A third individual has been arrested in connection with a harrowing Bitcoin kidnapping and torture case in Manhattan. William Duplessie, 33, surrendered to the police on Tuesday morning, joining two other suspects already in custody. The victim, an Italian man named Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan, was allegedly held captive in a luxury townhouse for nearly three weeks, enduring brutal torture in an attempt to force him to reveal his Bitcoin wallet password.
The Gruesome Details
According to police reports, Mr. Carturan was bound with electrical cords, whipped with a gun, and subjected to electric shocks with a Taser. His captors also submerged his feet in water and even suspended him over the ledge of the five-story townhouse. The victim managed to escape and flagged down a traffic agent, leading to the arrest of the suspects.
The Suspects and Their Motives
The main suspect, John Woeltz, 37, is a cryptocurrency investor with ties to a crypto hedge fund in New York. He allegedly lured Mr. Carturan back to the U.S. under false pretenses before kidnapping him. The other suspect, Beatrice Folchi, 24, was initially charged but later released. The attackers were after a Bitcoin wallet worth millions, highlighting the dark side of cryptocurrency wealth.
A Global Trend of Crypto-Related Crimes
This case is part of a disturbing trend of "wrench attacks" targeting high-profile crypto investors. Similar incidents have been reported in France, where crypto entrepreneurs have been kidnapped, tortured, and even mutilated for ransom. The rise of such crimes underscores the risks associated with storing large amounts of cryptocurrency offline.
The Aftermath
Investigators found photographs of the torture, several guns, and broken furniture inside the townhouse. Mr. Duplessie, who has connections to Switzerland and Miami, is now facing charges alongside Mr. Woeltz. The case has sent shockwaves through the crypto community, raising concerns about the safety of high-net-worth individuals in the digital asset space.
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