An investigation continues right into a Manhattan case seemingly proper out of a film, the small print of that are as shocking as they are disturbing.
John Woeltz was arrested Friday and arraigned on fees of kidnapping, illegal imprisonment and assault, amongst different fees. He and a enterprise accomplice spent weeks torturing a 3rd enterprise accomplice, an Italian citizen, who got here to New York Metropolis on Could 6, regulation enforcement sources stated.
Investigators imagine the connection among the many three males had been tumultuous previously, however got here to a head when the Italian arrived early within the month.
Woeltz and the accomplice allegedly took the sufferer’s passport and digital units, then demanded he give them his Bitcoin password. When the 28-year-old refused to comply, that is when the torture began, police stated.
He was sure by his wrists, pistol-whipped, had a gun held to his head, a chainsaw used on his leg, and urinated on. His captors additionally dangled him off the constructing as threatened his household.
After 17 days contained in the torture chamber of the “Crypto King,” the sufferer lastly managed to escape on Friday. Police stated they discovered him coated in cuts and bruises, with ligature marks on his wrists from being sure.
Whereas Woeltz was taken into custody, detectives are nonetheless looking for the opposite enterprise accomplice concerned.
Following the arrest of Woeltz, investigators allegedly discovered a trove of proof on the rented out house. Legislation enforcement sources stated they turned up a number of Polaroid footage of the sufferer being tied up and tortured. Investigators additionally reportedly recovered a gun and several other torture objects.
Authorities imagine Woeltz is a big-name crypto forex dealer from Kentucky with an estimated price round $100 million. He had reportedly been renting out the Nolita residence at a month-to-month charge of at the least $30,000.
Woeltz was ordered held with out bond. His lawyer didn’t converse to the media after arraignment on Saturday.
