Four people have been arrested after the dismembered body parts of a London scientist for the prestigious Royal Society of Biology were found in Colombia.
Molecular biologist Alessandro Coatti was reported missing on April 4 after arriving in the Caribbean coastal city of Santa Marta for a holiday.
His head, hands and feet were discovered by children inside a suitcase dumped in a stream - three days after he arrived in the country.
More than two weeks later, police located the 42-year-old’s torso and other remains.
Three men and one woman - Oswal Moisés Ospino Navarro, Isaac Enrique Márquez Charris, Andrea Camila Berdugo Escorcia and Brian Augusto Cantillo Salcedo - have all been detained on suspicion of aggravated homicide, Colombian newspaper Hoy-Diario del Magdalena said.
Mr Coatti – known as Ale – had worked at the RSB in Naoroji Street, Clerkenwell for eight years as science policy officer before being promoted to senior science policy officer.
Before joining the professional association, created to advance the interests of biology in academia, industry, education and research, Italian-born Mr Coatti had been a post-graduate neuroscience researcher at University College London.
He left the RSB at the end of 2024 to volunteer in Ecuador and travel in South America.
His uncle, Giovanni Coatti, previously said of his nephew: “He wanted to go and live in South America so he went for a trip to see; he was supposed to be back next week.”
According to Mr Coatti, his nephew would not have been an obvious target for thieves.
“He never had much money in his pockets, or a watch or other precious objects,” he told media in their native Italy.
“All he had was a new mobile phone to take pictures but even that was a cheap one.”
In a statement, the RSB said: “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.
“Ale was funny, warm, intelligent, loved by everyone he worked with and 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.”
