A huge reward has been offered after a top scientist was found dismembered in a suitcase, as authorities continue their investigation.
Alessandro Coatti, 42, a trained molecular biologist and former senior science policy officer at the Royal Society of Biology, had only just begun a backpacking journey through South America after leaving his job at the end of 2024.
His horrifying death has sent shockwaves through the international science community, per the Daily Mail.
According to police in Santa Marta, Colombia, Coatti’s head, hands, and feet were found inside a suitcase by children playing near a stream on Sunday.
His torso and other body parts remain missing, and authorities are actively searching for the rest of his remains.
Coatti had been staying at a hostel in the city’s picturesque historic centre. He was last seen alive on Friday. Mayor Carlos Pinedo Cuello has since issued a statement vowing justice and offered a reward of $10,000 for information.
“I have instructed the authorities to join forces to solve the death of the Italian citizen Alessandro Coatti,” he said. “We are offering a reward of fifty million Colombian pesos for information that will allow us to identify and capture those responsible.
“This crime will not go unpunished. Criminals must know that in Santa Marta criminality has no place. We will pursue them until they are brought to justice.”
Coatti is believed to have been on holiday and had reportedly asked staff at his hotel about how to get to Minca — a popular ecotourism spot nestled in the Sierra Nevada mountains known for its hiking, waterfalls, and laid-back jungle vibes.
He is said to have been identified by a hotel wristband found on one of the body parts.
According to Jaime Rios Puerto of the Santa Marta Metropolitan Police: “He was a visitor, a scientist, with no suspicious connections.”
“There was no record of him receiving threats,” he confirmed.
Coatti's murder comes at a time of increased instability in the area.
Local media noted that the paramilitary group Autodefensas Conquistadores de la Sierra Nevada, which operates in the region and funds itself through drug trafficking and extortion, had suspended peace talks with the Colombian government the same day Coatti was last seen.
However, there is currently no indication the group is linked to the killing.
Coatti’s friends and colleagues are reeling from the news, per LBC.
The Royal Society of Biology, where he worked for nearly eight years, released a statement: “Alessandro Coatti, known as Ale, worked for the Royal Society of Biology for 8 years.
“He was a passionate and dedicated scientist, leading RSB animal science work, writing numerous submissions, organising events and giving evidence in the House of Commons.
“He left RSB at the end of 2024 to volunteer in Ecuador and travel in South America. We are all in shock. Ale will be deeply missed by all who knew and worked with him. Our thoughts and best wishes go out to his friends and family at this truly awful time.”
Coatti's background was as impressive as it was impactful. Originally from Italy, he earned degrees in molecular and cellular biology and spent over five years conducting neuroscience research — including at University College London and the Medical Research Council.
From 2011 to 2013, he worked as a postgraduate researcher at UCL before moving into science policy.
In a 2022 interview with the Royal Society of Biology, Coatti explained his career pivot: “There are two main aspects – one is the passion for science that I've always had, and the other is a new passion for community building and stakeholder engagement. I have discovered I really like the mediation and negotiation part of the role.
“You have to listen to people with different views and try to understand their thoughts, what their interests are and how you can reach a consensus.”
In his own words on LinkedIn, Coatti described himself as a “driven and enthusiastic senior professional” with “more than seven years experience of influencing public policy through science,” particularly in ethical research and innovation in animal and biomedical fields.
His work brought him face-to-face with some of the UK’s most influential scientific leaders and government departments. In June 2022, he gave evidence before Parliament on the regulation of genetic technologies.
In his final year at the RSB, Coatti appeared on the Offspring Magazine podcast to discuss his journey from research to policy and advocacy.
While Santa Marta is typically a tourist hotspot known for its colonial charm and Caribbean coastline, some travelers have voiced concerns about safety in the surrounding areas like Minca.
One English-language travel site noted: “The common question we are asked is, ‘Is Minca safe?’… Following the ceasefire by the paramilitary and guerrilla groups over the last several years, Minca was only recently ‘discovered’ by backpackers in the last eight years.”
A blogger writing in Spanish last month added: “I went in 2023 and it was great, as long as you took care in some places. The truth is I’ve heard it’s got worse, but I don’t know exactly to what extent.”
As of now, no suspects have been identified, and investigators remain tight-lipped about any leads. Colombian authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward as international attention grows around the tragic killing of a respected voice in science.