Jul 11, 2007 11:50 pm US/Eastern
Feds: Pizza Deliveryman In On Collar-Bomb Robbery
ERIE (KDKA) ―
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Brian Wells was killed by a collar bomb.
At first, he seemed like a victim but now the feds say a pizza delivery man forced to carry out a bank robbery with a bomb strapped around his neck was actually in on it.
Prosecutors now say that Wells participated in the planning of the robbery but at some point later on he apparently changed his mind.
"We do know unfortunately that Brian participated in a limited role in the planning and carrying out of this robbery," said U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan.
Prosecutors say Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong masterminded the plan.
They also say she wanted money to pay Kenneth Barnes to kill her father and that they came up with notes to make Wells look like a hostage.
But the feds also say that Wells wanted to back out.
"We do believe that in the course of this robbery, that he did express a strong willingness not to participate and this bomb was forceably put around his neck," said Buchanan.
With the bomb strapped to him and carrying a gun inside a cane, Wells carried out the robbery.
The feds say Diehl-Armstrong and Barnes watched from across the street but then drove away when police caught Wells.
The bomb went off with a timer -- killing Wells instantly.
"Greed was their inspiration," said Mark Potter of the ATF. "Death was just another by product of an evil scheme."
Diehl-Armstrong was already in prison for killing her boyfriend James Roden.
His body was found in a freezer.
The motive was allegedly to keep him quiet about the robbery.
As for Wells, "Unfortunately he did chose to go forward with this robbery after this bomb was affixed to his neck," said Buchanan. "There were opportunities when he could have let people know what was happening and that is why he's both a participant and a victim."
Prosecutors say they may never know all the details.
Both Diehl-Armstrong and Barnes have been indicted and could face life in prison.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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