38-year-old London microbiologist lured to death and dismembered via Grindr in Santa Marta, Colombia

Summary

A 38-year-old London-based microbiologist named Alessandro Coatti was lured to his death and dismembered in Santa Marta, Colombia, last month, according to police. Coatti, who had recently worked at the Royal Society of Biology, was last seen leaving his hostel on April 4 and was found dismembered in multiple suitcases and a coffee bag over the following days. Police believe a local group of thieves used the dating app Grindr to target him and lure him to an abandoned house, where they intended to incapacitate him with scopolamine. A coroner determined Coatti died from blunt force trauma to the head. Local activists reported 13 similar dismemberment murders in the area over the past year. Santa Marta’s mayor offered a reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible.