pizza man bomb-collar photo released

cnn ^

[Puppage]

Same thing they used on Alias, and CSI Miami.

[weegee]

The FBI has gone online with this now:

ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, MURDER-BOMBING MYSTERY: INFORMATION SOUGHT

On August 28, pizza delivery man Brian Douglas Wells was allegedly locked into a bombing device by a stranger and ordered to rob a bank branch just outside Erie, Pennsylvania. When he was detained by state police following the robbery, the bomb exploded, killing him instantly.

Following a preliminary investigation of the case by a multi-agency law enforcement task force, many questions remain. Specifically, information is sought about any aspect of the triple-banded metal collar that was locked around Wells' neck and about the lock that kept it in place.

On behalf of the task force, the FBI requests the public to carefully scrutinize the pictured photographs of these objects. By clicking on the photos, they can be enlarged to see fine details. If you have any information at all about the devices, please immediately call the toll-free number 1-866-219-2008.

The same photos we have link are at http://www.fbi.gov

[JerseyHighlander]

Windows Media Player. I'm running WMD 9, I don't know if they (foxnews.com) support older versions of the player.

[weegee]

While they are the same pictures, they appear to be larger (but not necessarily higher resolution).

[Bon mots]

I did a google search on neck shackles and got all kinds of S&M stuff. Wonder if any S&M supply houses sell a neck shackle like that? The FBI could trace it easily enough... mailorder pervert builds a bomb...

[A Broken Glass Republican]

Yes, and ironically enough, Arnold stared in it. (They also had a perimeter you couldn't cross without it going off).

[OXENinFLA]

OMG I just realized IT'S STILL ATTACHED TO THE GUY!!!

[UCANSEE2]

One would need to know the backgrounds of the pizza guy and coworker to see if they had any experience in the fields necessary for creating and operating such a device. That his coworker died, possibly of an overdose, cries out for investigation.

[Constitution Day]

A bending brake to produce the 90 degree bends on the holding bracket. A MIG welder loaded with bronze wire to perform the welds which are of poor quality and not ground to finish quality. A mill was used to modify the clevis pin and to install that little pin. A metal shear had to also be used along with a portaband or permanant metal band saw. FWIW.....

Also note that the cutout around the "1-2-3-4" area looks to have been done by drilling out holes in the top 2 corners, then cutting up to said holes.
The cut between the two corners is also quite irregular.

[mommadooo3]

Compressed CO-2 cylinders are ALSO available for paintball guns.

[Barry Goldwater]

The color of the holder is light blue, which means it may have held a nitrous oxide tank. Probably a lock for a dentists office.

[Lazamataz]

Weegee, you should reprint this request and ping all the people who seem to have information.

[UCANSEE2]

Just on first hand observation, the bomb collar looks too 'complicated' for a couple of pizza delivery guys. That is without knowing anything about them. When police have had a little more time to investigate, we shall know if we have concerns about a bomber attacking and using innocent people to hunt down, or not.

[Vigilantcitizen]

"A bending brake to produce the 90 degree bends on the holding bracket. A MIG welder loaded with bronze wire to perform the welds which are of poor quality and not ground to finish quality. A mill was used to modify the clevis pin and to install that little pin. A metal shear had to also be used along with a portaband or permanant metal band saw. FWIW..."

Just to speculate, that device looks like something that was manufactured for another purpose, and then modified by the bomber. To me, it looks like something that would be on an automated assembly line.

If the bomber had totally fabricated it on his own, I don't think he woulld've went to the trouble of having it powdercoated.

What purpose would the flanged bracket serve on the back for a bomb collar?

[Lady Jag]

I think I have WM 7.x. Thanks, that might be the problem. I got no warning, though.

[Lazamataz]

Contact the FBI please. Weegee has published a number.

[blackdog]

The locking device has pan head screws, no countersinks, Navy grey paint, and crude forming methods. Lot's of brains, and spartan equipment in building.

[UCANSEE2]

Don't ya know? _Jim is a CIA agent.

[Dog Gone]

How was the pizza man so sure that the bomb was going to go off any minute? How was he even sure that it was a real bomb?

I still think it was an attempted murder-suicide. He wanted to take some cops with him.

We need the handwriting analysis of the note with the detailed instructions for the heist. If that's in his handwriting, or his mysteriously dead friend's handwriting, then I'd take that as confirmation.

But this sure is a weird one...

[GretchenEE]

This is a frightening, freaky story ... I saw the video on the news last night of the handcuffed delivery man asking for help ... I am really, really wanting the whole truth to be found out in this situation. It is easy to imagine copycats hard at work for God-knows-what reasons or agendas.