A Kentucky man who allegedly used a property in New York to torture a kidnapping victim was arrested on Friday.
A report from WNBC revealed that John Woeltz and a partner committed acts of torture against their business associate, an Italian national aged 28 who had recently arrived in the city on May 6. Allegedly, Woeltz and the other individual took away the victim’s passport and electronic gadgets, subjecting him to torture when he refused to disclose the password for his Bitcoin account, as reported by CrimeOnline.
Reports from sources to the New York Post indicated that Woeltz, also known as the “Crypto King,” is one of the founders of a Swiss trading company. The disturbing events of kidnapping and mistreatment that lasted for weeks reportedly occurred at a townhouse in Manhattan that Woeltz had rented.
As per the New York Post, the victim was tied up, electrocuted while having his feet submerged in water. It was also disclosed that he was struck with a gun, and his limbs were cut with a chainsaw. Furthermore, sources mentioned that he was humiliated by being urinated on while suspended from the top of a staircase.
Law enforcement sources told WNBC that officers found Polaroid pictures of the victim tied up and tortured. They reportedly also discovered a gun and other items used to carry out the torture.
Woeltz was charged with kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon charges. He remains jailed without bond.
The New York Post reported that Woeltz’s accused accomplice was originally held on and unlawful imprisonment charges before being released from custody.
[Feature Photo: ABC 7 video screengrab]
