Key Takeaways
- According to a criminal complaint, the man was tied up with electrical cords, beaten, pistol-whipped, shocked while his feet were submerged in water, and slashed with a chainsaw
- Investigators claim Woeltz and at least one accomplice attempted to force the victim to reveal his Bitcoin password, going so far as to photograph the abuse
A 28-year-old Italian national was allegedly held hostage and tortured for over two weeks inside a rented Manhattan townhouse by a U.S. crypto investor demanding access to his Bitcoin wallet. The incident, which unfolded in New York City’s upscale SoHo neighborhood, came to light after the victim escaped and alerted police.
Authorities say the man arrived in the U.S. on May 6 for a meeting with 37-year-old John Woeltz, a crypto investor from Kentucky. Shortly after reaching the townhouse—rented for $30,000 to $40,000 per month—he was allegedly stripped of his passport and devices, then detained against his will.
According to a criminal complaint, the man was tied up with electrical cords, beaten, pistol-whipped, shocked while his feet were submerged in water, and slashed with a chainsaw. Investigators claim Woeltz and at least one accomplice attempted to force the victim to reveal his Bitcoin password, going so far as to photograph the abuse. One Polaroid reportedly showed the man bound to a chair with a firearm aimed at his head.
An Apple AirTag was allegedly placed around his neck to monitor him. The man eventually escaped on May 24, telling police he feared for his life and believed he would be killed that day. He was hospitalized with injuries, including a chainsaw wound on his arm.
Woeltz was arrested shortly afterward. Witnesses told the New York Post they had suspected something unusual at the property but had no idea the townhouse was the scene of a prolonged abduction.
The suspect was arraigned on Saturday in Manhattan criminal court and entered a not guilty plea to felony counts including kidnapping for ransom, assault, unlawful imprisonment, and criminal possession of a weapon. Prosecutors noted Woeltz’s access to a private jet and helicopter; the judge ordered him held without bail and required the surrender of his passport.
Law enforcement sources say the investigation remains active, with efforts underway to locate additional suspects.
