Third Arrest Made in Manhattan Bitcoin Kidnapping, Torture Case

A antheral suspected of helping kidnap and torture an Italian cryptocurrency capitalist successful a Manhattan townhouse has surrendered to New York City police.

William Duplessie turned himself successful Tuesday aft what officials described arsenic days of negotiations with authorities, the New York Times reports.

He is the 3rd fishy successful an alleged crippled to extract the keys to a bitcoin wallet belonging to Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan, a crypto money subordinate who said helium was held captive and abused for astir 3 weeks.

The ordeal began connected May 6, erstwhile Carturan arrived astatine a 17-room townhouse connected Prince Street successful Manhattan’s NoLiTa neighborhood. He was acceptable to reconnect with erstwhile money spouse John Woeltz, who, on with different subordinate Beatrice Folchi, allegedly ambushed him.

Police accidental the radical attempted to unit Carturan to surrender entree to his crypto holdings, reportedly worthy millions, done carnal threats and intelligence abuse.

According to instrumentality enforcement, Carturan was assaulted, suspended from the apical level of the five-story building, and held astatine gunpoint. He managed to flight and alert authorities astir 3 weeks later.

The New York City Police Department lawsuit has drawn attraction for its brutality and transportation to a increasing inclination of carnal attacks connected crypto users.

In France, the girl and grandson of Paymium CEO Pierre Noizat were precocious targeted successful a failed kidnapping effort captured connected video. Earlier successful the aforesaid city, a crypto millionaire’s begetter was abducted and had a digit severed earlier being rescued.

Another incident saw David Balland, co-founder of hardware wallet shaper Ledger, and his woman kidnapped from their home. Authorities aboriginal rescued the mates and seized the ransom payment.

While Folchi has since been released and her prosecution deferred, Woeltz is scheduled to look successful tribunal connected Wednesday. Both Woeltz and Duplessie look kidnapping, battle and amerciable weapon possession charges.

An lawyer representing Woeltz didn't instantly respond to a petition for comment.