In a chilling incident from Florida, a 38-year-old man is facing accusations of committing a heinous crime against his mistress. Rene Perez is charged with first-degree murder and evidence tampering following the brutal death of 35-year-old Linda Campitelli in Palm Beach County. The grim details of the case paint a harrowing picture of betrayal and violence.

Authorities discovered Campitelli’s lifeless body near her Chevrolet Tahoe on the road, around 11:15 p.m. on October 28, 2024. She was found lying in a pool of blood, bearing the marks of a violent encounter. The police report highlighted significant injuries, including a severe laceration to her head, bruising around her right eye, and evidence of road rash, suggesting she had been dragged by a vehicle.

An autopsy confirmed the fears of investigators, revealing that Campitelli succumbed to blunt force trauma inflicted on her head and torso. The description of her injuries was particularly disturbing, with officers noting that the heels of her feet were worn down and disfigured, a clear sign of having been forcibly dragged along the roadway.

The investigation took a turn when deputies visited Campitelli’s home, speaking with her husband who believed she was out with friends on the night of her death. However, conversations with her acquaintances revealed a different story. They disclosed that Campitelli was involved in an extramarital affair with Perez, her former co-worker, and that they had planned to meet up for her birthday celebration.

Further evidence surfaced in the form of WhatsApp messages between Campitelli and Perez, which confirmed their plans for the fateful night. This digital trail has become a crucial part of the ongoing investigation, shedding light on the events leading up to the tragic outcome.

Investigators uncovered WhatsApp messages between the two showing they were going to meet up to celebrate her birthday.

“I love you,” Campitelli wrote to Perez the day before her death. “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 responded that there was nothing to worry about and he was trying to show that “I can be romantic,” the affidavit states. They agreed to meet at 7:30 p.m. the following day.

Cops also recovered a photo from the victim’s phone showing all the back seats down in her Tahoe with a blanket or table cover that said “Happy Birthday Hope your birthday is out of this world” affixed to the ceiling. The photo also depicted the back seats covered with hospital bed sheets, cops noted. Data from Campitelli’s phone placed her in a dimly lit parking lot outside a medical facility that had little foot traffic.

While processing the Tahoe, cops said they discovered blood spatter throughout. Blood had “permeated” through the speakers on the rear side of the vehicle, which indicated someone was “bleeding profusely” during transport, police said. Authorities believe the road rash injuries occurred after Campitelli died.

Detectives spoke with Perez, who admitted he and Campitelli had been having an extramarital affair for about two years, according to the complaint. He said they had planned to meet that night, but he claimed he sent her a message saying he had to cancel because his son was sick. But cops found no such message, the affidavit said.

Perez also allegedly told cops that he left work about 11 p.m. that night. Surveillance video from his work contradicted his account, police said. It depicted him leaving the building where he worked as a nurse around 6:30 p.m. and driving away in his Honda Accord. He returned to the office building shortly before midnight. Perez left the building roughly 10 minutes later and drove home, according to the affidavit.

The defendant allegedly told cops he would typically leave his phone at the office when he was supposed to meet with Campitelli because he shared a Life360 app with his wife. He carried a second phone to communicate with Campitelli, the affidavit said. However, detectives could not recover any messages with Campitelli, suggesting he deleted them. Perez also told detectives he lost his primary phone, but video from an AT&T store showed him holding it while buying a new one, proving he lied, according to the affidavit.

Investigators also believe he ditched the pair of shoes he wore on the night of the slaying, cops said.

Detectives said they placed Perez’s Honda near the medical center parking lot, where he and Campitelli had their rendezvous in her Tahoe. The 26-page affidavit does not include a possible motive for the slaying.

Perez was arrested on Tuesday and taken to the Palm Beach County Jail, where he remains without bond. His next court date is set for April 9.

According to her obituary, Campitelli grew up in Miami and later became a nurse. The victim married her husband in 2016 and they had two daughters together.

“She was smart as a whip and had a near-photographic memory,” the obituary said. “She was always up for an adventure and didn’t want to miss out on anything, her calendar filled with fun family outings, date nights, and time with friends.”