Third Suspect Turns Himself In for Manhattan Bitcoin Kidnapping Case
A man, William Duplessie, has surrendered to New York City police in connection with the kidnapping and torture of cryptocurrency investor Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan. Key points include:
- Duplessie is the third suspect in a plot to force Carturan to reveal access to his bitcoin wallet.
- Carturan was reportedly held captive for nearly three weeks after being ambushed on May 6 at a Manhattan townhouse.
- The suspects allegedly used physical threats and psychological abuse to extract information about Carturan's crypto holdings.
- Police reports indicate Carturan was assaulted and held at gunpoint before escaping and alerting authorities.
This incident highlights a concerning trend of violence against cryptocurrency users. Recent related attacks include:
- A failed kidnapping attempt involving the daughter and grandson of Paymium CEO Pierre Noizat in France.
- The abduction of a crypto millionaire’s father, who suffered severe injuries before rescue.
- The kidnapping of Ledger co-founder David Balland and his wife, from which they were later rescued.
Folchi has been released with deferred prosecution. Woeltz is scheduled for court appearance, facing charges of kidnapping, assault, and illegal gun possession alongside Duplessie.