Palm Beach County authorities have arrested a 38-year-old man in connection with the brutal 2024 roadside killing of Linda Campitelli, a local nurse and mother.
Rene J. Perez faces charges of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon and tampering with physical evidence following a year-long investigation into the death of the 35-year-old victim. Investigators allege that what was intended to be a clandestine birthday celebration in the backseat of a vehicle ended in a violent homicide.
The Discovery and Initial Investigation
On the night of October 28, 2024, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s deputies responded to multiple 911 calls regarding an unresponsive woman lying on a road in Lantana. Upon arrival, officers discovered Campitelli “bleeding profusely” from the mouth with a severe gash to her head. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The location of the body provided the first major clue: Campitelli was found just feet away from a vehicle belonging to her husband. However, her husband was not initially a suspect; authorities had to wake him at his residence to notify him of the tragedy.
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A “Romantic” Setup Turned Crime Scene
According to a probable cause affidavit, the interior of the vehicle suggested a planned celebration. Investigators discovered:
- Medical sheets spread across the backseat.
- A blanket or table cover with the inscription: “HAPPY BIRTHDAY HOPE YOUR BIRTHDAY IS OUT OF THIS WORLD.”
- Significant physical evidence of a struggle, including “drag or scuff marks” near the body and swelling around the victim’s eye.
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Campitelli, who had celebrated her 35th birthday just two weeks prior to her death, had reportedly been leading a double life. Friends of the victim identified Perez as a man with whom she was having an affair.
The Digital Trail
The breakthrough in the case came through a forensic analysis of Campitelli’s phone. Records revealed a consistent stream of intimate communication and photographs exchanged between the victim and a number registered to Perez.
Most notably, text messages sent just 24 hours before the murder captured Campitelli’s apprehension.
“I love you. I feel kinda weird. I don’t know what to expect tomorrow,” Campitelli wrote in all caps. “You’ve never done anything like this for me before and I feel a little nervous.”
Perez allegedly dismissed her concerns, replying, “Lol, it’s no big deal. Just trying to show u that I can be romantic.”
Inconsistencies and Charges
While a specific motive remains under investigation, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office moved forward with the arrest after identifying “significant inconsistencies” in Perez’s statements. Perez initially claimed he had canceled his plans with Campitelli on the night of her death—a claim contradicted by the physical and digital evidence.
Perez is currently being held as legal proceedings begin. Court records do not yet indicate a formal plea, and his legal counsel has not issued a public statement.
Legacy of the Victim
Before her life was cut short, Campitelli was described as a dedicated nurse who was on the verge of starting a new professional chapter. Her family’s obituary remembers her as a woman who “doted on her husband and girls,” painting a tragic contrast to the violent circumstances of her passing.
