Victim of collar bomb a participant in robbery plot




WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Brian Wells, the Pennsylvania pizza deliveryman who died when a bomb attached to his neck detonated, was involved in the plot that took his life, federal agents said Wednesday.
Wells died August 28, 2003, in Erie, Pennsylvania, after he claimed gunmen had grabbed him, locked the bomb around his neck and ordered him to rob a bank.

After the robbery, he was detained, sat on the pavement and recounted the story to police.

A bomb squad was called, but the device exploded before the squad arrived.

In federal indictments released Wednesday, Wells is named as a co-conspirator in the robbery plot, along with two other people, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong and her friend, Kenneth E. Barnes. They are charged with bank robbery and conspiracy.

Diehl-Armstrong has been linked to the case for years. Investigators have said the body of her boyfriend was found in a freezer in a home close to where Wells made his final delivery.

Diehl-Armstrong is in prison after pleading guilty but mentally ill in the murder of her boyfriend. Barnes is described as a fishing buddy of Wells.

Earlier this week, Diehl-Armstrong's lawyer, public defender Thomas Patton, asked a judge to issue a gag order preventing a public news conference to announce the charges.

He argued extensive media coverage would be damaging to his client's case. The attorney's motion said "it is anticipated that an indictment will be forthcoming shortly." He said in his court motion his client had been questioned in connection with the case.

Neither Patton nor Diehl-Armstrong's personal attorney, Lawrence D'Ambrosio, returned calls for comment. D'Ambrosio said that Diehl-Armstrong is not guilty, according to The Associated Press.

D'Ambrosio said Diehl-Armstrong may have been acquainted with some of the people involved in the case but did not know Wells or plan his death, AP reported.