A nurse in Florida has been arrested for the brutal killing of a married former co-worker he was allegedly having an affair with after luring her to meet him for what he described as a romantic birthday surprise.
Authorities say Rene Perez, 38, was taken into custody in Miami and charged with first-degree murder, using a deadly weapon and tampering with evidence in connection with the death of Linda Campitelli.
Investigators with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said the two had been involved in a secret relationship for about two years after meeting while working at Wellington Regional Medical Center.
According to court documents, the pair arranged to meet on October 28, 2024 to celebrate Campitelli’s birthday. Both were married at the time.
A day before the meeting, Campitelli reportedly sent Perez a message expressing nervousness about their planned encounter.
“I love you, I feel kinda weird. I don’t know what to expect tomorrow,” she wrote, according to investigators.
Perez allegedly reassured her, saying he was simply trying to show his romantic side.
On the night of the meeting, Campitelli left her home wearing a red dress and black heels, telling her husband she was going out with friends.
Authorities later determined that her vehicle, a Chevrolet Tahoe, arrived near a building belonging to the Retina Group of Florida in Wellington, Florida, where Perez had previously worked.
Investigators said Perez had placed a blanket in the back of the vehicle with a birthday message reading, “Happy Birthday. Hope your birthday is out of this world,” along with medical sheets typically used to control odor and moisture.
Later that night, police responded to emergency calls reporting an unresponsive woman near the vehicle. Officers discovered Campitelli’s body about 50 feet away.
According to court records, she suffered severe blunt force trauma to the head and torso, including skull fractures, rib injuries and deep scalp lacerations.
Investigators also found large pools of blood near the vehicle, drag marks on the ground and signs suggesting her body had been moved.
Campitelli’s blood-stained smartwatch was recovered from inside the vehicle, and authorities said someone had attempted to wipe blood from the door handle.
Surveillance footage later showed Perez walking near his workplace at Delray Medical Center that same evening and throwing an unidentified object into a trash container
Perez initially told investigators he had canceled the meeting with Campitelli because his son was sick, but detectives said phone records and text messages contradicted that claim.
The investigation involved numerous witness interviews, more than 50 search warrants and extensive analysis of cellphone data before authorities were able to make an arrest.
Perez has been ordered held without bond and remains in custody at the Palm Beach County Jail as the case moves forward.