Overview

• William Duplessie surrendered to NYPD on May 27, completing the capture of both main suspects in the abduction of Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan
• Duplessie and co-defendant John Woeltz face charges of kidnapping, assault, unlawful imprisonment and weapons possession and are being held without bail
• Italian investor Michael Carturan escaped on May 23 after enduring nearly three weeks of beatings, electric shocks and other torture at a SoHo townhouse rented for $30,000–$40,000 per month
• Beatrice Folchi, initially arrested as Woeltz’s assistant, was released after the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office declined to prosecute her pending further investigation
• The case highlights a growing wave of violent extortion attempts known as “wrench attacks” targeting high-net-worth cryptocurrency holders