CONTENT WARNING:
This episode discusses graphic violence, including the collar bomb explosion, video footage of Brian Wells’ death, and post-mortem handling of his body. Listener discretion is advised.

In this episode of Here’s Our Alibi, Stephanie and Ben dive into one of the most shocking and bizarre crimes in American true-crime history: the Pizza Bomber Heist, chronicled in Netflix’s documentary Evil Genius.

We break down the 2003 collar-bomb robbery involving Brian Wells, a quiet pizza delivery driver forced into a deadly scavenger-hunt-style plot that still sparks debate today. We explore the twisted dynamics between Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong and Bill Rothstein, the manipulative relationship at the center of the case, and the tangled circle of unstable individuals who helped orchestrate this chaotic crime.

We also discuss the disturbing police footage of the bomb detonation, the controversial handling of Brian Wells’ body, the conditions that made him vulnerable to manipulation, and Jessica Hoopsick’s emotional confession about unknowingly giving up Brian’s name as a “patsy.”

This case is back in the spotlight as Courteney Cox directs the upcoming theatrical adaptation of the Evil Genius story, starring David Harbour as Bill Rothstein. With renewed interest around the film’s production, we revisit the case to explore unanswered questions, psychological themes, and the messy, tragic reality behind the collar-bomb plot.

If you’re fascinated by true crime, psychological manipulation, or bizarre real-life cases, this is one you won’t forget.

Topics we cover:

• The collar bomb, the scavenger hunt clues & the final moments of Brian Wells

• The Marjorie + Rothstein power dynamic

• Hoarding, mental illness, narcissism & manipulation

• The freezer body of James Roden

• Jessica Hoopsick’s confession & Brian Wells’ vulnerability

• Why this group of unstable people was able to “function” together

• The upcoming Courteney Cox film adaptation & its impact on renewed public interest

Follow along as we unpack the case that started Stephanie & Ben’s true-crime obsession.