Latest news with #dismemberment
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Reward leads to suspected killers of Italian scientist whose dismembered body was found in Colombia, police say
Colombian police said Monday that a reward had led them to the suspected killers of a noted Italian scientist whose dismembered remains were found scattered around the Caribbean resort city of Santa Marta in April. Alessandro Coatti, 42, worked for Britain's Royal Society of Biology as a science policy officer whose job included giving evidence to parliament, before leaving that post in 2024 to travel in South America. Part of his body was found in a suitcase on a riverbank on April 6. Other remains were later found in other locations. Coatti had arrived in Santa Marta, a city that acts as a gateway to idyllic palm-lined Caribbean beaches and the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountain range, as a tourist. The police said he was lured by a gang that planned to rob him to an abandoned house in the city, through a dating app for the LGBTQ community. Scientist Alessandro Coatti was reported missing in Santa Marta, Colombia, on April 5, 2025. Royal Society of Biology El Tiempo quoted a local hotel worker as saying Coatti was conducting research on local animal species and had asked about visiting the village of Minca, about six miles southeast of Santa Marta. Santa Marta's Mayor Carlos Pinedo said Sunday that four people suspected of his murder and dismemberment had been arrested in raids in the Colombian capital Bogota, the second city of Medellin as well as in Santa Marta and the town of Arjona, near the port city of Cartagena. At a press conference on Monday, Santa Marta police chief Colonel Jaime Rios said that the police had received a tip-off, which led them to a house where traces of blood were found. "Through arduous investigative work, interviews were conducted, biological traces belonging to the victim were collected, and security camera footage was analyzed, which were all key to solving the case," he said. The gruesome killing of Coatti, described by colleagues at the Royal Society of Biology as a respected scientist, caused shock in Colombia. "He was a passionate and dedicated scientist, leading RSB animal science work, writing numerous submissions, organizing events and giving evidence in the House of Commons," the RSB said in a statement after Coatti's death. "Ale was funny, warm, intelligent, loved by everyone he worked with, and will be deeply missed by all who knew and worked with him." Pinedo had offered a reward of $12,000 for information leading to the capture of his killers. Rios said the reward had led to the breakthrough in the investigation. The Sierra Nevada mountains are home to a drug-running paramilitary gang known as the "Conquistadors of the Sierra Nevada." It is not known if they had any hand in Coatti's murder, but they have been linked to the murder and dismemberment of others in recent years.
The Sun
5 hours ago
- The Sun
Who is Scott Paterson and how did he murder his landlady Annette Smith?
SCOTT Paterson murdered and dismembered his landlady in the home they shared before hiding her remains in a storage unit for months on end. The callous killer went to great lengths to hide his crime, even sending Christmas cards to her family to put them off the scent. 3 3 Who is Scott Paterson? Scott Paterson, 45, was a tenant living with his 74-year-old landlady, Annette Smith, in Fairfield Park near Stotfold, Bedfordshire. They had known each other for many years and, after Annette suffered a stroke, he took on the role of her carer. However, on November 8, 2023, Paterson suffocated Annette with a pillow while she was sleeping. He later said the pressures of caregiving had caused him to "snap". Concealing the crime Following the murder, Paterson went to great lengths to conceal his crime. He dismembered Annette's body using a saw and kitchen knife — he previously worked as a butcher. Paterson initially hid her remains under the stairs, before moving them to a storage unit in Letchworth, Hertfordshire — about three miles from their home. To mask her disappearance, Paterson hacked into Annette's email account and sent Christmas cards and emails to her friends and family, pretending she was still alive. Suspicious relatives This deception lasted for months — until relatives grew suspicious and alerted the police. When first questioned by police, he falsely claimed that Annette had left the house voluntarily with an unknown woman. However, investigators found her passport, clothing, mobile phone and laptop still at the home, and there had been no activity on her bank account, all of which contradicted his story. Detectives found CCTV footage and records proving Paterson also stole Annette's jewellery and other belongings, which he sold for more than £5,000. Confession On April 30, 2024, Paterson was arrested and confessed to the murder shortly afterwards, before leading police to the storage unit where he concealed the dismembered body. Speaking after Paterson's guilty plea, Detective Chief Inspector Katie Dounias of Bedfordshire Police said: 'Annette's death is tragic and deeply saddening. Our thoughts remain with her loved ones. "Paterson's actions to conceal his horrific crime and later mislead Annette's family and friends with a false sense of assurance, reveals the nature of a very cold and calculated individual who has no place in our community. "Uncovering Annette's death has required the finest level of police work, and I would like to commend the Major Crime Unit and supporting teams on their meticulous efforts over the last five months. "Our hope is that this swift progression towards justice, provides some level of comfort to those affected by Annette's death." 3 During sentencing at Luton Crown Court on November 4, 2024, Judge Justice Murray described Paterson's actions as 'awful' and 'callous'. He added: "You told her friends and family an elaborate lie. "Because of your lies, the police concluded there was no evidence at that time to say she was genuinely missing." In a victim impact statement, Annette's stepson Jason Smith said his stepmother "was very vulnerable due to her mobility issues." He added: "I considered Annette as my mother and I loved her dearly. "She was one of the kindest and most caring people; I can't understand why anyone would want to harm her. "I have to try very hard not to think about what he did to her. "He seemed a nice friendly guy, but he was a murderer. I'll never forgive him." Paterson was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years. 24 Hours in Police Custody: The Butcher of Suburbia C4's true crime series 24 Hours in Police Custody is returning with the sickening story of the murder of Annette Smith titled The Butcher of Suburbia. It traces Paterson's macabre efforts to conceal her death, plus the inside story of how he was caught. The documentary airs on Channel 4 on Sunday, June 29, 2025 at 9 pm.
The Sun
07-06-2025
- The Sun
Killer, 34, murdered and dismembered student, 19, on first date after ‘watching Netflix series showing mutilation'
A 34-YEAR-OLD man murdered and dismembered a college student, 19, on the first date after allegedly watching a Netflix series showing mutilation. Maxwell Anderson was convicted of homicide and dismembering a corpse on Friday for the heinous murder of Sade Robinson last year. 10 10 10 The two had met at a bar and spent the rest of their evening getting dinner and drinks at the Twisted Fisherman in Milwaukee. Teen Sade then went back to Anderson's apartment where, at one point in the night, the alleged killer put on Netflix show Love, Death & Robots. One episode of the series called "The Drowned Giant" portrays the horrific mutilation of a human body on the beach. In a chilling similarity, prosecutors have claimed that monster Anderson dismembered Sade's body on a beach in Wisconsin overlooking Lake Michigan. Juror Melissa Blascoe told the Milwaukee-Journal Sentinel:"I was like [...] that's disgusting because that could have been where he got some of his ideas or fantasies. "I physically felt like I was gonna throw up at that point. I know a lot of people were shaking and crying." Anderson was also charged with arson and hiding a corpse in connection with Sade's death. He was found guilty on all counts. Cops said it's believed Anderson spread the 19-year-old's remains across Milwaukee County and burned her car in an attempt to hide key evidence. Surveillance footage showed Sade's car leaving Anderson's apartment in the early hours of April 2. Eerie new video shows 'killer' dad Travis Decker as cops fear 'expert' soldier won't be caught for MONTHS after murders It then arrived at the beach along the shores of Lake Michigan. When Sade didn't turn up for work the next day, concern was sparked on her whereabouts. The student's manager Justin Romano told CNN that she was "very outgoing, she would talk to everybody here." He added: "She was always there to lighten the mood." After Sade hadn't showed up for her shift - which "wasn't like her at all" - Justin added: "We kind of knew something was up. "We had been calling her all day." Anderson is thought to have dismembered Sade and set her car alight behind an abandoned building. He then took a bus back to is apartment. 10 10 10 10 Despite "extreme fire damage" to Sade's car, cops where able to identify the outfit the 19-year-old had been wearing on the night of the date alongside part of an iPhone consistent with hers, CNN reports. Cops had been called to Warnimont Park after a human leg was horrifically discovered, which was later identified as belonging to Sade. Anderson had planned to kill the student weeks before her death, a "confidential informant" claimed, Fox News reports. Anderson's attorney Tony Cotton argued that the prosecution showed no evidence of his intention to kill Sade. The attorney also raised how Anderson didn't try to hide his identity as he travelled on public transport home and was also in clean clothes despite having allegedly dismembered Sade's body in a muddy location. Jurors reached their verdict in one hour on the ninth day of trial. Milwaukee County Assistant District Attorney Ian Vance-Curzan said: "While we are satisfied with this verdict, our hearts go out to the family of Sade Robinson." And Milwaukee County Sheriff's Det. JoAnn Donner - who had spent months working on the heartbreaking case - said: "My heart goes out to the family and [Sade's] friends and really, the community at large. "It's everyone's come together, and it's really hard to take that step back as a law enforcement officer and not get that really emotionally involved during the case. "I will admit that I did go back to my office after the verdict, and I had a good cry because I finally got to have that emotion. It does affect us too." And Sade's grieving mom Sheena Scarbrough said in a GoFundMe set up for her daughter's memorial service that she was a "loving daughter, a cherished sister, and a dear friend to many". Anderson is to be sentenced on August 15, where he faces a mandatory life sentence in prison. 10 10 10
Daily Mail
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Maniac killed and student, 19, on their first date after getting inspiration from Netflix
A Wisconsin man killed and dismembered a 19-year-old college student on their first date after watching a Netflix show that depicted an eerily similar mutilation. Maxwell Anderson was convicted of homicide and dismembering a corpse on Friday for the horrific murder of Sade Robinson on April 1 of last year - just days after the two met at a bar. They had spent the evening of their fateful date having dinner and drinks at the Twisted Fisherman in Milwaukee, before eventually going back to Anderson's apartment. At one point, Anderson turned on the Netflix series Love, Death & Robots. The show's season two finale, The Drowned Giant, depicts the gruesome dismembering of a gigantic human body on a beach. Prosecutors claimed that Anderson mutilated Robinson's body on a Wisconsin beach overlooking Lake Michigan - a jarring detail that was almost too much to stomach for the jury. 'I was like... that's disgusting because that could have been where he got some of his ideas or fantasies,' juror Melissa Blascoe told the Milwaukee-Journal Sentinel. 'I physically felt like I was gonna throw up at that point. I know a lot of people were shaking and crying.' Anderson was also charged with arson and hiding a corpse in connection with her death. He was found guilty on all counts. Investigators said that Anderson is believed to have spread her remains around Milwaukee County and burned her car to hide evidence. Disturbing images showed Robinson being groped by Anderson while she lay face down on his couch, and prosecutors said she was far too incapacitated to have resisted. One image shows Anderson holding Robinson's right breast as she lay unconscious. That breast would later be cut off her body. 'This is his trophy in a way,' Blascoe said about the images taken by Anderson. 'Those pictures will be in my mind for quite some time.' Surveillance video showed Robinson's car leaving the apartment in the early hours of April 2 before arriving at the beach along Lake Michigan shores. The young student's disappearance sparked concern when she didn't appear for work the next day. Her manager, Justin Romano, told CNN that Robinson was 'very outgoing, she would talk to everybody here. She was always there to lighten the mood'. Romano said her not showing up for work 'wasn't like her at all,' and added: 'We kind of knew something was up; we had been calling her all day.' Anderson is believed to have cut her body into pieces and burned her car behind an abandoned building before taking a bus back to his apartment. Within the car, despite 'extreme fire damage', investigator's identified the outfit Robinson had been wearing on the night of the date as well as part of an iPhone consistent with hers burned in the car, CNN reported. Police then were called to Warnimont Park where a human leg, that appeared to have been 'sawn off' at the hip, was discovered. The leg was then identified as Robinson's. A 'confidential informant' claimed that Anderson had planned to kill Robinson weeks prior to her death, Fox News reported. Anderson's attorney, Tony Cotton, argued, however, that the prosecution showed no evidence of Anderson's intention to kill Robinson. Cotton also pointed out he made no attempt to conceal himself on public transport home, and was wearing clean clothes despite having allegedly cut up her body in a muddy park. Jurors reached their verdict within an hour on the ninth day of trial. 'While we are satisfied with this verdict, our hearts go out to the family of Sade Robinson,' Milwaukee County Assistant District Attorney Ian Vance-Curzan said. Milwaukee County Sheriff's Detective JoAnn Donner spent months working on the case and said: 'My heart goes out to the family and [Robinson's] friends and really, the community at large. 'It's everyone's come together, and it's really hard to take that step back as a law enforcement officer and not get that really emotionally involved during the case,' she continued. 'I will admit that I did go back to my office after the verdict, and I had a good cry because I finally got to have that emotion. It does affect us too.' Robinson's mother, Sheena Scarbrough, said in a GoFundMe for her daughter's memorial service that Robinson was a 'loving daughter, a cherished sister, and a dear friend to many.' Anderson is set for sentencing on August 15, where he faces a mandatory life sentence in prison.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Yahoo
Maxwell Anderson found guilty; juror discusses trial, verdict
The Brief Maxwell Anderson was convicted of killing and dismembering Sade Robinson. One of 12 jurors who found him guilty told FOX6 News the decision was "easy." Beyond evidence and testimony, she said more was going on behind the scenes. MILWAUKEE - Maxwell Anderson was convicted on Friday of killing and dismembering Sade Robinson. One of 12 jurors who found the man guilty told FOX6 News the decision was "easy." What they're saying After the jurors were fully assembled at the Milwaukee County Courthouse, the verdict was reached within an hour. The jury of nine women and three men found Anderson guilty of first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse, hiding a corpse and arson of property other than a building. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android "Just emotionally exhausted," the juror said. "We had a big decision to make today, and there was a lot of momentum leading up to this." Because it was such a high-profile case, the juror said she was not comfortable going on camera. "The decision was easy, especially after that mic drop yesterday seeing those pictures," she said in reference to key evidence presented on Thursday. That evidence included graphic photos, which the state said showed Robinson partially undressed and face down on what looked like Anderson's couch. "That's what I went home thinking about last night. He grabbed her right breast, that right breast has not been recovered, he was taking pictures to look back later at it," the juror said. The juror said, beyond the evidence and testimony, much more was going on behind the scenes. "There was knife found in the courtroom, under his chair, at some point this week," she said. "That happened, the judge told us." The juror also told FOX6 that an internal investigation determined the knife potentially belonged to one of the courthouse cleaning staff, but that's not all. "We actually got some insight on that from the detectives," she said. "They're still actively looking into him, so it will be interesting to see the snowball effect from that in the future. As for the outcome of the Anderson case, the juror said justice was served. "Sade, she didn't anticipate any of this, obviously, but she was just going on a date. She was 19. She was innocent," said the juror. The backstory Anderson is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse, hiding a corpse and arson of property other than a building. He is accused of killing Robinson after a date, dismembering her and dumping her body parts across Milwaukee County. One of her arms was later found on an Illinois beach. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News Prosecutors said Anderson and Robinson showed up at a Menomonee Valley bar on April 1, 2024 – the night she was last seen or heard from. The next day, Robinson's burned-out car was found near 30th and Lisbon in Milwaukee. Surveillance photos show a man investigators believe is Anderson walking away from the area, and who was later seen on a bus heading back towards his home on the city's south side. Anderson had planned to kill Robinson weeks before her death, according to a statement from a "confidential informant" noted in court filings FOX6 News obtained. A search warrant also revealed prosecutors believe Anderson tried to cover up Robinson's death with a text message. Dig deeper FOX6 News is streaming the entire Anderson trial each day on FOX LOCAL. The app is free to download on your phone, tablet or smart TV. Day 9: Jury finds Anderson guilty of killing, dismembering Robinson Day 8: Closing arguments made, jury deliberations begin Day 7: Sade Robinson killed; mapping path of Robinson's car Day 6: Jurors get look inside Anderson's home; see clothing Day 5: Testimony provided our first look at Anderson's arrest Open Record: Maxwell Anderson trial Day 4: Video from Milwaukee, discovery of Sade Robinson's remains Day 3: Testimony resumes; law enforcement, friends of Sade Robinson take stand Day 2: Opening statements, testimony begins Day 1: Jury selected in single day Sade Robinson homicide: Timeline of events leading to criminal charges Sade Robinson homicide: Parents navigate grief ahead of trial Sade Robinson homicide: The psychology behind the murder Sade Robinson homicide: Lasting legacy, from tragedy to advocacy Open Record: A Date With Death The Source FOX6 News was in court for the Anderson trial. Information in this report is from the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office, Wisconsin Circuit Court, and prior FOX6 coverage of the case.
