Overview

• Victim Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan escaped on May 23 after nearly 17 days of alleged torture including tasering, saw cuts, forced drug use, and threats with a chainsaw.
• John Woeltz was arrested on May 23 and William Duplessie surrendered on May 27; both face charges of kidnapping, assault, unlawful imprisonment and criminal weapons possession.
• A judge denied bail for both defendants, citing the severity of the alleged crimes and their potential flight risk given Woeltz’s private jet and Duplessie’s international connections.
• Authorities recovered body armor, night vision goggles, chicken wire, Polaroid photos of abuse and crack cocaine at the NoLiTa townhouse, corroborating Carturan’s account.
• Investigators continue probing ties within the cryptocurrency community and have not ruled out additional suspects in the extortion scheme.