Bomb death bizarre case

GoErie.com ^ | Aug 31, 2003

[restornu]

There is no question that the bank robbery and then the death of the robber, Brian Wells, 46, when the bomb he had strapped to his chest exploded is the most bizarre crime to happen in Erie at any time. Everything about the case is hard to fathom.

[restornu]

Co-Worker of Pa. Bank Robber Found Dead

Sunday, August 31, 2003 9:53 p.m. ET

ERIE, Pa. (AP) -- A friend and co-worker of a pizza deliveryman who robbed a bank then died when a bomb strapped to his body exploded was found dead at his home Sunday.

Police said there was no obvious connection between the two deaths. Still, authorities sent a bomb squad to search the home in Lawrence Park Township as a precaution, Erie state police Cpl. Mark Zaleski said.

"There was nothing overtly obvious as to the cause of his death," Zaleski said, "but because there's a relationship between the two individuals, we are over there."

Robert Pinetti, 43, worked with Brian Douglas Wells, 46, who died Thursday shortly after robbing a bank in Erie. Minutes before the bomb went off, Wells told officers who stopped him that he had been forced to rob the bank. No one else was injured in the explosion.

Wells had gone to deliver a pizza to a mysterious address in a remote area about an hour before he turned up at the bank with the bomb strapped to his body.

Police received a call early Sunday asking for medical assistance at the home where Pinetti lived with his parents, but the man refused medical assistance, Zaleski said.

A few hours later, authorities were called again after his parents found him unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at the home and an autopsy was scheduled, Zaleski said.

FBI Special Agent Bob Rudge said there was no reason to connect Pinetti's death to Wells' case.

There was no answer at the pizza shop where both men worked.

[restornu]

CTR

[TexRef]

This whole thing is eerie.

[SwinneySwitch]

Eerie, PA?

[SwinneySwitch]

Eerie, PA?

[TexRef]

Exactly :)

[Mr.Atos]

Police said there was no obvious connection between the two deaths.

No!??????

[restornu]

Co-Worker of Pa. Bank Robber Found Dead
Sun Aug 31, 6:39 PM ET Add U.S. National - AP to My Yahoo!


ERIE, Pa. - A friend and co-worker of a pizza deliveryman who robbed a bank then died when a bomb strapped to his body exploded was found dead at his home Sunday.

Police said there was no obvious connection between the two deaths. Still, authorities sent a bomb squad to search the home in Lawrence Park Township as a precaution, Erie state police Cpl. Mark Zaleski said.

"There was nothing overtly obvious as to the cause of his death," Zaleski said, "but because there's a relationship between the two individuals, we are over there."


The 43-year-old man, whose name was not released Sunday afternoon, worked with Brian Douglas Wells, 46, who died Thursday shortly after robbing a bank in Erie. Minutes before the bomb went off, Wells told officers who stopped him that he had been forced to rob the bank. No one else was injured in the explosion.


Wells had gone to deliver a pizza to a mysterious address in a remote area about an hour before he turned up at the bank with the bomb strapped to his body.


Police received a call early Sunday asking for medical assistance at the home where Wells' co-worker lived with his parents, but the man refused medical assistance, Zaleski said.


A few hours later, authorities were called again after his parents found him unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at the home and an autopsy was scheduled, Zaleski said.


FBI (news - web sites) Special Agent Bob Rudge said there was no reason to connect the man's death to Wells' case.


There was no answer at the pizza shop where both men worked.

[restornu]

Does this not bother you how this story is written?

The start should not have been about his co-worker as a lead for that should have been a foot note!

The Big part of this story is the Blazare way these events unfolden and ended!

Who contacted this man maybe a militant muslem?

To lead with co-worker is to take the focus off of other conclusions that could be going on!


A new kind of terrorism?

[restornu]

Police said there was no obvious connection between the two deaths.

No!??????

***

"There was nothing overtly obvious as to the cause of his death," Zaleski said, "but because there's a relationship between the two individuals, we are over there."

Police received a call early Sunday asking for medical assistance at the home where Wells' co-worker lived with his parents, but the man refused medical assistance, Zaleski said.

A few hours later, authorities were called again after his parents found him unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at the home and an autopsy was scheduled, Zaleski said.

FBI (news - web sites) Special Agent Bob Rudge said there was no reason to connect the man's death to Wells' case.

There was no answer at the pizza shop where both men worked.

[Graybeard58]

"There was no answer at the pizza shop where both men worked".

Could it be that they closed the place out of respect for their two dead co workers?

[restornu]

"There was no answer at the pizza shop where both men worked".

Could it be that they closed the place out of respect for their two dead co workers?

***

Could be and also the death of two workers and part of a crime scene.

Can't be good for the owner he will most likely go somewhere else.

[ntnychik]

Bump!

[PennsylvaniaMom]

This whole story really, really bothers me. From local media coverage (not the wire) he (Wells) could not remove the bomb...he looked terrified, and then the explosion...why would someone steal money and then commit suicide (don't robbers plan on spending what they steal?) and why would he let the police know he had a bomb if he planned to blow himself up (it gave the cops a chance to take cover as the bomb squad was on its way)...too many inconsistancies for Wells to have done this to himself...that is what I heard discussed...people wondering how they can be sure that the actual perps are still out there (here in PA) someplace...very scary.

[stuck_in_new_orleans]

Why? The man could have died of a heart attack for all you know.

Try to chill

[stuck_in_new_orleans]

Does this not bother you how this story is written? The start should not have been about his co-worker as a lead for that should have been a foot note! The Big part of this story is the Blazare way these events unfolden and ended! Who contacted this man maybe a militant muslem? To lead with co-worker is to take the focus off of other conclusions that could be going on! A new kind of terrorism?

Uhhh, yeah...The Taliban are gonna blow us up one by one by putting bombs on pizza delivery drivers and sending them to unsuspecting people eagerly waiting for their food.

Schmuck

[irv]

A new kind of terrorism?

No. Terrorism goes for maximum carnage, not just sick drama. I wish I could remember what bad TV show this idea (put a bomb on somebody and force them to commit a crime) was stolen from. Or maybe it's been done several times.

If the guy was telling the truth and he really was forced, AND if the person doing the forcing wasn't the dead friend, it will happen again, in the same general area of the country. Probably to somebody those two guys knew.

[restornu]

Are you calling me a Schmuck?

If you are I don't have one!

[Justa]

I understand your point vis-a-vis Islamic terrorism. The venue of attack is certainly shocking. Even the Nazis didn't go after our pizza delivery men.