Daijiworld Media Network- New York
New York, May 24: In a chilling tale straight out of a crime thriller, a 28-year-old Italian tourist has miraculously escaped a harrowing two-week captivity in a luxury Manhattan apartment, where he was allegedly tortured by a crypto investor over a dispute involving digital currency account passwords.
The shocking incident unfolded in one of New York City’s upscale neighbourhoods, where the tourist—whose identity remains undisclosed—was reportedly held against his will by 37-year-old John Woeltz, a crypto trader known for his flashy lifestyle. The two had known each other from previous business transactions, and the victim had flown into the city to meet Woeltz, unaware of the horrors that awaited him.
According to a report in the New York Post, the tourist was subjected to relentless abuse. He was given electric shocks, forcibly administered cocaine, and repeatedly threatened with mutilation using an electric chainsaw if he didn’t surrender the passwords to his crypto accounts.
The ordeal came to an end when the victim managed a desperate escape, breaking free from the apartment and seeking help from a police officer on the street. He told officers he had been held captive for over 15 days and had even been stripped of his passport.
The New York Police Department later raided the apartment and uncovered what could only be described as a “torture chamber.” Officers found Polaroid photos documenting the torture—the victim bound, bruised, and visibly distressed—believed to have been taken to blackmail him for money or cryptocurrency access. A wound on the man's arm appeared consistent with a chainsaw injury, further confirming the brutality of his confinement.
He was immediately rushed to Bellevue Hospital for medical attention while Woeltz was arrested at the scene without resistance. The accused, described by neighbours as calm and clean-cut, was reportedly known for his opulent appearances, often seen in a robe and looking "like a rich guy."
Local vendors and residents expressed shock at the revelations, with one jewelry vendor saying they assumed the flashy residents were "just shooting porn." Another neighbour told Fox 5, “He looked like a decent guy—hair slicked, well-shaven. We didn’t expect this.”
Investigations are ongoing, and authorities are now probing possible links to wider cryptocurrency-related crimes or a potential human trafficking network. The incident has once again raised serious concerns over the dark underbelly of digital currency dealings and the anonymity that often shields malicious intent.
Further updates are awaited as Woeltz is expected to be produced before court in the coming days.