London-based scientist lured on Grindr before being killed and dismembered, police say
A “warm-hearted” London-based scientist was lured on Grindr before being killed and dismembered, police in Colombia have said.
Alessandro Coatti, 38, was last seen leaving his hostel in Santa Marta on 4 April.
The microbiologist, who had recently left his role at the Royal Society of Biology (RSB) after eight years as a senior policy officer, had told staff at his hostel that he wanted to learn about the local flora and fauna.
On 6 April, Coatti’s head, hands and feet were found in a suitcase near the Sierra Nevada Stadium. His other body parts were found the following day in a suitcase by the Minuto de Dios Bridge, the day after his legs were found a coffee bag in the Villa Betal neighbourhood.
Police, who initially thought Coatti’s death could have been linked to a violent war between two rival gangs in the city, now believe he was lured to his death by a group of thieves who target their victims on Grindr.
A coroner determined that he died of blunt force trauma to the head.
‘Loved by everyone he worked with’
The RSB remembered Coatti, who was also known as Ale, as someone who was “funny, warm, intelligent” and “loved by everyone he worked with”.
Tribute adds that he “will be deeply missed by all who knew and worked with him”.
A memorial page, organised for Coatti by RSB, features a memory wall of comments from people who knew him.
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One person wrote that he was a “delightful person toward with” and “warm-hearted”.
Another wrote: “He was knowledgeable, insightful and brought a warmth and humour to his role. Ale often had a mischievous twinkle in his eye before saying something that made me laugh.”
“Words cannot adequately express the profound sorrow I feel for a beautiful life cut so short,” someone else shared on the page.
Speaking to The Daily Mail, local human rights activist Vera Salazar said there have been 13 similar murders in the region in the last year.
In a statement posted on X, Santa Marta mayor Carlos Pinedo Cuello offered a reward of 50 million pesosfor information in the case.
The post was captioned: “The Santa Marta District Mayor’s Office emphatically rejects any act of violence and reiterates its commitment to defending public space and the safety of public officials who work towards a more orderly and safer Santa Marta for everyone.”
Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time Grindr has been linked to the death or harm of an LGBTQ+ individual. Last year, a 20-year-old was found guilty of bludgeoning an army veteran he met though Grindr to death with a hammer, as well as the attempted murder of another man he met on the gay app.
A Grindr spokesperson has previously told The Guardian that the company was aware of attempts to misuse its service but said they worked hard to ensure “a safe and authentic environment, free of harmful and fake accounts”.