Italian scientist’s remains found in Colombia spark multinational investigation

Local authorities discovered several pieces of a human body lying on a path in the coastal city of Santa Marta on Sunday.

An Italian scientist has been found dead in Colombia, according to local authorities, after several pieces of a human body were discovered lying on a path in the coastal city of Santa Marta on Sunday. City police said their investigation showed that a bracelet found on the remains belonged to Alessandro Coatti, a biologist who had recently embarked on a trip through South America. More remains were later found at two other locations around the city. Coatti had been staying at an establishment in the city and had presumably been visiting the scenic shoreline Tayrona area on April 5, police said. But what happened to him remains the subject of an urgent investigation by local authorities. “At present there is no further detail about what happened; it is under investigation,” read information provided by the Colombian prosecutor’s office on Thursday. “It is not yet known what occurred or where.” Only three pieces of his body have been recovered, it also said. Santa Marta mayor Carlos Pinedo Cuello has vowed to find those responsible; in a public notice on Monday, the city described Coatti’s death as a homicide and announced a 50 million peso (approximately US$11,300) reward for information that would help Colombian authorities.