A Florida man has been arrested in connection with the brutal roadside death of his alleged lover — a married mother of two whose final messages revealed plans for a romantic meeting the night she was killed.
Rene J. Perez, 38, was taken into custody on March 10 in Miami and booked into the Palm Beach County Jail on charges of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon and tampering with physical evidence.
Authorities say Perez is responsible for the October 28, 2024 killing of 35-year-old Linda Campitelli, who was found fatally injured in the roadway late that evening.
According to a probable cause affidavit, police responded to multiple 911 calls reporting a woman lying unresponsive in the southbound lanes of Lyons Road in Lantana, Florida.
One caller reported that the victim was “bleeding profusely from the mouth” and lying face down in the roadway.
Officers arrived between 10:18 p.m. and 10:21 p.m. and discovered Campitelli severely injured.
She was pronounced dead just minutes later at 10:26 p.m.
Investigators later determined that Campitelli had suffered blunt force trauma to her head and torso. The Palm Beach County Medical Examiner ruled her death a homicide.
Authorities also discovered disturbing signs suggesting the violence began elsewhere.
The affidavit states that Campitelli’s body showed multiple wounds and bruises, including injuries consistent with being dragged across the pavement with significant force.
Roughly 50 feet away from her body, investigators located a vehicle registered to her husband, Jon Campitelli.
Inside the car, detectives reportedly found blood spatter patterns “clearly indicative of a struggle or violent episode.” Investigators also found evidence suggesting someone had been severely injured inside the vehicle before being transported.
Campitelli’s iPhone, recovered near her body, helped authorities identify her.
When detectives spoke with her husband early the following morning, he told them his wife had left their home between 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., saying she planned to meet friends for dinner.
Cell phone records showed he never left the house that evening.
But interviews with two of Campitelli’s close friends pointed investigators in another direction.
According to the affidavit, the friends told detectives that Campitelli had been involved in an extramarital relationship with Perez.
Both Campitelli and Perez were married to other people.
Phone records revealed that the two had been communicating frequently in the days leading up to her death and had exchanged messages about meeting that evening.
In one message sent through WhatsApp on Oct. 27, the day before she died, Campitelli wrote to Perez: “I LOVE YOU, I FEEL KINDA WEIRD. I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT TOMORROW.”
“You’ve never done anything like this for me before and I feel a little nervous,” she added.
Perez allegedly replied: “JUST TRYING TO SHOW U THAT I CAN BE ROMANTIC.”
“SO TOMORROW AT 7:30…AND YOU’RE 100% SURE THIS IS OK?” Campitelli asked.
“YES MAAM. U GOT IT. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH,” Perez responded.
Investigators later discovered a photo on Campitelli’s phone showing the back of her car with the seats folded down and covered with a blanket bearing a birthday message reading: “HAPPY BIRTHDAY HOPE YOUR BIRTHDAY IS OUT OF THIS WORLD.”
Authorities also noted that medical absorbent sheets had been placed over the cover — but were missing from the vehicle when police arrived.
When Perez was interviewed by detectives on Nov. 8, 2024, he admitted the two had been engaged in an affair that had lasted about two years, beginning when they worked together at Wellington Regional Medical Center.
However, Perez denied meeting Campitelli on the night of her death.
Investigators say phone records did not support that claim.
Additional surveillance evidence also suggested Perez had lied about the time he left work that evening.
A search of Perez’s home later uncovered the same brand of medical absorbent sheets found in the photograph from Campitelli’s phone. Authorities confirmed Perez had access to those sheets through his workplace at Delray Medical Center.
Perez made his first court appearance on March 11 before Judge Donald Hafele in Palm Beach County.
A judge set bond at $50,000 and ordered that Perez have no contact with Campitelli’s family.
He is scheduled to return to court on April 9, with a case conference planned for April 30.
Campitelli is survived by two young daughters, both under the age of 10.
