Pizza Bomber’s Sister Tells Dateline in Her First Interview: “He was Murdered”
Two-Hour Broadcast, Death Trap, Airs Friday, October 19 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, 8 p.m. CT
October 17, 2018 – Barbara White, sister of “pizza bomber” Brian Wells, sits down with Dateline NBC in an exclusive interview airing this Friday, claiming that Wells was a victim and “was murdered.” White further alleges that Erie, Pennsylvania residents Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, Bill Rothstein and Ken Barnes are to blame for Wells’ death after he attempted to rob a bank while saying he had a bomb locked around his neck. They were never charged with murder. During Friday’s special, White explains to NBC News’ Dennis Murphy: “It is murder. I don’t say the word killed. He didn’t pass away. He was murdered.” To watch the exchange, click here. The two-hour broadcast, Death Trap, airs Friday, October 19 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, 8 p.m. CT.
Murphy also speaks with retired FBI Special Agent Jerry Clark, who asserts Wells was involved in the plot but wasn’t aware that the bomb was real. Clark explains, “He died. He’s a victim. I feel like he is a victim. He really didn’t believe it was real. That’s why he’s cavalier in the bank.” To watch this second preview, click here.The transcript of both excerpts are below.
Death Trap will feature an in-depth and comprehensive look at the unusual and bizarre case, which Dateline has reported on for more than a decade. The broadcast also includes the first interview with jailhouse informant Kelly Makela, who testified Diehl-Armstrong set up the sting and knew the bomb was real.
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Interview Excerpts:
BARBARA WHITE: He was never in trouble with the law. The people that are involved in his murder, they have, they have a history. [Bill] Rothstein does. Marjorie Diehl. Ken Barnes. These people are criminals.
DENNIS MURPHY: If Brian is innocent, you have a murder case.
BARBARA WHITE: It is murder. I don’t say the word killed. He didn’t pass away. He was murdered.
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JERRY CLARK: He died. He’s a victim. I feel like he is a victim. He really didn’t believe it was real. That’s why he’s cavalier in the bank. That’s why he’s walking. That’s why he gets the lollipop. He doesn’t think it’s real. And as it got closer, he started to believe it could be and then certainly the beep, beep, beep, led to the explosion.
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Dateline NBC is the longest-running series in NBC primetime history. In its 27th season, Datelineis anchored by Lester Holt and features correspondents Andrea Canning, Josh Mankiewicz, Keith Morrison and Dennis Murphy. Airing Fridays at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, Dateline reaches more than 18 million people every week through its broadcast, and millions more through its social media platforms. David Corvo is the senior executive producer, and Liz Cole is the executive producer. Follow Dateline on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Media contacts
Dominique Cuce NBC News 212-664-6192 dominique.cuce@nbcuni.com
