Reports indicate that an Italian billionaire has made allegations of luring and torture against two men, who in turn are said to have held a European tourist hostage, demanding his cryptocurrency password.
William Duplesey, 33, and John Waltz, 37, reportedly took a model and a group of Hai flyers from Palm Beach, Florida, to a small hamlet called Smithland in Kentucky back in February, as noted by sources.
Some guests, who were potentially targeted by Duplesey and Waltz, shared with the media that the duo claimed they had enticed the Germans, stolen cryptocurrency, and even killed someone. One guest expressed uncertainty about the truth behind these claims.
Interestingly, a woman who speaks German reported that her son had received an invitation just a week earlier, according to a local 911 call. The situation escalated when the Holiday Inn clerk in Paducah called 911, having received a concerning text from his son visiting the U.S. from Switzerland.
The son’s message, translated, conveyed, “They don’t want to let me go, Bitcoin,” which raised alarms for the clerk. The text stated that they were armed with a firearm, adding to the urgency.
A man named Michael Mauer was supposed to meet a friend, John, from Smithland. There was communication with a hotel clerk regarding a property owned by Waltz.
Reports suggest that Mauer and Woeltz had previously collaborated on a cryptocurrency project called Grin Coin in 2020. Local police have noted ongoing issues with the property since Duplesey and Waltz acquired it in January; recordings highlight this concern.
Eventually, Mauer called his mother, informing her of his release and that he had been met by a Smithland police officer.
The attorneys for Duplesey and Waltz have yet to comment. Mauer has not been reachable for further details.
At a Kentucky party, Duplesey and Waltz seemed to attract wealthier guests, including heirs and models, even flying them in a private jet filled with caviar and drinks from Florida to Smithland, which is about 135 miles from Louisville.
The report adds that upon their arrival at a lavish six-bedroom mansion in Smithland, there were claims that the hosts had engaged with U.S. intelligence over a cryptocurrency operation involving a hunt for terrorists. It’s quite a twist.
According to SC Judge Gregory Caro, the pair was initially arrested on May 23, later receiving a bail of $1 million, with no possibility of payment through Bitcoin.
Crime scene investigators from the NYPD thoroughly examined the home after Mauer’s escape. Defense attorneys say there’s confusion regarding the victims in this case.
Duplesey, who had aspirations for a political future, even got a Kentucky seal tattoo during the February gathering. He faces accusations of kidnapping and torturing 28-year-old Italian Michael Valentino Theophlastro Carturan at a fancy townhouse in Soho last May.
Both men were given a million-dollar bail last month and have consistently pleaded not guilty, claiming that any misunderstandings led to these serious accusations. They maintain that Cartulan was never held against his will but was participating willingly in what they describe as a party.
