NYC Police Arrest Crypto Developer in Shocking Kidnapping and Torture Case of Italian Tourist

John Woeltz and a 24-year-old woman believed to be his accomplice, were taken into custody on Friday after the tourist managed to escape confinement in a luxury SoHo apartment and contacted authorities. The tourist had initially visited the apartment under the pretense of a business deal on May 6 but was instead captured, beaten, and tortured, according to multiple local media outlets including the New York Post.

Woeltz, who has a background in cryptocurrency development, was ordered held without bail on Saturday by a Manhattan judge.

Investigators discovered disturbing Polaroid photographs at the crime scene, including one reportedly showing a firearm aimed at the victim’s head. According to reports, the victim narrowly escaped after suspecting his captor was planning to kill him.

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Woeltz has a history in the crypto space, previously participating in the development of HCash (later HyperCash) in 2017 and serving as a core developer for privacy-focused cryptocurrency Grin. His GitHub activity appears to have ceased since 2020.

He now faces charges including first-degree kidnapping, first-degree unlawful imprisonment, two counts of second-degree assault, and criminal possession of a weapon. CBS News reports his female accomplice was also charged, though details remain forthcoming.

The case has sent shockwaves through both New York’s tech circles and the broader crypto community, where Woeltz had once been a respected figure.

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