A suspect has been arrested in Colombia over the murder of Alessandro Coatti, an Italian molecular biologist who previously worked in London. Police believe the 42-year-old was lured to his death through the gay dating app Grindr.
Coatti was reported missing on April 4 after arriving in Santa Marta, Colombia, for a holiday. Two days later, his dismembered body was found scattered across multiple locations, with his torso, head, hands, feet, and legs discovered separately.
Local investigators suspect Coatti fell victim to a gang that targets foreigners seeking dates, luring them to abandoned buildings to rob them. Six gang members were previously arrested, but the main suspect, Uber Etilvio Torres García, was only identified this week from a photograph showing him walking with Coatti on a beach on the day he vanished. Armed police arrested Torres García while he was playing futsal in a Las Vegas neighbourhood of Santa Marta.
Police believe Torres García drove Coatti to a house where other gang members attempted to sedate him, beat him, and force him to reveal bank card passwords. They suspect Coatti refused, leading to an escalation of violence and his eventual dismemberment. His head, hands, and feet were found in a suitcase near a stadium, while other body parts were discovered in a bin bag and a coffee sack.
Coatti had worked as a senior policy officer at the Royal Society of Biology in London for eight years, giving evidence in Parliament on genetic technologies. The RSB paid tribute, describing him as a passionate and dedicated scientist. His uncle, Gianni Coatti, said the arrest brought no closure, stating the family is still struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.
