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. Apparently Jessica Hoopsick is currently getting arrested. 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. He is retired from the ATF and is an instructor at Gannon, where he works with Clark in the criminal justice program. "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.". two boyfriends [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. Before we go any further, we have to make sure: You've seen "Making a Murderer," right? bidvest car rental or tambo contact number; dogs naturally magazine university login; Menu In the final minutes of Evil Genius, a four-part docuseries that examines what it calls Americas most diabolical bank heist, a woman who knew Brian Wells the pizza delivery driver who died in 2003 after robbing a bank in Erie, Pa. while a bomb was fastened around his neck admits to setting Wells up in exchange for money and drugs from the conspirators. [58], As the case continued to develop, the investigation garnered national media coverage in America. Please consult your doctor before taking any action. 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. [65], The 2011 American comedy film 30 Minutes or Less depicts a pizza delivery man being forced to wear a bomb vest and rob a bank, with the mastermind seeking the money to hire a hitman to kill his father and receive his inheritance. They had long suspected her involvement but didnt have enough evidence to build a case against her. Ummm how would the public know already what the arrest is for ? 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. The creators of Evil Genius say they hope their documentary helps bring some closure to Wells family and ramp up enough public interest in the case to gain access to sealed grand jury documents that provide more answers on the collar bomb case. 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.. In 2003, Brian Wells robbed a bank with a bomb collar around his neck, but who was the mastermind behind the notorious crime? Hoopsick, in the documentary, claimed that Wells was innocent and had no involvement in planning the bank robbery that led to his death. The documentary is less clear, however, on Wells' involvement, although director Trey Borzillieri elicited a confession from Jessica Hoopstick a sex worker who frequently slept with Wells (and later had a baby that Wells likely fathered) who claimed that Wells had no idea when he delivered the pizza to Rothstein's property that a bomb would The fact that shes saying it, you got to wonder why.. [49], On February 24, 2009, Judge McLaughlin scheduled a hearing for March 11, 2010, to determine whether Diehl-Armstrong was now competent to stand trial. Her father's estate had once been valued about $1.8 million, but gifts to friends had lowered the value to less than $120,000 at his death in January 2014, at the age of 95. She is at the Westmoreland County Prison, unable to post bond of $10,000, according to court records. [12][6], Kenneth Barnes (1954 June 20, 2019) was a retired television repairman, crack dealer, and Diehl-Armstrong's "fishing buddy". Thomas also told police she placed her head on the couch so a portion of her body would be on Butler's head. Would someone who was aware of the heist act in this manner? 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. One would think this strange scenario would be an easy decision for a judge, but get ready to get angry. 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 introduced Wells to conspirators Barnes, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, Bill Rothstein and Floyd Stockton in exchange for cash payment. I requested two-hour service, and she stated the rate would be $250 for two hours, Swank reported. Lightner said Hoopsick gave a statement to police and would have been subpoenaed to testify if Thomas took her case to trial. Barnes, 64, who suffers from severe diabetes, is incarcerated at the Federal Medical Center at Butner, North Carolina, near Raleigh. You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. Evil Genius on Netflix has become our latest obsession. New Details About The Man In 'Evil Genius' On Netflix. She claimed she recommended Wells to Barnes for the heist in exchange for drug money, but expressed regret and said Wells had no prior knowledge of the robbery. This is the first-known emergency call for the incident. Warning: This article contains major spoilers for Evil Genius. [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. Stockton was convicted in the rape case but received immunity in the pizza bomber case. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong/Age at death. Her court-appointed lawyer, Mark Del Duca, of Pittsburgh, called the attack an "alcohol- and drug-fueled event. The defense noted that Wells only took $8,701 from the bank. Our website services, content and products are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. "Divorce Corp." (2014): As if the criminal justice system hasn't failed enough Americans, this documentary makes family law seem downright criminal. But Wick and Clark are not convinced Hoopsick is a credible enough witness. Police said Butler's body was found on the living room floor at the residence after Thomas called 911 and reported she had killed an individual. The January 2011 issue of Wired magazine covered the story. [21] Buchanan stated Wells had been involved in the plot from the beginning but that his co-conspirators fitted him with a real bomb that would have exploded even if it were removed. 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. Magazines, Digital However, the story does strike a resemblance to a bank robbery. He was going to die no matter what. The answer to this is, No, 30 Minutes Or Less is not based on a true story. [11] Investigators do not believe Rothstein ever attempted suicide. Barnes later pleaded guilty and testified against Diehl-Armstrong. Family and friends of Wells dispute his involvement in the bank robbery and his own death; according to them, Wells was accosted at gunpoint and forced to wear the bomb. 2023 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved. The sentence from Erie County Judge William R. Cunningham cut two to four years from the maximum possible sentence of 20 to 40 years in prison for third-degree murder, or an unpremeditated killing with malice. [5], The responding police officers did not attempt to disarm the device, instead focusing on clearing the immediate area of pedestrians and ensuring Wells could not detonate the device. 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. Upon entering the bank around 2:30p.m., Wells slid the note to a teller. The case remained a mystery until Diehl-Armstrong and her fishing buddy, Kenneth Barnes, were indicted in 2007 on charges they concocted the plot along with her ex-boyfriend, William Rothstein. "I have a lot of remorse for a lot of the stuff I did and a lot of shame and guilt," she. Brian Douglas Wells was 46-years-old and wasn't a bank robber. [35] According to witnesses at the bank and surveillance footage, after entering the bank, Wells waited in line. So, she admits that and that's still accurate. "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. Jessica has several children that have been adopted. [11] Diehl-Armstrong died from breast cancer in prison on April 4, 2017, at the age of 68. 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. [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. 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. 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. Jessica Hoopsick, one of Wells' favorite prostitutes, admitted to her involvement in the plot. 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. The documentary takes on the mental health system. She told me that she had just been in that recent four-part Netflix documentary, Evil Genius, Swank reported. 2023byTango Publishing Corporation All Rights Reserved. Who was the pizza guy with a bomb around his neck? [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. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. [54] In November 2012, the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed her conviction. The only defendant who went to trial in the case. "So, if you look at the scheme that way, that was her idea to get the money for that reason. 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 introduced Wells to conspirators Barnes, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, Bill Rothstein and Floyd Stockton in exchange for cash payment. Stockton, known as Jay, was wanted on charges that he raped a 19-year-old developmentally disabled woman in Washington in 2002. Menu. . Related: Evil Genius on Netflix explained all the HUGE questions we're left with. [62], Due to its novelty and complexity, the story retains a fascination for many people. Although he subsequently removed the video at WJET's request, by then it had been posted to numerous video-sharing websites. 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. [55][56] In December 2015, Diehl-Armstrong lost a second appeal of her conviction. 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