Dismembered Body Parts of Missing Italian Scientist Found in Suitcase in Colombia 

An Italian scientist who disappeared during a volunteer trip in South America has been found dismembered inside a suitcase in northern Colombia. 

Alessandro Coatti, 42, vanished on Friday, April 4, a day after arriving in ​​Santa Marta, about 2 hours east of Barranquilla on Colombia’s northern coast, local outlets El Spectador and El Tiempo reported. 

His decapitated body was found inside a suitcase on Sunday, April 6, the BBC reported, citing investigators.

Santa Marta Mayor Carlos Pinedo Cuello confirmed Coatti’s killing in a statement on X on Monday.

Prior to his disappearance, Coatti had reportedly asked staff at his hostel about doing research in the area, El Tiempo reported. 

“He asked several times about routes to Minca and if there was any possibility of studying species in the area,” a hostel employee said, according to the outlet. “The last time he was seen, he was leaving that place around dusk.” 

When he did not return the next day, Coatti’s friends began contacting staff at the hostel, per El Tiempo.

On Sunday, police in Santa Marta found a suitcase with a head, hands and feet inside, but did not have any information about the identity of the man, El Spectador reported.

One of the hands had a bracelet from the hostel where Coatti was staying, and the bracelet eventually helped investigators determine the identity of the victim, El Spectador, El Tiempo and El Colombiano reported.

Coatti, a renowned molecular biologist in London, had left his position at the Royal Society of Biology (RSB) in December to volunteer in Ecuador and travel across South America, El Colombiano reported.

In a statement, RSB remembered him as “funny, caring, intelligent, well-liked by all his colleagues,” per the outlet.

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Mayor Cuello has vowed to bring Coatti’s killer to justice.

In his statement on X, he announced a reward of 50 million pesos (about USD $11,200) for anyone who can provide accurate information leading to the apprehension of those responsible.

The Italian consulate in Colombia did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment.