The Royal Society of Biology (RSB) has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic death of Alessandro Coatti, an Italian scientist who formerly worked with the organization in London. Coatti’s dismembered remains were discovered near Santa Marta, a coastal city in northern Colombia, where he was traveling. Authorities say his body was found in a suitcase abandoned in a stream.

Local officials, including Santa Marta’s Mayor Carlos Pinedo Cuello, have condemned the murder and offered a reward of 50 million Colombian pesos (approx. £8,940) for information that leads to the suspects’ arrest. He emphasized that such a crime will not go unpunished.

Coatti worked with the RSB for eight years, contributing significantly to its animal science programs, policy work, and public engagement efforts. The organization described him as passionate, intelligent, and widely admired by colleagues. He left the RSB at the end of 2024 to volunteer in Ecuador and explore South America.

Reports suggest Coatti had recently expressed interest in researching animal species in Minca, a village near Santa Marta. His murder has shocked both the scientific community and the local Colombian authorities, who have vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.