22 hours ago
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A cryptocurrency investor from Kentucky was arrested Friday after an Italian tourist who had apparently been tied up and tortured inside a ritzy New York City apartment was able to escape, police sources said.
The victim, 28, broke out of the SoHo house of horrors Friday morning and immediately ran over to a police officer and told them he’d been held captive for more than two weeks, according to the sources.
John Woeltz, 37, was taken into custody and is expected to be charged with assault, the sources said.
Two other people believed to be employed by Woeltz, a crypto entrepreneur and investor, were waiting to be interviewed by police, sources said.
Woeltz and the victim apparently knew each other from previous business dealings, the sources said.
The tourist arrived in New York City from Italy on May 6 and went to the luxurious apartment — but when he arrived, the suspect snatched his passport and tied him up, sources said.
After speaking with the victim, police searched the posh pad and discovered multiple torture items in plain sight.
Officers also found polaroid photographs showing the victim being tied up and tortured as well as a gun, the sources said.
The department’s emergency service unit searched the premises to make sure their were no other torture victims, sources said.
The eight-bedroom apartment in one of the city’s most desirable neighborhoods rents for $30,000 to $40,000 per month.
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