Image provided by the FBI

The FBI yesterday released the partial text of handwritten notes that were found in a car belonging to an Erie pizza deliveryman-turned-bank robber who was killed in August when a bomb clamped around his neck exploded. Among other things, the notes read: "Stay calm and do as instructed to survive," and "Do not delay."

		On the Net The FBI has released two of the nine pages of handwritten instructions for the neck bomb bank robber. View the first page and the second page in pop-up windows. More information is available on the FBI Web site.

The FBI released photographs of the hand-printed notes -- with large sections covered over by police -- in the hope that someone can identify the author from the writing style and the use of certain words, phrases and symbols.

FBI Special Agent Robert Rudge described the author as a "manipulator." He said the notes warned of penalties if their instructions were not followed exactly and promised rewards if they were.

"The design of the bank robbery plan and the construction of the letters required a certain amount of time and patience, which is generally indicative of an offender's maturity level," Rudge said.

"This elaborate plan was not conceived overnight or over a few days. This offender invested a great deal of thought and planning into this scheme, which could have evolved over a period of time -- even years."

Rudge said investigators had not ruled out revenge as a possible motive.

"Revenge is a theme repeated throughout the letters, along with certain dire consequences if instructions were not strictly followed," he said.

"This suggests that revenge for some type of wrong -- real or perceived -- was a strong motive for this crime. While it is not likely this offender bragged about his involvement in the crime, or confided in someone, people who know him would be aware of his controlled anger and his tendency to brood and harbor resentment."

The nine pages of notes offered detailed instructions to pizza deliveryman Brian Douglas Wells on how to rob the bank and directions to four locations in the Erie area.

The notes also told Wells how to behave and feel: "Cooperate quickly and you will survive," "Act now, think later or you will die" and "If police or aircraft are involved, you will be destroyed."

Wells, 46, robbed a PNC Bank branch in the Summit Towne Center shopping complex, about a mile from Erie, after telling employees he was carrying a bomb. When troopers pulled him over and handcuffed him a short time later, Wells told them that a dark-skinned man had fastened the bomb to him, started its timer and forced him to hold up the bank.

Erie's police bomb squad was minutes away when the device exploded. When investigators searched Wells' body and car, they discovered the lengthy, notes directing him to other locations, as well as a unique cane-shaped gun.

Both the bomb and the gun appeared to have been specially made in a machine shop, investigators said.

Wells, who was a delivery driver for Mama Mia's Pizza-Ria in Erie, left about 1:30 p.m. to deliver two sausage and pepperoni pizzas to a property that houses a broadcast tower and a building that is usually empty.

About an hour later, he turned up at the bank in the shopping complex at 7200 Peach St. From there, his notes directed him to seek additional instructions at the drive-thru sign at a nearby McDonald's restaurant and then at an Eyeglass World store in the complex. He was at Eyeglass World when troopers pulled up and surrounded him.

Had Wells been able to leave the complex, he would have headed next for Interstates 90 and 79, then gotten onto Interchange Road and parked on the berm near Millcreek Mall.

"The overall bank robbery plan as outlined in the letters appears to be unrealistic," Rudge said.

"Nonetheless, because of the time and effort he invested in this whole scheme -- constructing the collar-bomb, and the shotgun, and preparing the instruction letters -- it is not likely he sat at home waiting to learn how events unfolded. This offender needed to observe the events that day, in and around the bank as Brian Wells walked inside, stood in line, and then exited the bank."

Anyone with information is asked to call investigators at 1-866-219-2008. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case.