A man with a bitcoin fortune was allegedly tortured for weeks in a New York City home. Here’s what we know.

The investigation into the bitcoin torture case in New York City has uncovered disturbing details surrounding the alleged kidnapping and assault of an Italian man for his cryptocurrency fortune. The 28-year-old victim managed to escape from his captors in the upscale SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan and sought help from an NYPD traffic agent, leading to the arrest of two suspects.
John Woeltz, 37, and William Duplessie, 33, have been charged with kidnapping, assault, and unlawful imprisonment in connection with the case. Both men are currently being held without bail as the investigation unfolds. Authorities found a disturbing array of weapons and tools at the townhouse where the victim was held, including a saw, crack cocaine, body armor, and night-vision goggles.
The victim recounted a harrowing ordeal lasting over two weeks, during which he was subjected to electric shocks, physical abuse, and threats of violence in an attempt to coerce him into revealing the password to his bitcoin wallet. The suspects allegedly used an AirTag tracking device to monitor the victim’s movements and made repeated threats against his life and the safety of his family.
Despite the brutal treatment he endured, the victim managed to escape when he tricked one of the suspects into retrieving his laptop, which contained the password. He fled the townhouse and sought help from authorities, leading to the arrests of Woeltz and Duplessie. The case has shocked law enforcement officials, with NYPD Chief of Department John Chell describing the crimes as “horrible” and “torturous.”
In a surprising twist, it was revealed that two NYPD detectives had been working as private security for the suspects, though there is no evidence to suggest they were aware of the kidnapping plot. The detectives have been placed on desk duty pending an internal affairs investigation, and their off-duty work has been deemed unauthorized by the department.
The disturbing details of the bitcoin torture case have captured the attention of the public and law enforcement alike, shedding light on the dark side of cryptocurrency and the lengths some individuals will go to in pursuit of wealth. As the investigation continues, more information is expected to come to light, revealing the full extent of the crimes committed in this shocking case.