Additional Coverage:
- Man tortured for weeks in NYC apartment, escapes, suspect arrested (abcnews.go.com)
A New York City crypto entrepreneur is behind bars after a harrowing accusation of kidnapping and torture. Police arrested 37-year-old John Woeltz on Friday following a desperate plea for help from a 28-year-old Italian tourist.
The tourist, who arrived in New York on May 6, told authorities Woeltz seized his passport and held him captive in his luxury apartment for over two weeks, subjecting him to brutal torture. He finally managed to escape Friday morning and alerted a nearby traffic officer, who then contacted police. The victim was subsequently taken to a hospital for treatment.
Woeltz appeared in court Saturday, facing charges of kidnapping, assault, and unlawful imprisonment. He was held without bail and did not enter a plea.
The criminal complaint details even more disturbing allegations. The victim claims Woeltz and an accomplice, who remains at large, beat him, administered electric shocks, and even suspended him from a ledge after he refused to divulge his bitcoin password.
Police sources say the suspect’s SoHo apartment yielded further chilling evidence, including Polaroid photos depicting the victim’s ordeal and various instruments of torture. A firearm was also recovered from the scene. The investigation is ongoing.
Read More About This Story:
- Man tortured for weeks in NYC apartment, escapes, suspect arrested (abcnews.go.com)