Nurse Murdered by Colleague-Lover After Boudoir Setup in Husband's SUV
A married nurse was allegedly killed by her colleague-turned-lover after he created a romantic boudoir in the back of her husband's Chevy Tahoe, according to investigators. Linda Campitelli, 35, was discovered deceased on the side of a road in Palm Beach County, Florida, on October 28, 2024, merely two weeks following her 35th birthday.
Brutal Details of the Homicide
The mother-of-two, married to a physician named Jon Campitelli, succumbed to blunt force trauma to the head and body, as stated in a probable cause affidavit obtained by the Daily Mail. Her death was officially ruled a homicide. Rene Perez, a post-anesthesia care nurse, was apprehended in Miami on Tuesday and charged with first-degree murder using a deadly weapon and tampering with physical evidence linked to Campitelli's death.
Police allege that on the night of the killing, Perez, aged 38, rendezvoused with Campitelli in her SUV at his workplace in Wellington, Florida, for a belated birthday celebration. The backseats were positioned flat, a setup investigators described as facilitating intimacy. A 'happy birthday' table cover was displayed, and medical sheets matching those from Delray Medical Center, where Perez was employed, had been laid down, as revealed by photos recovered from Campitelli's mobile phone.
Evidence Points to a Violent Attack
Investigators believe Perez assaulted Campitelli in Wellington before transporting her body in the Tahoe to the nearby town of Lake Worth Beach. He then allegedly dragged her along the road and fled the scene. She was found approximately 50 feet away from the SUV. Campitelli suffered blunt force trauma to the head and torso, including a skull fracture and rib fractures.
A postmortem examination detected an accumulation of blood in the skull and contusions on her upper back and neck. Her body exhibited significant bruising and severe road rash, with her heels worn down, disfigured, and distorted. Investigators noted her injuries were consistent with being compressed against the road while forcibly dragged.
When deputies arrived, the Tahoe, registered to Campitelli's husband Jon, was still running. The front driver's side tire was flat, and the rear driver's door handle had transfer blood stains, suggesting an attempt to wipe blood from the vehicle.
Digital Trail and Affair Details
Detectives identified Perez as a suspect through digital evidence, including WhatsApp messages between the pair. Campitelli and Perez communicated daily, discussing work, family matters, and arranging in-person meetings. They expressed love, talked about sex, and exchanged nude and provocative photographs.
In multiple messages, Campitelli voiced frustration over sharing quality time with Perez's wife. WhatsApp messages from October 27, 2024, showed plans to meet at 7:30 p.m. on the day she was killed. Campitelli wrote, '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.'
Perez 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.' Campitelli confirmed the meeting time and asked if he was '100% sure this is ok,' to which Perez affirmed and said, 'I love you so much.' She reciprocated the sentiment.
Arrest and Aftermath
Perez, who admitted to the affair, told detectives he cancelled their October 28 meeting, but no messages corroborate this claim. Surveillance footage captured him at Delray Medical Center on the night of the murder. He was arrested on Tuesday, transported to Palm Beach County Jail, appeared before a judge on Wednesday, and was denied bond.
Campitelli married her husband Jon in 2016, about a year after they met, according to her obituary. They had two daughters together. Jon informed police he believed his wife was going to dinner with friends on the night of her murder. She began working as a registered nurse in 2014 and was preparing to start a new position before her death.
Her obituary described her as 'beautiful inside and out; a strong, kind, and thoughtful woman who cared about things passionately and made an impression on everyone she met.' Relatives remembered her for her 'bold, sassy and fun-loving' personality and a life filled with laughter and love. Jon Campitelli did not respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment.
