PANews reported on May 24 that according to The Block, New York City police arrested two suspects who were suspected of kidnapping and torturing an Italian tourist, allegedly trying to blackmail the tourist to hand over his financial account password. After the Italian tourist escaped from the high-end apartment in SoHo where he was held and called the police, the police arrested a 37-year-old man named John Woeltz and a 24-year-old suspected female accomplice. The New York Post, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that the tourist went to the apartment on May 6 under the guise of a business transaction, and was subsequently captured by John Woeltz, beaten and tortured in an attempt to defraud "millions of dollars. "

It is reported that the police found several Polaroid photos of the victim being tied up and tortured, as well as guns, chain saws and other tools at the scene. The victim finally escaped and called the police on May 23. John Woeltz was charged with first-degree kidnapping, false imprisonment, assault and illegal possession of weapons.