A Florida nurse’s final message to her lover has emerged at the center of a chilling mu*der investigation after police arrested a former coworker more than a year after her passing.
On Tuesday, March 10, Rene J. Perez was taken into custody in connection with the October 2024 homicide of Linda Campitelli. She left behind two daughters who were under the age of 10 at the time of her passing.
Highlights
- Just hours before her passing, Linda Campitelli sent a heartbreaking message to Rene J. Perez admitting she felt "nervous" about his birthday plans.
- Forensic teams discovered an Apple Watch soaked in blood inside the victim's still-running vehicle.
- Perez was arrested using surveillance footage and phone records.
Perez, who was involved in a two-year affair with the victim, lured Campitelli to a private birthday meeting before brutally attacking her, investigators said.
Court documents have now revealed the haunting message Campitelli sent him just hours before they met.
The victim’s final message revealed how uneasy she felt moments before losing her life
Image credits: Linda Campitelli/Facebook
According to a 25-page arrest affidavit, Campitelli and Perez had been involved in a two-year affair after meeting while working together at Wellington Regional Medical Center in Florida.
Both were married to other people.
However, on October 27, 2024, the day before their planned meetup, Campitelli sent Perez a message on WhatsApp expressing both excitement and anxiety about the surprise celebration he had planned for her birthday, per WPTV.
“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 wrote in all caps, according to court documents.
Image credits: Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office
Perez responded casually in the same way, writing, “Lol, it’s no big deal. Just trying to show you that I can be romantic. It probably won't be as good as what you’ve done for me.”
“So tomorrow at 7:30...and you're 100% sure this is ok?" Campitelli responded, to which Perez replied, "Yes maam. U got it. I love you so much."
Authorities alleged Perez used Campitelli’s birthday as a pretext to lure her to an isolated location and carry out the attack
Image credits: Linda Campitelli/Facebook
On October 28, 2024, Campitelli left her home wearing a red dress and black heels, telling her husband she was going out to dinner with friends.
Cell phone and surveillance footage later showed her Chevy Tahoe arriving at an isolated area near the Retina Group of Florida building in Wellington, where Perez had previously worked.
A photo recovered from Campitelli’s phone showed that the back of the Tahoe had been staged beforehand. The rear seats were folded down and covered with a blanket that read “Happy birthday, hope your birthday is out of this world.”
Image credits: WPTV News - FL Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast
Authorities further discovered that Ultrasorb medical sheets, commonly used in hospital settings to absorb fluid and control odors, had been placed over the blanket.
It was later determined by detectives that those sheets were the same brand used at Delray Medical Center, where Perez worked and had access to them. Similar sheets were also found during a search of his home.
According to the investigators, a violent struggle occurred inside the vehicle
The affidavit alleges blood splatter patterns inside the car were “clearly indicative of a struggle or violent episode.”
Moreover, investigators found evidence that someone who had been “severely injured” had been transported inside the car.
First responders discovered Campitelli’s body at around 10:30 p.m., after several 911 callers reported a “completely unresponsive” woman "lying in the Southbound lanes of Lyons Road" in Lantana, Florida, per People.
Officers found her body about 50 feet from her still-running Chevy Tahoe, and authorities were able to identify her through an iPhone located near her body.
Image credits: CBS 12 News - WPEC
An examination later revealed she had suffered severe blunt force trauma to the head and torso, including skull fractures, rib fractures, and scalp lacerations.
Investigators also noted drag marks and severe road rash, suggesting her body had been moved after the attack.
Inside the vehicle, detectives found Campitelli’s Apple Watch soaked in blood. DNA analysis later confirmed that the blood in and around the car belonged to her.
Investigators identified the suspect using surveillance footage and phone records
Image credits: WPTV News - FL Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast
Police stated the investigation involved dozens of search warrants, surveillance footage, and extensive cellphone analysis.
According to Captain Michael Ott of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Violent Crimes Division, detectives reviewed “hundreds and hundreds of hours” of cellphone data while reconstructing the timeline of the crime.
Cameras also captured Perez walking toward Delray Medical Center, where he worked at the time, and throwing an unidentified object into a trash bin.
Image credits: Linda Campitelli/Facebook
Perez initially told the investigators he had canceled the meeting because his son was sick. However, detectives alleged no text or WhatsApp messages supported his claim.
Additional surveillance footage suggested Perez misled investigators about when he left work the night of the incident.
The officers also discovered he had been using a secret prepaid phone.
Perez was arrested in Miami, roughly 18 months after Campitelli’s passing. He was transported to Palm Beach County Jail.
He now faces charges of first-degree homicide and tampering with physical evidence. During his first court appearance on March 11, a judge ordered him held without bond.
Campitelli’s mother, Edina Russo, told WPTV that the arrest brought painful emotions but also a sense of closure.
“There’s a million emotions,” Russo said. “I’m obviously always sad, but there’s a sense of closure.”
"Creep and monster," wrote one user
