Who is John Woeltz? From Crypto Investor to Accused Kidnap and Torture Ringleader

August 11, 2025 – Once known in crypto circles for his investments, John Woeltz is now at the center of a disturbing criminal case. The 37-year-old, along with fellow crypto enthusiast William Duplessie, has been charged with kidnapping and torturing an Italian businessman in a Manhattan townhouse.

The alleged victim, Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan, claims he was held captive for 17 days in Woeltz’s SoHo property. According to prosecutors, the pair wanted access to Carturan’s Bitcoin holdings. When he refused, they allegedly beat him, used electric shocks, threatened him with firearms, and even dangled him over a staircase.

Carturan’s ordeal ended in May 2025, when he escaped barefoot and flagged down a New York police officer. Law enforcement later recovered his passport and devices, which had reportedly been taken to pressure him into handing over his cryptocurrency passwords.

A Troubled Past and Abuse Allegations

Just months before his arrest, Woeltz’s ex-fiancée Kayla Barbour accused him of terrifying behavior in Kentucky. In a restraining order request, she claimed he put a gun to her head, threatened to kill her, and said he had “a hole dug to bury me in.” She also alleged she was locked in a bedroom for hours and later discovered her car had been shot at while parked at his home.

Barbour described Woeltz as “armed and dangerous” and suffering from violent mood swings.

Defense’s Unusual Claim

Woeltz and Duplessie’s lawyers have offered an unexpected defense, arguing that the alleged kidnapping was actually part of a “long-running frat party” where Carturan was a willing participant. Prosecutors reject this claim, pointing to the physical abuse and the victim’s escape as evidence of a crime.

Awaiting Trial

Woeltz was recently released from Rikers Island on a $1 million bond and is awaiting trial. If convicted, he could face decades in prison. The case has drawn national attention due to its mix of cryptocurrency, extreme violence, and bizarre defense strategy.