Italian Scientist’s Murder in Colombia Sparks Multinational Investigation

Authorities from Italy and Colombia are probing Alessandro Coatti’s dismemberment, exploring gang violence and mistaken identity as possible motives.

Alessandro Coatti, a respected Italian scientist, was found dismembered in Santa Marta, Colombia, after his disappearance on April 3.
Italian prosecutors have launched an investigation and dispatched teams to Colombia, including Santa Marta and Bogota, to collaborate with local authorities.
Investigators are considering mistaken identity in the context of gang violence, with Coatti’s death fitting a pattern of brutal killings used to intimidate and mark territory.
Human rights experts have highlighted a recurring trend of dismemberments in the region, often linked to organized crime, though Coatti had no known ties to such groups.
Coatti, a former Royal Society of Biology employee, was traveling in South America for research and volunteer work, remembered by colleagues and family for his curiosity and kindness.