A horrifying new theory into the brutal murder of a UK-based scientist who was found cut up in a suitcase in Colombia has emerged. Alessandro Coatti’s remains were discovered on the outskirts of Santa Marta, a port city on the Caribbean coast, on Sunday.
The Italian molecular biologist was travelling and conducting research in South America but police and his family were left shocked after some parts of his body were found in a suitcase, while others were reportedly scattered around the Colombian town. His family has desperately pleaded for answers and shared their terrifying theory that Coatti could have been targeted by organ traffickers.
Police initially revealed they were only able to find his head, hands and feet, but have since discovered his torso a mile away from his other dismembered body parts.
The initial theory was that he could have been caught up in a deadly robbery. But his uncle, Giovanni Coatti, has now suggested the way his body was found could suggest organ traffickers were behind his murder.
The uncle said: “The theory of a robbery doesn’t convince me; he didn’t have anything of value. What’s really troubling us is another possibility, that of organ trafficking.
“When you see how his body was found, in pieces, without the chest. It’s something horrible to even say but at this point nothing has been ruled out.” His uncle added: “Alessandro didn’t have any enemies; he was a quiet person.”
Another theory, reportedly raised by Italian prosecutors, is whether the scientist’s murder could have been a case of mistaken-identity between organised crime groups – but there is no evidence his murder was linked to gang violence.
Coatti, who worked for the prestigious Royal Society of Biology, was staying at a hotel in Santa Marta’s scenic historic centre. He was last seen alive on Friday, just days before he was due to return back home from his trip.
The scientist’s head, hand and feet were first found in a suitcase by a group of children, next to a road leading to the Sierra Nevada football stadium on Sunday. His torso and other dismembered body parts were reportedly found near the Minuto de Dios bridge on Monday.
Police then discovered Coatti’s legs near the stadium on Tuesday. Police believe the scientist could have set out from his hotel on Friday night to visit a club, and they are scouring CCTV footage and phone records to retrace his final steps.
Santa Maria’s mayor Carlos Pinedo Cuello has offered a near £10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. The mayor said: “I have instructed the authorities to join forces to solve the death of the Italian citizen Alessandro Coatti. 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.”
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