Who is Alessandro Coatti, the biologist killed and made to pieces in Colombia

«The Royal Society of Biology is shocked in announcing the death of the former colleague Alessandro Coattiassassinated in Colombia. Alessandro, known as Ale, worked for the Royal Society of Biology for eight years as Science Policy Officer in the Team Science Policy before being promoted at Senior Science Policy Officer. He was a passionate and dedicated scientist to work, who guided the ESB animal science section, writing numerous studies, organizing events and providing demonstration to the Chamber of Municipalities. He left the RSB at the end of 2024 to volunteer in Ecuador and travel to South America. Ale was fun, warm, intelligent, loved by all those with whom he worked, and will miss all those who knew him and worked with him. Our thoughts and our best wishes go to his friends and family at this very horrible moment ».

With this message, the British Biology company greeted the Italian biologist who, after years of work in England, since last January, had started working alone in South America. At the center of his interests always the naturalistic sciences. He had already been to Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. In Colombia he found death, in terrible and not yet clarified circumstances.

The body by Alessandro Coatti, 38 -year -old molecular biologist, was made to pieces. The trunk, arms and head was found in a suitcase thrown by a bridge near the Sierra Nevada stadium, in the Villa Betel neighborhood in Santa Maria.

Forced was originally from Longstrinein the province of Ravenna, on the border with Ferrarese, near the Comacchio valleys. He had studied at the Scientific High School of Argenta, in the province of Ferrara. He had graduated in Biology at the Normale di Pisa with full marks and had remained in London after a master’s degree since 2017.

He was an expert in Caribbean plants and animals and also to study them he would arrive in Santa Maria on March 28th. On Friday 4 April he would leave the hostel in which he was staying to go to the city market and look for a transport to the Tayrona Natural Park. His body was found part on Sunday and starts on Monday. The identification took place through the bracelet that the hostel gives to the guests. There had remained his passport.

The authorities of Santa Marta promised a reward of about 10 thousand euros for anyone who was able to provide information on Alessandro’s death. It is assumed to have been the victim of a robbery and was killed and made to pieces to divert the suspicions. No track is excluded. «This crime will not remain unpunished. Criminals must know that crime has not placed in Santa Marta. We will pursue them until they have been ensured to justice, “explained the city mayor.

“He had no enemies, he was a good boy, who always studied and worked for his passion, biology,” said his uncle Giuseppe. The mayor of Alfonsine, Riccardo Graziani, “expressed the utmost closeness to the family, in front of such a serious episode”.

The Italian Embassy in Bogota, in connection with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, follows the story with the utmost attention and is witnessing the family in all the passages for the return of the body. The Rome Prosecutor will start an investigation file for murder.