But in subsequent years, authorities uncovered an intricate criminal plot and concluded Wells was no pure victim. The vault was on a time delay, and it would take longer than the 15 minutes allotted in his note. Maybe there was another person manipulating Diehl-Armstrong, Rothstein, and Wells who has never been identified. When authorities arrived, Brian was found standing in a parking lot outside his car. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. WebAt 2:28 pm on August 28, 2003, a middle-aged pizza deliveryman named Brian Wells walked into a PNC Bank in Erie, Pennsylvania. Wells' family has said they believe he was just a victim, and have criticized the pace of the investigation. Marjorie passed away at the age of 68 on April 4, 2017, from breast cancer while she was in jail. Please consult us at Robert J. DeBry & Associates for a professional, experienced lawyer. The FBI did not respond to requests for comment, and the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania declined to discuss the documentarys findings. The infamous pizza bomber narrative isas explosive as it sounds--although filled with more twists and turns than actual pizza. The defense noted that Wells only took $8,701 from the bank. Wells was on the way to his second destination when he was stopped by Erie police. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. After his death, police collected letters in his car that corroborated his claim that he was forced to rob the PNC Bank. If not for losing his life, he could have gotten a personal injury lawyer and built a case The client, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, is serving seven to 20 years in state prison for pleading guilty but mentally ill to killing her boyfriend, James Roden, in 2003. The official synopsis for Oxygen's Dateline: Secrets Uncovered episode, titled, Death Trap, reads: The bone-chilling case dates back to August 2003. Three minutes before the bomb squad arrived, the collar detonated, tearing a hole in Wells' chest and killing him within moments, according to All That's Interesting. This was the first task of a scavenger hunt that he claimed would save his life. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! PEOPLE has been given exclusive access to the detailed notes recovered by investigators who searched Wells car. Her next boyfriend was James Roden, an unemployed alcoholic. The weirdest part was Marjories reason for wanting to rob the bank: Ken said Marjorie wanted to rob the bank in order to kill her father to get an inheritance. By clicking ACCEPT ALL, you consent to the use of cookies. The collar bomb case captivated the country 15 years ago after details emerged that the robber, a 46-year-old local named Brian Wells, appeared to have been a hostage himself, forced to hold up the bank as part of a scavenger hunt he was instructed to complete to save his own life. She had also been diagnosed with cancer, the Erie Times-News reported at the time. 8. Later on, it was disclosed that a woman named Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong planned the entire crime. Diehl-Armstrong and Barnes both face initial appearances in federal court this week. You'll find yourself captivated by the four-part show, which dives deep into the investigation surrounding the murder of Brian Wells (also known as "the Pizza Bomber") and attempts to find links between other mysterious deaths in the town. After Brian Wells was dead, police picked up two key pieces of evidence: The instructions provided by his attackers and the remnants of the bomb itself. The collar was still attached around Wells' neck, and initial investigations revealed something stunning. The bomb collar was nothing at all like it was described in the instructions. According to police, Wells himself helped plan the scheme and agreed to wear the collar to throw authorities off the trail and let his co-conspirators get away with a bank robbery. Now in a state mental hospital, Marjories testimony against Bill would be useless. Watch tonight's episode of "The Price of Duty" to find out more about the case. Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong died of breast cancer in 2017 while still in prison. They said he had, in fact, helped plot part of the same scheme that led to his death. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Mere minutes before the bomb squad could arrive. A bizarre robbery plot involving mental illness, a love triangle and a ticking bomb placed around the neckof an unwilling robberleads to multiple murders. They said that if he followed the instructions on the paper, he would be able to disarm the bomb and would be unhurt, but he had a time limit he had to follow. Shortly after, authorities confronted him at the parking lot of a nearby Eyeglass World retail store. Her co-conspirators were her then-boyfriend James Roden, who she murdered in the course of the crime, her ex-fiance Bill Rothstein, and another friend, Ken Barnes. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The robbery was merely a setup for her to acquire $250,000 to pay a hitman Barnes himself. Its going to go off. The device began to make beeping noises about 20 minutes after Wells was handcuffed, according to the FBI. Brian Douglas Wells was 46-years-old and wasn't a bank robber. The riveting episode airs exclusively on the popular true crime network Oxygen on Wednesday, December 21, 2022, at 7 pm Eastern Time (ET). Whatever story youre conjuring up in your mind to go with pizza bomber," the reality is likely crazier. The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections said Hoopsick had been in the state prison system for theft between May 2012 and July 2014, when she was paroled. Truth is stranger than fiction in the case ofMarjorie Diehl-Armstrong and Brian Wells. Armed with Kenneth Barnes' testimony, police put Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong on trial once again, this time for the bomb plot. For better treatment in prison, Diehl-Armstrong would finally tell everything she knew about Brian Wells, the pizza bomber. Philly.com says prosecutors had a witness, a prostitute who alleged that Brian often paid $15 to 20 to have sex with her at Bills house, but its only an allegation. The three Black men that Wells claimed forced the collar on him never existed. I dont have a lot of time, he said, according to a video recording of the encounter. Sanitiza tu hogar o negocio con los mejores resultados. Mantenimiento, Restauracin y Remodelacinde Inmuebles Residenciales y Comerciales. As far as the public knew, things went quiet on Brian Wells' case. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. Chris Harris has been a senior true crime reporter for PEOPLE since late 2015. The scavenger hunt was intended to sell the hostage story and throw the police off. James Roden was Marjories boyfriend at the time of the pizza bomb plot, and he had allegedly threatened to rat Marjorie out to the police--which was apparently when she shot him dead. She was found guilty of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, conspiracy to commit armed bank robbery and armed bank robbery, officials said. 1155, Col. San Juan de Guadalupe C.P. The law enforcement official told the AP that Buchanan would not disclose what the investigators concluded, but would say that the government is confident they know how and why Wells died. She has said she believed Wells was involved in the heist and that Rothstein was the brains behind the entire plot, not her. The indictment alleges that Diehl-Armstrong solicited Barnes in July 2003 to help rob a bank. Wells made off with $9,000, the most the teller could give him. But at first, no one noticed the man, whose name was Brian Douglas Wells. After leaving the bank, Wells was cornered by police in a parking lot. No one was charged as authorities struggled to determine who was behind the plot and whether Wells was an innocent victim or willing participant. According to testimony given during the trial, Wells was deeply in debt to Barnes for crack. While most crime stories have a lot of commonalities (the husband did it, and DNA can prove it! WebWells warned police that he was wearing a bomb and running out of time, but as bomb technicians were summoned the device exploded, killing Wells and leaving behind an Brian Wells is the pizza man who walked into a PNC bank in Erie, Pennsylvania, and handed the teller a note demanding $250,000 (pictured above). Starring Jesse Eisenberg and Danny McBride, 30 Minutes Or Less, is about a pizza delivery guy who is kidnapped by some criminals who strap a bomb around his neck and force him to rob a bank. 11 hours ago, by Eden Arielle Gordon Rothstein passed away on July 30, 2004, from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Police even suspected he might not have been aware that the bomb was real until it started beeping. According to the indictment, Diehl-Armstrong and Barnes contrived a plan to make it look as though Wells was merely a hostage, which would give Wells an alibi should he be captured. This collar was attached to a box under his shirt, creating a large lump under the t-shirt. Wells reportedly needed money for his own debts. It just got weirder and weirder as the years went on, and there are still some unanswered questions, too. Netflix's four-part docuseries Evil Genius: The True Story of America's Most Diabolical Bank Heist opens with an intense episode focusing on the "pizza bomber" of She earned another 30 years for using a bomb in the crime. She earned another 30 years for using a bomb in the crime. Wells had told police he had been forced to rob the bank. He told Evil Genius Borzillieri that Wells was aware of the plan but tried backing out after learning the collar bomb was live. Magazines, 15 of the Most Fascinating True Crime Stories Ever Told, Or create a free account to access more articles, What to Know About the Shocking Case Behind Netflix's True Crime Docuseries. He was reportedly the putative creator of the collar bomb. From the 1960s to the early 1970s, Rothstein was in a romantic relationship with Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. The bomb collar was nothing at all like it was described in the instructions. Ken was also a crack dealer, and when he was questioned by police on August 11th, 2005, he admitted to being part of the robbery/bomb plot. Federal authorities have figured out how a pizza deliveryman wound up in the middle of a bizarre bank robbery scheme that ended with a bomb around his neck exploding, and the identities of the plotters, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. Get the daily inside scoop right in your inbox. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. According to Ken, Marjorie also killed James -- remember, he was her ex, who was found in Bills freezer -- because he threatened to tell police about her plot. (She mistakenly believed he was wealthy.). Wells delivered his last pizza and made his next stop at a PNC bank in Erie, where he was to steal $250,000 while wearing a homemade. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Compatriots of the plotters were watching him every step of the way and could remotely detonate the bomb if he didn't follow instructions. Buchanan said Wells played a limited role in the planning phase of bank robbery. Rothstein's house was near the TV tower. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Marjorie said he had fallen, and the coroner corroborated, saying the death was accidental. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. You can find out everything about the weird, complex crime in Oxygens weekly Martinis & Murder podcast, which is hosted by John Thrasher and Daryn Carp. He is expected to be released in 2027, prison officials said. Instead, it was Bill Rothstein pulling all the strings. Roden's killing led police to question Diehl-Armstrong in the Wells case because Roden's body was found in the freezer of a man named William Rothstein, who has since died. While investigating, the FBI got another tip involving Kenneth Barnes, who confirmed their suspicion that Marjorie was the mastermind. , Here's a Warning About That Crazy-Disturbing Scene in Netflix's Evil Genius, The "Stranger Things" Prequel Stage Play Dives Deep Into Vecna's Origin Story, Can't Wait For "Daisy Jones & The Six"? The Yankees catching prospect underwent an MRI exam on Tuesday that revealed a fracture of his Watch the 23rd episode of Dateline: Secrets Uncovered season 8, which arrives exclusively on Oxygen on Wednesday, December 21, 2022, at 7.00 pm Eastern Time. Police also took Wells' instructions and put together a route to follow. It was also Diehl-Armstrong who swapped the fake bomb for a real one. When questioned, Marjorie tried to pin Rothstein as the mastermind since he had already died. Retired FBI agents Jim Fisher and Jerry Clark, who was prominently featured in Evil Genius, also believe Rothstein was responsible for the crime. The papers were addressed to the Bomb Hostage and contained directions first to rob the bank and then to proceed on an elaborate scavenger hunt for keys and codes to disable the explosive Wells wore. After Marjorie broke off the engagement, she really began struggling with her mental disorders, including bipolar and depression. Until something clearly went wrong, that is. Stunt Performer Ryan Dunn Dies From Car Accident, Attorney Marketing and Website by Fusion 360. Diehl-Armstrong and Barnes were both eventually convicted of conspiracy and armed bank robbery charges. She is alleged to have supplied two egg timers that were used in the collar bomb. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. 5. The bomb went off and Brian died with his chest crushed. They used the time limits from the pages and found that it was physically impossible for someone to complete the steps necessary in the 55 total minutes allotted. She was an only child to two parents who ran a successful awning business. The story of Brian Wells is about a pizza delivery guy, a bomb collar, and a bank robbery. Wells warned police that he was wearing a bomb and running out of time, but as bomb technicians were summoned the device exploded, killing Wells and leaving behind an odd lot of clues and characters. Wells began to panic and squirm on the ground, pleading with police to help him. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital The plotters had gotten away with it and Wells had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time when he got that pizza order. Diehl-Armstrong and Barnes are currently serving unrelated sentences in prisonDiehl-Armstrong for killing her boyfriend in 2003 and Barnes for a drug-related offense. By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from POPSUGAR. According to police, a month before the robbery Diehl-Armstrong had asked her friend Kenneth Barnes if he knew how to build a pipe bomb. Police believed her, but not in the way she expected. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 4. While investigating, the FBI got another tip involving Kenneth Barnes, who confirmed their suspicion that Marjorie was the mastermind. Rothstein agreed to hide the body in his house and eventually dispose of it, but later changed his mind and called police. WebBrian Douglas Wells (November 15, 1956 August 28, 2003) was an American man who died after a homemade neck- bomb exploded while being involved in a plot involving a bank robbery in Erie, Pennsylvania. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. Suburb for 52 Years: U.S. She developed issues with bipolar disorder, which caused sharp mood swings, paranoia, and narcissism. Initially, Wells thought he was an active planner in the robbery but would realize that his diabolical accomplices Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, Bill Rothstein, and Kenneth Barnes made him an unwilling participant. She said the investigators set her up and the government framed her, and that Bill was the true mastermind.The jury reached a verdict on November 1st , 2010, finding Marjorie guilty. WebThe notes given to Wells. He was dead, and the whole ordeal was captured on camera by local news film crews who were documenting the riveting arrest. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. On the stand, Marjorie gave a long and rambling testimony (possibly a symptom of bipolar). His eyes just got real wide, and then they went to the back of his head. The note was addressed to "Receptionist" and "Bank Manager" and referred to the man in front of her as "Bomb Hostage." . However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Brian Wells didnt leave the bank without picking up a lollipop from the counter first. Witnesses at the scene alleged that he walked out of the bank calmly and seemingly unperturbed. He also helped Marjorie get rid of the gun, sawing it into pieces and melting it down with a torch. They arrested Rothstein and brought him in for questioning. Barnes was a misfit friend of Marjories. Subscribe at iTunes or Google Play. Wells told police before he died that he had been accosted by gunmen who locked the bomb on his neck and forced him to rob the bank when he went to deliver a pizza to a TV tower on a dead-end road. The first steps of the instructions told him to drive back across town, go into a specific PNC bank, and hand a note to the teller. Brian Wells is the pizza man who walked into a PNC bank in Erie, Pennsylvania, and handed the teller a note demanding $250,000 (pictured above). She was convicted with conspiracy to commit bank robbery with the utilization of a destructive device, and she was sentenced to life in prison on February 28th 2011. So it seemed like Brian had really been jumped, but the police obviously had to get to the bottom of it. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The police called in the bomb squad. With a walking-stick and a huge protrusion in the front of his shirt what bank customers thought was a neck injury apparatus, but Wells claimed was a bomb Either way, Barnes said that Wells and Roden knew the full details of the plot and had been killed to ensure their silence. Brian Wells, 46, robbed a suburban Erie bank on Aug. 28, 2003, with the bomb attached to his neck and then was killed when it exploded as he sat handcuffed in a parking lot while police waited for a bomb squad. According to an FBI affidavit, Rothstein said his former fiance, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, had murdered her own boyfriend, James Roden, and stuffed his body in the freezer. A cane-shaped shotgun found in Brian Wells' car. She would not say if Rothstein, who died of cancer in July 2004, was one of those witnesses. When police showed up, he explained that he was held hostage and dressed in a collar bomb against his will, and if he didnt complete the scavenger hunt, they would kill him. Wells would be the delivery driver. Like Diehl-Armstrong, Rothstein was highly intelligent and had a history of metalwork and machining, making it likely that he created the bomb collar itself. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. Wells is shown sucking on a lollipop inside the bank, wearing a collar bomb and carrying a cane-shaped firearm. Rothstein's letter had been incorrect James Roden's death was directly connected to the case. By bragging, Bill willingly admitted to police he fit the exact profile of their bomb maker they were looking for. Heres where it gets interesting: while recovering James body, investigators realized Bills house was less than five hundred yards from where Brian Wells made his last delivery, right under the transmission tower. He passed away in jail owing to diabetes on June 20, 2019. This led to even more twists being revealed. WebBrian Wells collar bomb explosion. Mere seconds later, it exploded, leaving a 5-inch gash in Wells chest. She was deemed disabled due to her psychological condition, and got disability payments from Social Security, on top of the hospital pay out and help from her father, who bought her a house. He claimed to have been attacked by a group of black men who he said tied the bomb to his body, court documents show. They had run-ins with her on more than one occasion. Wells and Barnes never knew each other until Barnes began looking for a patsy for Diehl-Armstrong's bomb plot. Officers had to restrain her, and they found James in the freezer as described. Bill Rothstein couldnt bring himself to chop up James Rodens body. As soon as he was gone customers in the bank began dialling 911, and he only made it a few hundred yards in his car before a State Trooper pulled him over. The charges bring some clarity to a case that challenged investigators, who ultimately pieced together how Wells went from pizza delivery guy to bank robber in the course of an afternoon. 1 day ago, by Chanel Vargas Rothstein had put a real bomb on Wells, though, so there were fewer people to split the money with, and he told police about the body in his freezer for the same reason. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Marjories first boyfriend was named Rob Thomas. This is one of the most movie-esque murder plots ever committed and its the subject of Oxygens weekly "Martinis & Murder" podcast. Brian Wells, a pizza delivery man, robbed a PNC Bank in Pennsylvania on August 28, 2003. He knew this because he was going to be the one killing her dad--but for the fee of $250,000. She was given a life imprisonment sentence by the jury. Rob Thomas happened to die when Marjorie was 38--because she shot him SIX TIMES while he slept. If the bomb detonated, meanwhile, Wells couldnt be a witness against them, Buchanan said. So if you plan to watch Evil Genius but want to avoid witnessing a real person's tragic death, be sure to shut your eyes around 10 minutes in to the first episode . There was no remote detonator. In her youth, she was very well-liked and considered to be highly intelligent. When the investigators told her who they were, she went berserk according to State Police Supervisor Lamont King, screaming at them to get out of the house. After Brian Wells was dead, police picked up two key pieces of evidence: The instructions provided by his attackers and the remnants of the bomb itself. Be the first one to comment on this story. The sentence would begin as soon as she finished serving her time, or was paroled, for killing James Roden. MORE: 15 of the Most Fascinating True Crime Stories Ever Told. As United States Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan said in 2007: Sadly, the plans of the other individuals were sinister, much more sinister., The Bizarre Real-Life Story of the Pizza Guy Who Robbed a Bank with a Bomb Around His Neck, Dentist Confessed to Murdering Wife on African Vacation, Prosecutor Says at Trial: 'I Killed My F---ing Wife', Pizza Delivery Driver Fatally Shot as He Stopped to Help 76-Year-Old Gunshot Victim: Police, Pa. Minutes later, with police surrounding him nearby, that man, Brian Wells, pleaded for help. Kara Rhodes, Erie Times News reporter, was at the scene; "The bomb went off and there was just silence, it was eerily silent." They found that the bomb was indeed initiated before Brian walked into the bank, and it had an inbuilt timer, as well as a booby trap that would trigger it if anyone attempted to remove it. Apparently, this didn't seem to dissuade Wells. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Theres no evidence to suggest Wells was a willing participant, but there has been limited suggestion that he might have known about the plot, and opted out--thats why he wound up with the collar forced upon him. Viewers of Dateline: Secrets Uncovered have been buzzing with curiosity to learn all about the strange 2003. In July 2004, investigators tried to get a confession from Bill on his deathbed, but he passed without uttering a useful word. The world was stunned when Brian Wells strode into a bank armed with a shotgun cane and with a bomb strapped around his neck Credit: SUN. Evil Genius trailer. After Wells came out of the bank, a bank employee quickly called the police. Kenneth Barnes was reportedly a retired TV repairman, a drug dealer, and a friend of Diehl-Armstrong's. Authorities said Wells then admitted to being the PNC bank robber. "I get a call, 'Hey we got a new bank robbery at 7200 Peach Street, [and there is] a potential bomb utilized during the robbery.' 10 Pieces Of Evidence To Give A Car Accident Lawyer. She had killed her first husband by shooting him six times while he sat on the couch, but successfully managed to convince a jury that it was in self-defense. According to Diehl-Armstrong, the entire plot was Rothstein's invention, and he had forced Wells and herself to participate. Police brought him in for questioning and he soon confessed to a version of events that law enforcement already suspected to be true and also copped that Wells was in on the plot, according to All That's Interesting. There was no further investigation. It may be that his role transitioned from that of the planning stages to being an unwilling participant in the scheme, Buchanan said. The police went straight to Bills house--and found Marjorie there, sitting in the bed. There was some conjecture that Brian Wells knew about the bomb plot. Police arrested Diehl-Armstrong for the murder of James Roden, for which she was sentenced to 20 years in prison, according to All That's Interesting. This was the first task of a scavenger hunt that he claimed would save his life. Before his death, Wells was a pizza delivery man who, shortly before his death, made a delivery stop outside of Erie. At the time, Wells appeared to be a hostage of the same crime he had just committed. She conspired to rob the bank to get money so that she could pay a man named Kenneth Barnes to take the life of her own father. It also threatened bank employees and customers, then contained detailed, step-by-step instructions for gathering the money and giving it to the so-called Bomb Hostage. He walked up to a bank teller and handed her a note, informing her that he needed $250,000 in a bag. Police found two notes from Brians car explaining how to remove the bomb along with the phrase, 'act When questioned, Marjorie tried to pin Rothstein as the mastermind since he had already died. The Bill said he went to Marjories, wrapped the body in tarps, and dragged it to his van, before taking it home and putting it in the freezer. Behind the murder was a woman named Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong who suffered from multiple mental illnesses and personality disorders. All right, well we've had those before, and many times you arrive on scene and they're hoax devices. But before he could make it back to the puppet master, he was apprehended by police, and died when the bomb exploded. 12 hours ago, by Njera Perkins The people that Wells had met with by the broadcast tower were Diehl-Armstrong, Rothstein, and Barnes. She provided kitchen timers that were utilized in the metal cooler explosive. They were for shotguns. This is an FBI handout photo of the collar device used to secure a bomb to Brian Wells' neck. The entire plan was executed under her supervision. He had a bomb locked around his neck like a handcuff, resulting in a giant protrusion out the front of his t-shirt. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! The caller ordered two sausage and pepperoni pizzas and asked that they be delivered to a road on the edge of town. They didn't think Rothstein was the mastermind, they thought she was. They had uncovered evidence that he was actually in on the plot and worked with the perpetrators as an accomplice, according to Wired. The co-conspirators watched from a distance until Wells was stopped by police, at which time they fled. They turned their attention to the bomb instead. On August 28, 2003 at about 1:30 p.m., the co-conspirators used a pay phone to order two pizzas for delivery to a remote TV tower site, which happened to be next door to one of the conspirators houses. In 2003, when the terrible incident took place, Brian was 46 years old. . Whoever put the bomb collar on Brian Wells never intended for him to live through the day. Around the 10-minute mark of the first episode, viewers are greeted by the actual video footage of the bomb which is locked around Brian Wells's neck like a twisted sort of necklace exploding, sending shards of shrapnel into his chest and killing him. They lived together for nine years without event. your brain will thank you for it. Coverage of the latest true crime stories and famous cases explained, as well as the best TV shows, movies and podcasts in the genre. At a news conference announcing the indictments, Mary Beth Buchanan, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania at the time, said Wells had also been part of the plot. It was his ex-girlfriend, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, who had shot him. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Marjorie was apparently devastated by the death, and despite settling for $250,000 with the hospital in a medical malpractice case, Marjorie began to struggle even more with her mental illnesses.