Pennsylvania bank robber dies in Texas medical center

Publish date: 2024-06-24
Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, pictured in January 2004, died Tuesday at a Federal Medical Center in Texas. She was 68

Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, pictured in January 2004, died Tuesday at a Federal Medical Center in Texas. She was 68

A woman convicted in an infamous 2003 Pennsylvania bank robbery plot has died in prison.

The failed robbery in Erie, Pennsylvania left a man dead when a bomb strapped to his neck by a metal collar exploded.

Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, 68, died Tuesday at the Federal Medical Center in Carswell, Texas, the Federal Bureau of Prisons said. 

An office spokeswoman said she did not know the cause of the inmate's death.

Diehl-Armstrong was serving a life sentence plus 30 years for her role in the bank robbery plot.

She was found guilty in 2010 of armed bank robbery, conspiracy and using a destructive device in a crime of violence for bank robbery.

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This photo shows the aftermath of a failed heist in which Diehl-Armstrong was implicated and for which she had been serving a life sentence plus 30 years. The plot ended with the death of Brian Wells, pictured on the ground

This photo shows the aftermath of a failed heist in which Diehl-Armstrong was implicated and for which she had been serving a life sentence plus 30 years. The plot ended with the death of Brian Wells, pictured on the ground

Wells, pictured, was 46 at the time of the August 2003 heist

Wells, pictured, was 46 at the time of the August 2003 heist

The plot ended in the death of 46-year-old Brian Wells when a bomb locked to his neck exploded following the robbery. 

Wells walked into a PNC bank in August 2003 with the collar bomb around his neck. 

Dressed as a pizza delivery man, he escaped with $8,702 but was stopped by police shortly after. 

They handcuffed him while they waited for a bomb squad to arrive, but before they got there, the bomb exploded, killing Wells.

The plot ended in the death of 46-year-old Brian Wells when a bomb locked to his neck exploded (seen shortly before the explosion)

The plot ended in the death of 46-year-old Brian Wells when a bomb locked to his neck exploded (seen shortly before the explosion)

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Prosecutors later revealed that they believed the crime had been plotted by five people.

They said that Wells was in on the plot at first but probably did not realize until the last moment that his life was in danger.

Police tracked down Wells and called in a bomb squad to deal with the bomb attached to his neck via metal collar (pictured). It detonated before help arrived, and Wells was killed

Police tracked down Wells and called in a bomb squad to deal with the bomb attached to his neck via metal collar (pictured). It detonated before help arrived, and Wells was killed

Diehl-Armstrong proclaimed her innocence in the matter but was convicted of armed bank robbery, conspiracy and using a destructive device in a crime of violence for bank robbery in 2010. She is pictured at a press conference in 2008

Diehl-Armstrong proclaimed her innocence in the matter but was convicted of armed bank robbery, conspiracy and using a destructive device in a crime of violence for bank robbery in 2010. She is pictured at a press conference in 2008

It was determined that Diehl-Armstrong and three other men - one of whom had died of cancer before trial, another had been killed by Diehl-Armstrong and a third pleaded guilty and testified against her - were involved.

Defense attorney Douglas Sughrue argued that Diehl-Armstrong's mental disorders and a hostile relationship with at least one of the plotters made it unlikely she participated, while Diehl-Armstrong herself said she believed she had been framed.

William Rothstein was a handyman and substitute science teacher who prosecutors say constructed the bomb collar using two egg timers supplied by Diehl-Armstrong. He has since died of cancer.

Kenneth Barnes, 57, pleaded guilty and is serving 45 years in prison. He testified that Diehl-Armstrong planned the heist because she wanted to use the money to pay Barnes to kill her father.

Diehl-Armstrong had already been serving seven to 20 years after pleading guilty to killing her live-in boyfriend James Roden, 45. She had said she killed him because he was abusive.

U.S. Attorney Marshall Piccinini contended that Diehl-Armstrong killed Roden more than two weeks before the robbery because he was in on the plot and threatened to reveal it.  

Kenneth Barnes is led to an FBI office in July 2007 William Rothstein speaks outside Diehl-Armstrong's house in Erie, Pennsylvania in September 2003

Kenneth Barnes (left) and William Rothstein (right) were also implicated in the bank robbery. Barnes, who pleaded guilty and is serving 45 years in prison, testified against Diehl-Armstrong. Rothstein, who was accused of constructing the bomb collar, died of cancer

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