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

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

[weegee]

(CBS/AP) The FBI on Tuesday released photos of a metal collar found around the neck of a pizza deliveryman who robbed a bank and then was killed when a bomb strapped to his body exploded.

FBI Agent Bob Rudge said the bureau hopes that by releasing the photos of the collar and locking device, someone may come forward to help law enforcement solve the strange case.

A preliminary exam performed on the collar showed that it was likely not commercially manufactured, Rudge said Tuesday.

"We do not believe it has any legitimate industrial use," said Rudge. "Its most likely purpose was specifically for attaching the device to the neck of the individual that went into the PNC Bank.

Arrested Thursday after a bank robbery, Brian Douglas Wells told authorities someone had forced him to rob the bank. He told officers a bomb was attached to him, but he died when it exploded before the bomb squad could get there.

At a news conference Tuesday, Rudge showed photographs of the triple-banded metal collar he said was around Wells' neck and a lock that kept it in place. The bomb was attached to the collar, authorities said.

Police had surrounded Wells, 46, a short time after he robbed a PNC Bank branch outside Erie in northwestern Pennsylvania. 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.

When police stopped Wells, he told them about the bomb and asked why authorities weren't helping to get it off him. Police backed off and were waiting for the bomb squad when the bomb exploded. No one else was injured.

According to police and the FBI, Wells produced an "extensive" robbery note at the bank, which has been sent to handwriting experts. Rudge did not release any additional information about the note Tuesday.

I think there is a possibility of up to 80 percent that this individual is innocent," Professor Robert Heibel, a retired FBI agent, told CBS News Correspondent Mika Brzezinski.

Heibel said Wells likely was set up, a tactic more common to drug runners or terrorists than bank robbers.

"He was being threatened that if he didn't rob the bank, once they hung that device around his neck let's say, then he becomes their patsy," Heibel said. "There are a number of ways they could have convinced him that it is a live device and from there on he is really at their mercy."

Meanwhile, officials released information from an autopsy on one of Wells' co-workers, Robert Pinetti, 43, who was found dead Sunday at his home in nearby Lawrence Park Township. Authorities do not know if his death is connected with Wells' case.

Pinetti had a history of substance abuse and preliminary testing appeared to show methadone and "valium-type" drugs in his system, authorities said. There was no trauma, officials said.

[weegee]

There are more details in this report. Oddly, there was no photo of the collar.

Here is one from CNN's article (linked here:pizza man bomb-collar photo released

A lot of the background articles are linked there too.

[weegee]

PING

It's not a Tennessee Driver's License scandal article but it is about just as bizarre.

[Quilla]

I'd be calling all the machine shops in the area.

[weegee]

I went to the FBI site (linked at the bottom of one of today's articles, www.fbi.gov) but I didn't see the photos or full press conference.

[alisasny]

was the lock a key lock? Clearly if the guy was acting SOLO the key will turn up either in his car his house or where he left work. Anywhere that he had access to within that hour. He would have the key somewhere where he could get his " ruse" off.

I really can't believe this guy did this to himself.

This is one sick crime. Poor guy didnt stand a chance.

[lilylangtree]

Excuse my lack of sensitivity, but it reminds me of a metal toilet bowl seat.

[Tijeras_Slim]

A preliminary exam performed on the collar showed that it was likely not commercially manufactured

It was lacking the "Made in the Gaza Strip" label.

[Wolfie]

Police are looking for this man for questioning:

[cake_crumb]

Looks like a manacle. This case gets more and more bizarre.

[dead]

"There are a number of ways they could have convinced him that it is a live device

Like killing him with it.

[dead]

Could that still mean they started from a handcuff?

That would only work if the guy was a pencil-necked geek.

[LibWhacker]

Doesn't look like wirecutters would've helped him much. Can't figure out how his coworker's death ties in, but chances are, it does.

[weegee]

One thing's for sure, there are some openings at the restaurant.

[Sacajaweau]

Wonder if it was remotely denotated??...Which means the guy might be in one of the background shots of the explosion. Always liked "stupid criminal" endings.

[weegee]

Someone mentioned that in the original set of articles, that it had been done in Columbia.

[JLS]

The more I think about this case the odder everything seems:

1. Why didn't the police find out how he was supposed to get out of the bomb?

2. Surely if he was forced there was to be a transfer of the money to the other party?

3. Surely if he was not forced, he would have been willing to tell them where he had the key. Heck if he built the thing, why didn't free himself?

Instead they hid behind patrol cars???????

[Ole Okie]

That would only work if the guy was a pencil-necked geek.

Designed for Andy Gump?

Anybody out there remember Andy Gump?

[lelio]

Also check which way you insert the key. If its on top (that is, you can look down and see the keyhole) then it can be taken off by either the wearer or a person that puts it on him.

If, however, the keyhole is only on the bottom side that probably means me put it on as it wouldn't be that easy to take off by another person. Unless, of course, that person wasn't planning on taking it off.