Linda Campitelli, a 35‑year‑old Florida nurse, was found murdered on the side of a road in Lantana in October 2024, and more than a year later authorities have arrested her alleged lover, Rene J. Perez, 38, in connection with her death.
How Campitelli was found
On October 28, 2024, police responded to 911 calls about a woman lying unresponsive on a road in Lantana, with her face to the ground and bleeding heavily from the mouth; she was pronounced dead at the scene. She was found just a few feet from her husband’s car, which he was unaware of until officers woke him to notify him of the incident.
Investigators described a severe head wound, marked swelling and bruising around her right eye, and apparent drag or scuff marks on her body, suggesting she may have been pulled or dragged from a vehicle. Campitelli was described in her obituary as a devoted nurse, wife, and mother who had recently turned 35 and was preparing to start a new job.
Affair and alleged birthday rendezvous
Phone records show frequent contact between Campitelli and a number linked to Perez, a man friends have identified as the man with whom she was having an affair. Photos recovered from her phone depict the backseat of her car lined with medical sheets and a “HAPPY BIRTHDAY”‑themed banner, indicating she was preparing a private birthday celebration in the car; the timing aligns with her turning 35 about two weeks earlier.
Texts show Campitelli expressing nervousness about the surprise date, writing in all caps that she loved him, felt “weird,” and was unsure what to expect. Perez’s alleged reply described it as a romantic gesture.
Arrest, charges, and investigation
Police charged Perez with first‑degree murder with a deadly weapon and tampering with physical evidence, saying inconsistencies between his statements and the evidence undermined his claim that he had cancelled the plans that night. The affidavit does not clearly establish a motive, and public records do not yet show whether Perez has entered a plea.
