Podcast Summary: Stuff You Should Know – Episode: The Collar Bomb Heist

Release Date: February 15, 2025
Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts
Description: If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Niño, true crime, and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

Introduction to the True Crime Series

[00:57] Chuck Bryant:
"This one's from May 2018 and boy, oh boy, this is a good one. I forgot all about this. And this is part of our true crime series."

Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant introduce the episode as part of their ongoing true crime series, highlighting their renewed focus on delving into complex criminal cases.

Overview of the Collar Bomb Heist

[03:04] Josh Clark:
"So let's start with the pizza."

The hosts begin by recounting the events of August 28, 2003, in Erie, Pennsylvania. Brian Wells, a 46-year-old pizza delivery driver from Mamma Mia's Pizzeria, received a delivery order that altered his fate.

[03:55] Chuck Bryant:
"At about 2pm on August 28, 2003, a pizza delivery guy named Brian Wells...he looked a lot different than he did when he left the pizza parlor about 28 minutes earlier."

Brian Wells, while delivering pizzas, was coerced into a bank robbery under duress, wearing a homemade collar bomb designed to kill him if he did not comply.

The Heist and Immediate Aftermath

[05:25] Josh Clark:
"But in the teller at the bank's defense, could have been an artificial torso. And she probably didn't want to draw attention to it."

At the PNC Bank branch, Wells presented a note demanding $250,000 from the bank's safe within 15 minutes. Despite the seemingly generous timeframe for a bank robbery, the pressure mounted as Wells awaited the bank's response.

[07:19] Chuck Bryant:
"...he was sitting on the ground with this thing around his neck, kind of just waiting, seated on the pavement for about 25 minutes."

After the failed robbery attempt, Wells attempted to flee but was apprehended by Pennsylvania state troopers, still strapped with the collar bomb. [08:09] Chuck Bryant describes the scene where Wells pleads for help, asserting his lack of involvement in the heist and the threat of imminent death by the bomb.

The Complex Investigation

[11:04] Josh Clark:
"And it really looks a lot like a gun."

Investigators discovered that the bomb was a sophisticated homemade device with multiple timers and decoy wires, indicating meticulous planning. Additionally, handwritten notes found in Wells' car outlined a scavenger hunt intended to guide the participants—or possibly mislead the police.

[12:26] Chuck Bryant:
"...instructions basically on what this guy should do, which further kind of cemented like, hey, this guy's probably telling the truth."

The scavenger hunt added layers of complexity to the case, leading authorities on a wild goose chase that ultimately stalled their progress.

Breakthroughs and the Role of Marjorie Diehl Armstrong

[21:08] Josh Clark:
"So there's a couple of things going on here by then... There’s no leads."

Months into the investigation, a crucial breakthrough occurred when Bill Rothstein, a handyman living near Wells' pizza place, confessed to assisting in covering up a murder linked to Marjorie Diehl Armstrong, a known criminal with a history of violent offenses.

[24:47] Chuck Bryant:
"...she was this very, very bright woman who... had been indicted for killing one of her boyfriends."

Armstrong's involvement brought new dimensions to the case, intertwining her past criminal actions with the Collar Bomb Heist, suggesting a broader criminal network.

The Trial and Conflicting Testimonies

[36:08] Josh Clark:
"Bill Rothstein is dead."

As investigations deepened, Armstrong faced trial for her role in orchestrating the heist. Testimonies from key figures like Kenneth Barnes contradicted her claims of innocence, painting a picture of a meticulously planned criminal enterprise aimed at securing large sums of money through coercion and deception.

[40:22] Chuck Bryant:
"...she agreed to a tour around Erie showing them all these places where she had been, and these were all places that were related to the crime."

During the trial, Armstrong provided detailed accounts of the heist, yet maintained her stance of not directly orchestrating the events, leading to a complex legal battle over her true role.

Conviction and Aftermath

[43:56] Josh Clark:
"...everybody's dead now."

Ultimately, Armstrong was convicted of armed bank robbery, conspiracy, and use of a destructive device in a crime of violence after an 11-hour jury deliberation. Her conviction brought some closure to the perplexing case, though debates linger regarding the true mastermind behind the heist.

[44:12] Josh Clark:
"That’s a big one. I'll bet. I'll bet that carries a hefty sentence with it."

Armstrong received a significant prison sentence, aligning with the gravity of her convictions.

Unresolved Questions and Legacy

[44:48] Josh Clark:
"...everything's dead now."

Despite the convictions, lingering questions remain about the full extent of the conspiracy and whether other individuals like Floyd Stockton were involved, raising doubts about the completeness of the investigation.

[45:54] Chuck Bryant:
"...people involved... they got this all wrong."

Retired FBI investigator Jim Fisher has expressed doubts about the official narrative, suggesting that Rothstein might have been the true orchestrator, adding intrigue and mystery to an already convoluted case.

Conclusion

The Collar Bomb Heist remains one of the most baffling true crime cases, blending elements of coercion, deception, and high-stakes criminal planning. While convictions have been made, the true depth of the conspiracy and the roles of various participants continue to fuel debates and investigations, ensuring the case's lasting legacy in the annals of true crime history.

Notable Quotes

• [02:19] Josh Clark:
  "True crime can be extraordinarily interesting. Especially when you're talking about an extraordinarily over complicated heist that results in a man's bizarre death."

• [07:04] Chuck Bryant:
  "Because why not?"

• [25:10] Josh Clark:
  "There's something very, very odd on Bill Rothstein's suicide note."

• [39:21] Josh Clark:
  "She's put on quite a performance on the stand over, like, two days... she stuck with her story, though, that she had nothing to do with this."

Further Reading and Resources

For listeners interested in delving deeper into the Collar Bomb Heist, the hosts recommend the comprehensive article by Rich Shapiro published in Wired magazine, which provides an in-depth exploration of the case's complexities and unresolved mysteries.

This summary captures the essence of "The Collar Bomb Heist" episode from the Stuff You Should Know podcast, focusing on the true crime narrative while omitting advertisements and non-content segments.