him to rob the bank. Furthermore, her statements contradicted each other, he said. Is 30 minutes or less a true story? One would think this strange scenario would be an easy decision for a judge, but get ready to get angry. "Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father" (2008): This heartbreaking film focuses on an unbelievable custody battle between a murdered man's parents and the ex-girlfriend who took their son's life, while pregnant with their grandchild. [14] Rothstein was a handyman and part-time shop teacher, and was part of a group called the "fractured intellectuals"; intelligent people who were not well-adjusted. The four-part true crime documentary series followed the Pizza Bomber case, which saw pizza delivery driver Brian Wells rob PNC Bank in Erie, Pennsylvania whilst wearing a collar bomb which exploded and killed him following his swift capture by police. The death of Brian Wells took place on August 28, 2003, after Wells, a pizza delivery man, robbed a PNC Bank near his hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania, United States. YOU'VE REACHED YOUR MONTHLY ARTICLE LIMIT. [a] In return for a reduced sentence, Barnes later told investigators Diehl-Armstrong was the mastermind of the crime and that she wanted the money to pay Barnes to kill her father, who she believed was wasting her inheritance. . If the answer is "no," then what are you waiting for? Movies. He told state troopers he was forced to wear the collar at gunpoint shortly before robbing the bank. His release date is Sept. 10, 2027. 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 . According to an Erie District School psychological study, his verbal IQ was 100 and performance IQ was 120, which was higher than 90 percent of the population. Saw it on Facebook. jessica hoopsick child with brian wells. After being offered $5,000, Hoopsick suggests Wells and gives up his work schedule at the pizzeria. Here is where some of them are now, including some who are in the grave. Rothstein died of cancer before the grand jury returned its indictment. blazing 7 slot machine videos; guess the country game google maps; wendy's chicken salad; normal weight concrete density; star radio christmas music; ufo kirby: planet robobot; At first, Hoopsick didnt want to get involved out of fear. It took five years of persistence to eventually get her to a place where she was comfortable revealing a deeper truth to the story., Schroeder added, Trey was at the right place at the right time when she wanted to cleanse her conscience, to get her true confession for the first time. 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[5][37] Traffic congestion in the area delayed the bomb squad's arrival but personnel from the ATF still considered their response appropriately quick. Brian Douglas Wells (November 15, 1956 August 28, 2003) was an American pizza delivery man who was murdered during a complex plot involving a bank robbery, scavenger hunt, and homemade explosive device near his hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania.Death of Brian Wells. We're having some trouble displaying this photo at the moment. During her video arraignment Friday before senior Judge Herb Mitchell of Brownsville, Fayette County, who was acting for Flanigan, Hoopsick said she has two convictions for prostitution in Erie and worked within the past year at a sheet metal plant in Beaver County. 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. In the documentary, she expressed regret for her actions, and revealed that Wells didnt have any prior knowledge of the heist. You had four conspirators who got out ahead of it, because the case went cold for two years and they were infusing information about the case to their benefit, trying to avoid the death penalty. The January 2011 issue of Wired magazine covered the story. [2], At Kenneth Barnes' home, he, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, and William Rothstein discussed ways they could make money. [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. Related: Evil Genius on Netflix explained all the HUGE questions we're left with. "The Race to Nowhere" (2010): Remember what it was like to be a kid without any responsibilities? We were in a tough spot. [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. 30 Minutes or Less is a 2011 American action comedy film directed by Ruben Fleischer, starring Jesse Eisenberg, Danny McBride, Aziz Ansari and Nick Swardson. 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. He obtained straight As until he entered middle school. 8 How did Brian Wells the pizza bomber die? 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. [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. [58] In the 2018 documentary Evil Genius, Hoopsick identifies the conspirator as Barnes and alleges she recommended Wells, whom she described as "a pushover". It went through all the twists and turns of the investigation that you see in the documentary. Wells' involvement in the plot is a matter of controversy. Hoopsick could not be reached by TIME, despite multiple efforts. . [35], WJET-TV, Erie's ABC affiliate, broadcast the event live on the air, but did not show the moment of the detonation due to a technical problem. Please consult your doctor before taking any action. How old was Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong when she died? 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. Tovbbi informcirt s a belltsi lehetsgek kezelshez kattintson a Belltsok kezelse gombra. The Bizarre Real-Life Story of the Pizza Guy Who Robbed a Bank with a Bomb Around His Neck. [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. Known as the collar bomb case or pizza bomber case, the incident gained extensive media coverage, including the 2018 Netflix series Evil Genius. New Details About The Man In 'Evil Genius' On Netflix. William Rothstein and Floyd Stockton were also found to have conspired in the crime, but Rothstein died before being charged and Stockton was granted immunity in exchange for testifying against Diehl-Armstrong. They let an innocent man, my brother, die while in their custody and they didn't even lift a finger to help him. When Jessica Hoopsick, a hooker and intimate friend of Wells, was interviewed for Evil Genius, she told Trey Borzillieri, co-producer of the series, she was approached to find a gopher who could be scared into robbing a bank. Stockton, 70, is believed to be living in Washington state. The FBI did not return requests for comment, and the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania declined to discuss the documentarys findings. And he was the first person to find out she had passed away. Would someone who was aware of the heist act in this manner? Diehl-Armstrong died of breast cancer at 68 on April 4, 2017, while serving her sentence at the Federal Medical Center Carswell, a women's prison near Fort Worth, Texas. He had no parts in the planning. [16][5] Rothstein was the putative creator of the collar bomb. Authorities brought her to Westmoreland County on Friday. Magazines, Digital Lightner said Hoopsick gave a statement to police and would have been subpoenaed to testify if Thomas took her case to trial. The owner could not understand the customer and passed the phone to Wells, who received a call to deliver two pizzas to 8631 Peach Street, an address a few miles from the pizzeria. [46], In July 2007, U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan announced Diehl-Armstrong and Barnes had been charged with the crime, with Diehl-Armstrong as the mastermind. She was serving a life sentence plus 30 years for the bank robbery plot. The deceased Rothstein and Wells were named as un-indicted co-conspirators. Erie police charged that Thomas killed Butler during an attack at the couple's apartment at 1019 East Ave. Thomas told investigators that she cut Butler in the hand with a folding knife and struck him in the head with a table leg during a struggle. 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