American police have arrested two people, including a cryptocurrency trader, in connection with the abduction and prolonged torture of a tourist in New York.
The victim, an Italian cryptocurrency millionaire, was reportedly targeted for the password to his crypto account. Investigators described the apartment where the crime took place as a “house of horror.”
One of the accused is 37-year-old John Woeltz, dubbed the “Crypto King of Kentucky,” whose fortune is estimated at $100 million (€88 million). He resides in the SoHo apartment where the incident allegedly occurred. The second suspect is 24-year-old Beatrice Folchi. A third suspect is still being sought, according to ABC News.
The accused allegedly lured the 28-year-old victim from Italy to New York and tortured him for several weeks since 6 May. The man was also forced to surrender his passport. He managed to escape on Friday morning and approached a traffic police officer for help. Nothing was disclosed about his identity, but his assets are said to be $30 million (€26.4 million), NBC News reported.
The victim was allegedly tied up by his abductors and given electric shocks, including with a power surge weapon. He was also allegedly beaten with a pistol and threatened to cut off his limbs with a chainsaw. Officers found polaroid photos taken by the perpetrators, which were allegedly used to extort his family. Firearms were also found in the apartment.
The victim was also forced to take drugs, such as cocaine, and was told he would never get out alive. He was given an AirTag around his neck to track him at all times. But on Friday morning, the victim still managed to flee the flat.
He is being cared for in hospital, including for cuts that may have come from the chainsaw.
The investigation continues in the meantime.
