A cryptocurrency investor, John Woeltz, aged 37, has been arrested in connection with the kidnapping of a man who was allegedly held captive for weeks in a luxurious Manhattan apartment. The victim claims he endured physical abuse and was manipulated into believing his family would be harmed unless he relinquished access to his Bitcoin account.
Woeltz was apprehended on a Friday night after the victim managed to escape from the eight-bedroom townhouse and flagged down a nearby traffic officer for assistance, as reported by prosecutors. He faced arraignment on Saturday on multiple charges, including kidnapping, assault, unlawful imprisonment, and possession of a firearm. The Manhattan district attorney’s office confirmed that Woeltz has been ordered to remain in custody without bail.
According to reports, the victim, a 28-year-old who arrived in New York from Italy in May, was abducted on May 6. The specific nature of any prior relationship between Woeltz and the victim remains unclear. Assistant District Attorney Michael Mattson indicated that others may have been involved in the plot aimed at draining the victim’s Bitcoin wallet, with one accomplice still at large.
The victim recounted a harrowing experience of being bound and tortured in the apartment. His captors reportedly drugged him, electrified his body using wires, and physically assaulted him, even threatening his life by dangling him over an elevated ledge. Faced with imminent death, the victim deceived Woeltz into believing he was ready to share his Bitcoin password, allowing him an opportunity to flee when Woeltz turned away.
Upon escaping, the victim received medical attention for injuries consistent with his allegations of torture. Authorities conducting a search of the townhouse discovered a disturbing array of items, including cocaine, a saw, body armour, night-vision goggles, ammunition, and disturbing photographs of the victim that depicted him in a vulnerable state with a gun aimed at his head.
During proceedings, Woeltz was instructed to surrender his passport amid concerns that he might attempt to flee, as he reportedly has access to a private jet and helicopter. He is scheduled to return to Manhattan criminal court next week to face the charges against him.