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American Morning

FBI Asks Public for Help to Solve Erie Bombing

Aired September 03, 2003 - 09:23   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: The FBI authorities in Pennsylvania, asking for the public's help as they investigate that strange death of a pizza delivery man.
They've released two photos of the metal collar that was used to secure a bomb to the neck of 43-year-old Brian Wells. Wells was arrested for a bank robbery, telling police at the time he was forced to commit that crime. Moments later a bomb exploded, killing him.

Earlier today, her on AMERICAN MORNING, I talked with the lead investigator for the FBI, Ken McCabe, asking him about this report today in "USA Today," saying that Wells had a gun on him when he died. His response?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KEN MCCABE, FBI SPECIAL AGENT: We're not going to say that it was a gun. He had another weapon, and we may release later in the week what exactly the type of weapon it was. It was a little bit unique. And we may release that information for -- also for the public to see what he was carrying, and maybe that may help with this investigation.

HEMMER: That's a rather intriguing answer. Are you saying it was not a gun?

MCCABE: It's not what people traditionally think of as a gun.

HEMMER: Tell us where he was -- holding it? Where was he carrying it on his body?

MCCABE: If I tell you that, you'll be able to quickly identify what kind of weapon this was.

HEMMER: I'm going to put up on the screen for our viewers the two photos you released yesterday. This metal locking metal device and a metal box that was attached to his back. Have you seen these devices before?

MCCABE: The bomb itself is something that you can get instructions off the Internet to make. The collar is what makes this whole device unique.

And, no. I have -- I am familiar with a necktie type of bomb device that was used in Colombia a number of years ago that resulted in the death of not only the victim that was wearing it but the two bomb technicians that were trying to render it safe. But this is unique, and that's why we released that photo. We need the help of the public and we have been receiving help as a result of releasing that picture.

HEMMER: You mentioned something there in South America, in Colombia. Is that only place you've seen something like this before?

MCCABE: Yes, that I'm aware of, yes.

HEMMER: What would that tell you?

MCCABE: It tells me the individual, or the individuals that may be associated with this, are pretty skilled and independent thinking.

HEMMER: Was the collar homemade? Go ahead.

MCCABE: Yes. It is not commercially made, and that's why we released it. Is we're hoping that somebody either saw somebody make this in an industrial shop or in their home shop.

HEMMER: There were two notes found on Brian Wells when he went into that bank. One apparently had instructions for him and the other one was for the bank itself, perhaps the teller. Were those notes written by Brian Wells?

MCCABE: We're still trying to determine that. Those notes have been sent back to our FBI laboratory, which is the world's finest laboratory, and they're analyzing it.

It's not like "C.S.I." In fact, they're better. Where -- when the notes go there, we do a number of different tests, and there's a lead examiner that is assigned to the evidence. And then they farm that evidence out to the different units back at the lab, where for DNA evidence, fingerprint, handwriting analysis, trace hairs, fibers. And the behavior science also get it to do an analysis of the handwriting, to come up with a profile of the writer.

HEMMER: Only have a few seconds left here. Are you saying it's still a consideration that he may have written those notes?

MCCABE: We have not eliminated that yet.

HEMMER: On Monday you told Soledad you had five working theories. Today how many are you down to?

MCCABE: Well, we have three main theories. He did it alone. He was forced into it, or he is a willing co-conspirator. And within each of those theories we have investigative teams assigned to investigate different avenues that are being developed by the facts and evidence.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: Ken McCabe from the FBI earlier today here on AMERICAN MORNING.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired September 3, 2003 - 09:23   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: The FBI authorities in Pennsylvania, asking for the public's help as they investigate that strange death of a pizza delivery man.
They've released two photos of the metal collar that was used to secure a bomb to the neck of 43-year-old Brian Wells. Wells was arrested for a bank robbery, telling police at the time he was forced to commit that crime. Moments later a bomb exploded, killing him.

Earlier today, her on AMERICAN MORNING, I talked with the lead investigator for the FBI, Ken McCabe, asking him about this report today in "USA Today," saying that Wells had a gun on him when he died. His response?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KEN MCCABE, FBI SPECIAL AGENT: We're not going to say that it was a gun. He had another weapon, and we may release later in the week what exactly the type of weapon it was. It was a little bit unique. And we may release that information for -- also for the public to see what he was carrying, and maybe that may help with this investigation.

HEMMER: That's a rather intriguing answer. Are you saying it was not a gun?

MCCABE: It's not what people traditionally think of as a gun.

HEMMER: Tell us where he was -- holding it? Where was he carrying it on his body?

MCCABE: If I tell you that, you'll be able to quickly identify what kind of weapon this was.

HEMMER: I'm going to put up on the screen for our viewers the two photos you released yesterday. This metal locking metal device and a metal box that was attached to his back. Have you seen these devices before?

MCCABE: The bomb itself is something that you can get instructions off the Internet to make. The collar is what makes this whole device unique.

And, no. I have -- I am familiar with a necktie type of bomb device that was used in Colombia a number of years ago that resulted in the death of not only the victim that was wearing it but the two bomb technicians that were trying to render it safe. But this is unique, and that's why we released that photo. We need the help of the public and we have been receiving help as a result of releasing that picture.

HEMMER: You mentioned something there in South America, in Colombia. Is that only place you've seen something like this before?

MCCABE: Yes, that I'm aware of, yes.

HEMMER: What would that tell you?

MCCABE: It tells me the individual, or the individuals that may be associated with this, are pretty skilled and independent thinking.

HEMMER: Was the collar homemade? Go ahead.

MCCABE: Yes. It is not commercially made, and that's why we released it. Is we're hoping that somebody either saw somebody make this in an industrial shop or in their home shop.

HEMMER: There were two notes found on Brian Wells when he went into that bank. One apparently had instructions for him and the other one was for the bank itself, perhaps the teller. Were those notes written by Brian Wells?

MCCABE: We're still trying to determine that. Those notes have been sent back to our FBI laboratory, which is the world's finest laboratory, and they're analyzing it.

It's not like "C.S.I." In fact, they're better. Where -- when the notes go there, we do a number of different tests, and there's a lead examiner that is assigned to the evidence. And then they farm that evidence out to the different units back at the lab, where for DNA evidence, fingerprint, handwriting analysis, trace hairs, fibers. And the behavior science also get it to do an analysis of the handwriting, to come up with a profile of the writer.

HEMMER: Only have a few seconds left here. Are you saying it's still a consideration that he may have written those notes?

MCCABE: We have not eliminated that yet.

HEMMER: On Monday you told Soledad you had five working theories. Today how many are you down to?

MCCABE: Well, we have three main theories. He did it alone. He was forced into it, or he is a willing co-conspirator. And within each of those theories we have investigative teams assigned to investigate different avenues that are being developed by the facts and evidence.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: Ken McCabe from the FBI earlier today here on AMERICAN MORNING.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com