Collar Key In Deliveryman Death (Erie pizza delivery bank robbery bomber)

CBS/AP ^ | 9-2-2003 | no byline

[CodeJockey]

The possible gun found on Wells isn't surprising.

I saw the detective on GMA this morning and he stated that he had a very unusual weapon on his person. When asked if it was a gun he stated is was kinda like a gun.

This just gets stranger by the minute.

[Cboldt]

Of course he was part of it. He had the collar on. Maybe he put it (the collar) on himself, and took his custom gun too.

Or, somebody else (made, and) put the collar on him, and gave him a custom gun in case the bank wasn't impressed with the collar.

My point -- the fact that he had it does not necessarily lead to the conclusion that he willingly had it.

[weegee]

Some people were mentioning cutting off the collar with a plasma torch. I tried to explain that would work on the collar but not on the wiring; if the wires could be safely cut, the bomb could be safely disarmed.

Have to wonder if all 4 locks were locked. Did the authorities pick all of the locks? Did they find the key? Did they cut his head off?

Little detail as to how the collar was eventually removed.

It is dangerous to approach a body that is dead because of a known collar-bomb. What if there had been a second device with a delayed timer?

[Sacajaweau]

No picture...No family coming forth...No friends

They're being a little too secretive for my peace of mind.

Show us the note, the gun, his picture!!!!!! And tell us how long this guy has been in this area.

[weegee]

A toy gun is like a gun. A soap carved gun is like a gun. Did he have a zip gun made from antenna parts?

Why do the police play 20 questions? Why not show a picture of the gun if they are going to talk about a second "unique" weapon?

[Vigilantcitizen]

"That's what the dead dude said but I haven't heard where they have confirmed that."

While is hasn't been confirmed, and I very well could be wrong, the perp says "This thing is ticking...".

This device was built as fool proof as possible. It had 4 locks. Whoever built it knows there are devices out there than can disable digital timers remotely. While I doubt the Erie bomb squad has one of those devices, there are departments that do.

[Sacajaweau]

What is the name of the guy who ran the Pizza joint? I haven't seen it. Wondering if he has one of those names that might make us perk up a bit!!

[weegee]

This article (linked in post 193) has some family info:

http://www.sanmateocountytimes.com/Stories/0,1413,87~11268~1607723,00.html

Rudge said investigators have questioned numerous co-workers and friends of the dead man. They have also interviewed family members, among them a sister who retrieved Wells' possessions on Thursday and a brother who Sadowski said once worked in the construction trade in Erie.

[Sacajaweau]

Thanks for the photo info!

[weegee]

What is the name of the guy who ran the Pizza joint? I haven't seen it. Wondering if he has one of those names that might make us perk up a bit!!

Like Tony Ditomo?

Mama Mia's owner, Tony Ditomo, said he could not talk about his friend

(Same article from 193)

[Cboldt]

I figure there are at least 20 reasons to play 20 questions.

Speculation is fun. Impatience for "the answer" is natural (I think).

Maybe the media promised this guy that his family would be rich, in exchange for a captivating story (I doubt it, but you can see how far speculation can go, if one considers news-story to be a motive).

I think he was a victim, not a perp. Based mostly on 1) my prejudice relating to the intelligence of pizza delivery people (good heart, weak mind) and 2) his demeanor.

[CodeJockey]

Some people were mentioning cutting off the collar with a plasma torch. I tried to explain that would work on the collar but not on the wiring; if the wires could be safely cut, the bomb could be safely disarmed.

I am no expert by any means, but could the wires be tapped into and a bypass loop configured so that when the device and wires were cut the circut would remain intact?

[Eva]

Ok, so Venezuelan drug dealers have used this method before, what do you think of this scenario. The guy owed a ton of money to the drug cartel and they put the collar on his neck and told him to get the money or he would die, as time ran out, he robs the bank, but they don't remove the collar from his neck?

[weegee]

I'm not slagging the talkback on FR, I'm saying that details are being withheld and it is like pulling teeth to get the authorities to reveal more details.

Is there information that would jeopardize the case? Is there information of importance to national security?

If the bank robber had not been apprehended, the footage would have been released already ("help us catch him").

Even the Tampa teen and John Lihnd Walker had non-crime photos released (there is always a yearbook photo and driver's license even if the family doesn't want to share)

[weegee]

Possibly. Some things to consider though are the introduction of a spark, resistance and voltage drop through the wire.

We all know about the bomb in the movies that will explode if the wires are cut but we are dealing real world. If the battery is severed from the detonator, what are the odds of the bomb exploding? How many bombs are really "tamper resistant"?

[Cboldt]

I'm saying that details are being withheld and it is like pulling teeth to get the authorities to reveal more details. Normal behavior on the part of public officials when their performance is in the limelight.

It's as much protection of ego as it is protection of the case. (I do the same thing in private life).

The goal of the media is to maximize revenue. Sometimes being stingy with details facilitates that objective.

[Devil_Anse]

I agree with mo, except for the part about it all fizzling away. I don't think so; the case is too unique.

As for your statement that the mob is more discreet, I think that's a good assessment. You mention that a lot of mob hits hang themselves. Well, what about the associate of this pizza deliveryman? He died a day or two after the bomb incident. Cause unknown, but there was methadone in his system. Aw, too bad, another life wasted by drug use... sound familiar?

It seems that in all the serious crime cases discussed on FR--whether murder or not--someone always pops up and says, "Drugs! Drugs are behind this!" Often, I don't agree. But this time, I really do think it is drugs.

And you can count out drugs if you want, but I still think the victim owed money to someone. It makes some sense: they tell him to rob the bank, so they'll get the money he owed, which he had probably told them he just didn't have. Then they proceed to kill him anyway, so he won't tell anyone anything about the bank robbery. They knew he'd probably be caught and prosecuted for the bank robbery, and at that point he'd tell all he knew about the people he'd owed money to.

While the mob is usually discreet, sometimes they want to get the word out to others they do business with, and make an example of someone. Plus, there is more than one "mob"--that is, there are different criminal organizations in various places. This may just be one of the less careful ones.

To return to the comment that this will all fizzle out, I think the public will want it solved, but I must admit it may fizzle out for real--not b/c the police might be hiding something, but b/c the people who did this might be really good at hiding and stonewalling leads. (Not discounting the possibility that some police there might indeed be part of the criminal organization.)

[Vigilantcitizen]

You may be right, but speculating is half the fun. :)

If this is a "drug hit", somebody went to a whole lot of trouble.

On the other hand, there is another thread discussing the "gun" Wells was found with. On that thread, there's an article with an FBI agent saying he had only seen these type of explosives in one other country...Columbia.

[Devil_Anse]

...an FBI agent saying he had only seen this type of explosives in one other country... Colombia....

WHOA!!!

Hey, where's that poster who knew that "bomba" was Spanish for fireman? Don't they speak Spanish in Colombia??

[Vigilantcitizen]

Be right back with article....