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A Florida man faces serious charges after allegedly orchestrating a birthday celebration for his mistress, which ended in her tragic death. The man reportedly beat her to death inside her SUV and then dragged her body along the road.
Rene J. Perez, 38, was taken into custody on March 10 and charged with first-degree murder with a deadly weapon, as well as tampering with physical evidence. These charges relate to the October 2024 death of nurse Linda Campitelli, as confirmed by a statement from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
Campitelli, 35, was found face down in the southbound lanes of Lyons Road at approximately 10:18 p.m. on October 28, 2024. Her body was discovered near her deserted Chevrolet Tahoe. According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Oxygen, investigators identified a blood trail along the road and noted “significant bruising” and “severe road rash” on her body, which suggested she had been dragged.
Authorities detailed in court documents that “the back portion of the victim’s heels was completely worn down, disfigured, and distorted,” indicating they had been pressed against the road as she was dragged with force. Additionally, the back of her dress was found torn and stained with black tar from the roadway.
A medical examiner later concluded that Campitelli died from blunt force trauma to her head and torso. The injuries included a skull fracture, brain contusions, facial lacerations, rib fractures, and contusions to her back.
Text Messages Reveal Alleged Plans to Meet Rene Perez
The victim’s husband Jon Campitelli told investigators, according to the affidavit, that his wife claimed she was having dinner with friends and left their home that night around 7:30 p.m., wearing a red dress and black heels.
However, after speaking to Campitelli’s friends, detectives learned that she’d been having an affair with Perez, a married man she met through work, according to the affidavit. Analysis of her phone showed the pair “communicated on almost a daily basis” through WhatsApp about their families, work and plans to meet—sometimes even sending nude photos to each other.
Then on Oct. 27, 2024—according to their messaging history outlined in the affidavit—the pair talked about getting together the next night for a special celebration to celebrate Campitelli’s recent birthday.
“I LOVE YOU, I FEEL KINDA WEIRD. I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT TOMORROW,” she allegedly wrote him. “YOU’VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS FOR ME BEFORE AND I FEEL A LITTLE NERVOUS.”
He replied, “LOL, ITS NO BIG DEAL. JUST TRYING TO SHOW U THAT I CAN BE ROMANTIC. IT PROBABLY WONT BE AS GOOD AS WHAT YOUVE DONE FOR ME.”
Detectives also found an image on Campitelli’s cell phone taken the night she died around 8:12 p.m. showing the back of the Tahoe decorated with a blanket or table cover that read “HAPPY BIRTHDAY HOPE YOUR BIRTHDAY IS OUT OF THIS WORLD.”
On top of the blanket was Ultrasorbs Medical Sheets, the same type of sheeting later found during a search of Perez’s home, authorities alleged.
Using the blood agent BlueStar, detectives also uncovered evidence of blood spatter throughout the interior of the Chevrolet Tahoe and found that blood had permeated the speakers in the vehicle, per the affidavit.
“According to the Blood Spatter Expert(s),” the document stated, “the blood present on top of the speakers and inside, is indicative of someone bleeding profusely, or something saturated with a large concentration of blood, resting against the speakers, while being transported.”
The victim’s Apple Watch, located in the center console, was also covered in blood, authorities said.
Rene Perez Allegedly Admitted to Affair with Linda Campitelli
Perez allegedly admitted to having a two-year affair with Campitelli, telling detectives the romance began when they both were working at Wellington Regional Medical Center, according to the court records. He allegedly told detectives that they had planned to meet the night she was killed, but said he sent her a message canceling and telling her his son was sick. Detectives were unable to find that message, according to the affidavit.
Although he claimed he had been at work that night at Delray Medical Center, investigators found surveillance footage that showed him leaving the building around 6:30 p.m. and returning just before midnight, per the court records. He then left the building about ten minutes later, stopping at a trash can to throw something away, before getting in his car to head home, per the affidavit.
Investigators also noted that information data and odometer readings showed his Honda Accord traveled roughly 20 miles that night, consistent with the time it would have taken him to get to the location to meet with Campitelli. Investigators also built their case using surveillance footage and phone data.
Perez was arrested and taken into custody March 10.
After the arrest Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Col. Talal Masri remarked, per CBS 12, “After 14 months working diligently, our detectives from the violent crimes division were able to establish a suspect, obtain an arrest warrant for him and bring him to justice.”
Oxygen reached out to Perez’s attorney Robert Pasch but did not receive an immediate reply.
Perez is currently being held at the Palm Beach County jail.