Italian Scientist Likely Killed in Mistaken Identity Case in Colombia, Authorities Investigate

Rome/Santa Marta – April 11, 2025: Italian authorities have launched a formal investigation into the brutal murder of Alessandro Coatti, a 38-year-old molecular biologist whose dismembered body was found in Colombia, possibly the victim of mistaken identity amid escalating violence between criminal groups.

Coatti, who had recently left a position at the Royal Society of Biology in London after eight years, was on a solo research trip across South America. He arrived in Santa Marta, a coastal city on Colombia’s Caribbean shoreline, on April 3. That was the last day he was seen, leaving a local hostel. Two days later, parts of his dismembered body were discovered in a suitcase dumped on the outskirts of the city.

Prosecutors in Rome, working in close coordination with Colombian authorities, are treating the case as a suspected homicide linked to ongoing turf wars between local criminal organisations. An Italian investigative team is expected to travel to Santa Marta to assist in the inquiry.

Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reports that one leading theory is that Coatti was mistakenly targeted in a vendetta between rival gangs. His name and background showed no known ties to organized crime.

Crime analyst Lerber Dimas told El Tiempo, a Colombian news outlet, that the method of killing pointed to the involvement of one of two violent groups active in the region — the Clan del Golfo or the Autodefensas Conquistadores de la Sierra. The two factions are notorious for using gruesome methods to send messages and assert control over contested areas.

Human rights advocate Norma Vera Salazar noted a disturbing pattern of similar murders in recent months. “These crimes involve torture, dismemberment, and the disposal of bodies in sacks or suitcases on rural roads,” she said. “They are acts of intimidation, meant to instil fear and mark territory.”

Coatti had travelled through Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador before arriving in Santa Marta, a popular tourist hub known for its beaches and proximity to Tayrona National Park. He was reported missing on April 4.

Born in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, Coatti was raised in the town of Alfonsine near Ravenna. He was reportedly planning to return to Italy to celebrate Easter with his family.

Speaking to Italian media, his uncle Giovanni remembered Alessandro as “a good, happy person and a brilliant biologist.” He added, “He loved to travel and discover the world. What happened is surreal. We are devastated and seeking the truth. He had a full life ahead of him.”

The investigation is ongoing, with both Italian and Colombian authorities vowing to uncover the motive and bring those responsible to justice.

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