Aspiring Actress and Crypto Entrepreneur Arrested in Manhattan Mansion Over Sadistic Kidnapping and Torture Plot

Beatrice Folchi, 24, a striking brunette with a background in marketing for Rolls-Royce, was taken into custody on Friday at the $75,000-a-month SoHo townhouse

A 24-year-old aspiring actress and marketing manager has been arrested alongside a group of alleged cryptocurrency investors in connection with a brutal kidnapping and torture scheme inside a luxury Manhattan brownstone. The victim, a 28-year-old Italian tourist, was held captive for nearly three weeks in the $75,000-per-month Soho residence before making a dramatic escape.

Beatrice Folchi, originally from Italy and now residing in Connecticut, was seen being taken into custody outside the upscale Prince Street property on Saturday. The arrest followed a raid by New York City police, during which officers discovered disturbing evidence of the man's captivity and abuse.

“I’m not arrested,” Beatrice Folchi told The Post in an exclusive interview outside of her ritzy Chelsea apartment building Saturday

The primary suspect, 37-year-old John Woeltz, a former business associate of the victim, allegedly lured him to the mansion under false pretenses. Once inside, the victim was allegedly chained, electrocuted, pistol-whipped, and subjected to psychological torture. Authorities say Woeltz and others attempted to extort millions in cryptocurrency by threatening the victim’s life.

Investigators recovered chilling items from the scene, including night vision goggles, a bulletproof vest, broken glass, a firearm, and a Polaroid photograph showing the victim bound to a chair with a gun to his head—believed to have been intended to pressure his family abroad. A chainsaw was reportedly used to threaten dismemberment.

Folchi was arrested alongside John Woeltz, 37, and others in the apartment who allegedly chained up the tourist, taunted him with a chainsaw, and forced him to do cocaine

Folchi, identified as Woeltz’s assistant at the time, has been charged with first-degree kidnapping and first-degree unlawful imprisonment. The former University of Connecticut student had reportedly worked with luxury brands such as Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Puma, and Manchester City, and had minor acting roles, including in the 2021 indie film Butterfly Wings. Her social media profiles and professional pages have since been locked or deleted.

When approached by reporters, Folchi said, “I’m not arrested,” adding that any statements would be made through legal counsel. Friends from her former Connecticut neighborhood stated that her parents had recently returned to Italy and rented out their home.

Folchi was charged with first-degree kidnapping and first-degree unlawful imprisonment, but the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office declined to prosecute pending further investigation, a spokesperson said

The victim’s escape unfolded Friday afternoon, after captors reportedly told him he would be killed later that day. Bruised and visibly shaken, he fled the property and flagged down a police officer in Lower Manhattan. He is now recovering in a New York hospital.

Woeltz, described by authorities as previously low-profile despite showcasing crypto wealth online, was arrested barefoot and wearing a white bathrobe. He faces multiple felony charges, including assault, kidnapping, and unlawful imprisonment. He remains in custody pending arraignment at Manhattan Criminal Court.

Folchi, according to her now-scrubbed LinkedIn profile, studied communication and philosophy at the University of Connecticut from 2017 to 2020

As of Saturday, no additional suspects have been officially named, but investigators believe the motive was entirely financial, with the victim targeted for his cryptocurrency assets.

The alleged torture occurred in this massive luxury townhouse in SoHo, a posh New York City neighborhood