The Pizza Bomber Conspiracy

Mon Jan 05 2026

On the afternoon of August 23, 2003, Erie, Pennsylvania pizza delivery driver Brian Wells walked into the local branch of the PNC Bank and handed the teller a note warning that he had a bomb and they had fifteen minutes to hand over $250,000 or it would detonate. Unable to access the vault, the teller gave Wells all the cash on hand and he left as the employees triggered the emergency protocol.

Transcript

Sponsor/Ad Voice (0:00)

Discover heirloom quality at Paragould, the destination for luxury home. From furniture to decor, our pieces are meticulously made by design's best brands to be lived in and loved for a lifetime. Shop with us and enjoy extraordinary customer service and free, fast, full service delivery on most items in store and online at paragould. Com.

Sponsor/Ad Voice (0:21)

All right, guys, so check this out. Have you ever heard of Gold Belly? Okay, so it's this amazing site where you can order the most iconic, famous foods from restaurants all across the country, and they will ship it so straight to your door. That's right. These guys will ship you Philly cheesesteaks from Jim's or Pat's in Philly, Buffalo wings from the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, and even Kansas City's most legendary barbecue. So if you're looking to host an epic super bowl party, go to goabilly.com and get free shipping and 20% off your first order with promo code Gameday.

Sponsor/Ad Voice (0:50)

Need to restock inventory, cover seasonal dips, or manage payroll? On Deck's small business line of credit provides immediate access to funds up to $200,000 exactly when your business needs it. With flexible draw, transparent pricing, and full control over repayment, you can tackle unexpected expenses without missing a beat. Apply today@ondeck.com and funds could be available as soon as tomorrow. Depending on certain loan attributes, your business loan may be issued by Ondeck or Celtic. Bank on Deck does not lend in North Dakota. All loans and amount subject to lender approval.

Ash (1:21)

Hey, weirdos. I am Ash.

Alaina (1:23)

And I am Alaina.

Ash (1:25)

And this is morbid. I did that thing where I almost said I'm Elena. I don't know why that happens so frequently.

Alaina (1:42)

You just, you know, you feel it in your bones.

Ash (1:45)

Yeah, we're related.

Alaina (1:46)

I guess. We are.

Ash (1:47)

You know.

Alaina (1:48)

What's up, everybody? Hey.

Ash (1:50)

Elena's alive again. That's nice.

Alaina (1:51)

I am nice. I saw that. Most people also have contracted this viral plague that none of us can figure out what it is.

Summary

Morbid Podcast: The Pizza Bomber Conspiracy

Hosted by Ash Kelley & Alaina Urquhart
Original Release: January 5, 2026

Episode Overview

In this chilling and twist-filled episode, Ash and Alaina dive into the infamous “Pizza Bomber” or “Collar Bomb” case—the 2003 Erie, Pennsylvania bank robbery involving Brian Wells, a pizza delivery man forced (or recruited?) to rob a bank while wearing an explosive collar. The hosts unravel the bizarre web of deception, murder, and manipulation at the heart of the case, drawing on details from Netflix's Evil Genius documentary and their own research. As always, their true-crime storytelling is peppered with candid humor, friendship banter, and empathetic reflection.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Warm-Up Banter: Catch-ups and Vibes (01:21–12:05)

Health Updates: Ash and Alaina joke about recent illnesses and recovery, discussing home remedies, immune systems, and family life.
Exciting News: They announce upcoming appearances (Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen) and celebrate new beginnings with SiriusXM Podcasts+.
Setting the Tone: Lighthearted, vibey chatting gives way to previewing the episode's dark story.
Memorable quote:

"You know what's not the best is that bad things happen in life and we talk about them. But the good thing is that we can talk about them together."
—Ash (12:20)

Introduction to the Pizza Bomber Case (12:27–14:13)

Episode Focus: Ash introduces the case, noting its coverage in the Evil Genius documentary.
Context: Reminds listeners of the infamous image of Brian Wells with a collar bomb (Netflix doc image trauma is real for both hosts).

The Crime Unfolds: Brian Wells and the Collar Bomb (14:13–23:31)

The Robbery (14:13–17:06)

Timeline: August 23, 2003, 2:30pm—Brian Wells, pizza delivery man, enters PNC Bank with a suspicious cane and a device locked around his neck.
Demand Note: Hands teller a note demanding $250,000, threatening detonation within 15 minutes.
- Quote:
  
  “Gather employees with access codes to vault and work fast to fill bag with 250,000. Damn. You have only 15 minutes.”
  —Ash, quoting the note (14:38)
Heist Outcome: Due to vault time locks, he only leaves with $8,702, takes a lollipop, and exits.
Host Reaction:

“The fact that he took a lollipop just really sends me.”
—Alaina (16:17)

Police Encounter & Tragedy (16:44–19:42)

Apprehension: Caught by police outside his car. Pleads with officers, claiming he’s a victim.
- He tells a story (likely fabricated) of being forced by “a group of young Black men” to wear the bomb.
Bomb Detonates: As the bomb squad is delayed, the device beeps and explodes, killing Wells. The horrifying event is caught on camera—an indelible trauma for all involved.

Investigation Begins (19:47–23:31)

Who Was Brian Wells?
- Coworkers and friends describe him as simple, gentle, and lacking technical skills. Seems an unlikely mastermind.
Device Complexity: Bomb collar and cane-gun are ingeniously made with decoy parts—“advance” work beyond Wells’ abilities.
Scavenger Hunt: Bomb instructions and notes lay out a complex scavenger hunt for Wells, echoing "Saw"-like sadism.
- Quote:
  
  “There is only one way you can survive this and that is to cooperate completely. …Act now, think later, or you will die.”
  —Ash, reading the note (23:29)

The Conspiracy Web: Investigation Deepens (26:49–43:21)

Early Suspicions & New Players (26:49–33:01)

Pizza Delivery Setup: Wells was sent to a suspicious vacant lot for his last delivery—site of possible abduction.
The “Guess” Shirt: Wells was found wearing a t-shirt (with “Guess” logo) that didn’t belong to him; hosts speculate it may have been a sick “in-joke” from the plotters.
Scavenger Hunt Fail: Clues hidden at McDonald's and a remote wooded area—trail goes cold, theory emerges plotters abandoned the game when Wells is arrested.

Bill Rothstein Enters the Scene (33:01–38:10)

Reporter’s Encounter: Rothstein, local handyman, gives press a casual tour near the crime scene, appearing unfazed.
Chilling 911 Call: A month later, Rothstein calls police to report a frozen body (James Roden) in a freezer at his own house, insisting he didn't kill Roden but helped cover up the crime for his ex-girlfriend Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong.

Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong’s Deadly History (38:49–46:45)

Pattern of Violence: Marjorie, intelligent but severely mentally ill, is linked to multiple suspicious deaths of lovers/husbands over decades.
Mental Health and Hoarding: Famously found with 400lb butter & 700lb cheese rotting in her home—a sign of deep instability.

Unraveling Motives and Connections (47:35–66:33)

Linking Roden’s Murder and the Collar Bomb (47:35–50:53)

Rothstein’s Suicide Note Oddity: Insists Roden’s body is “not related to the Wells case”—arousing police suspicion.
Marjorie Talks (for a price): While in prison, Marjorie agrees to spill if she can transfer facilities.

The Web of Accomplices (50:53–56:09)

Marjorie’s First Reveal: Claims Wells was in on the plan, and Rothstein masterminded it.
Floyd Stockton: Another friend with a sordid past corroborates involvement.
Kenneth Barnes: Crack dealer and ex-repairman arrested and flips, telling police that Marjorie orchestrated everything to fund a hit on her own father (for inheritance).

What Was Brian Wells’ Role? (56:09–65:27)

Was He a Willing Participant?:
- Stories vary:
  - Barnes claims Wells agreed to rob the bank thinking the bomb was fake, due to money troubles from a drug debt.
  - Barnes also alleges when Wells realized the bomb was real, he tried to flee but was forced at gunpoint.
Hosts’ Analysis: They voice skepticism; nothing in Wells’ history matches “willing accomplice” and note how “desperation” might have overruled agency.

Aftermath and Legal Resolution (65:27–68:14)

Trial of Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong:
- Her trial is a spectacle, with her outbursts, refusal to cooperate, and endless self-sabotage.
- Ultimately found guilty of armed bank robbery, conspiracy, and use of a destructive device in a crime of violence; given a life sentence plus 30 years.
Death & Odd Claims: Marjorie dies of cancer in prison (2017). Stranger still, a man later claims to be her “common law husband” and sues for her remains while denying her death.
Kenneth Barnes: Sentence halved in exchange for testimony, set to be released in 2027.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the Surreality of the Case:

“The brutality and utter lack of respect for life displayed by the indicted is rarely seen outside of a movie screen.”
—Lead ATF Agent Mark Potter (59:30, paraphrased by Ash)
On Wells’ Role:

“Nothing about that feels like a willing participant, no matter what the situation was.”
—Alaina (68:32)
On Marjorie’s Behavior:

“[She] ridiculed her own lawyer. She belittled the prosecutor. She cried, she yelled... The judge actually reprimanded her more than 50 times with, like, no effect.”
—Ash, citing journalist coverage (66:00)
On the Darkness of the Case:

“At the end of the day, I believe that no matter what the real story is, because I don't think we ever got the real story of Brian Wells involvement. He's a victim.”
—Ash (68:14)
Comic Relief – Giraffe Fact:

“The male giraffe will continuously headbutt the female in the bladder until she urinates… He tastes the urine to determine if the female is ovulating, and if so, the merriment begins.”
—Ash (70:07)

Important Timestamps

01:21–12:05: Intro, small talk, upcoming appearances, SiriusXM move
12:27–14:13: Case background, setting up the Pizza Bomber story
14:13–19:42: Bank heist, Brian Wells’ capture and death
22:33–23:31: Discovery of the scavenger hunt and bomb complexity
33:01–38:10: Enter Bill Rothstein, discovery of frozen body
38:49–46:45: Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong’s background, mental illness, hoarding
50:53–65:27: Informant testimonies, unraveling the wider conspiracy
65:27–68:14: Marjorie’s trial, conviction, aftermath
70:07–71:14: Bizarre animal fact and light-hearted closeout

Podcasters' Tone & Language

Ash and Alaina balance a casual, humorous, and empathetic tone, often breaking tension with quips, pop culture references, frank expressions of horror, and support for victims. They challenge the narrative that Brian Wells was a “perpetrator,” question official accounts, and express consistent compassion for the victims and outrage at the plotters’ coldness and bizarre behavior.

For New Listeners

The episode is an accessible, deeply researched yet conversational exploration, perfect for those new to the case or to Morbid.
Hosts’ banter keeps the story digestible without trivializing the gravity of the crimes.
Key facts and the winding nature of the case are easy to follow—thanks to Ash and Alaina’s clear explanations and periodic recaps.

Final Thoughts

The Pizza Bomber case is among the strangest and darkest in US true crime history, involving a cast of manipulative, unwell, and dangerous individuals.
Despite multiple confessions and conspiracy revelations, the full, unvarnished truth of Brian Wells’ involvement—a victim, a dupe, or a pawn—remains elusive, and the episode leaves listeners pondering the nature of evil, desperation, and manipulation.
Morbid provides a balanced blend of detail, empathy, and levity throughout a story that could easily be overwhelming.