In a chilling case that has shocked Florida’s medical community, registered nurse Rene J. Perez, 38, has been arrested and charged with the brutal murder of his former coworker and secret lover, Linda Campitelli, 35. The arrest came on March 10, 2026, in Miami, more than 17 months after Campitelli’s body was discovered on October 28, 2024, lying unresponsive beside her Chevrolet Tahoe on Lyons Road in Lake Worth, Palm Beach County.

Campitelli, a dedicated registered nurse and mother of two young children, was married to a doctor at the time. She and Perez, both employed at Wellington Regional Medical Center before he moved to another facility, had been conducting an extramarital affair for approximately two years. The pair communicated almost daily through WhatsApp, sharing intimate messages that painted a picture of a passionate but hidden relationship.

On the fateful night, the meeting was planned as a belated birthday celebration for Campitelli, who had turned 35 just weeks earlier. Perez allegedly promised romance, even setting up a makeshift “boudoir” in the back of her SUV with a “Happy Birthday” blanket and medical absorbent sheets similar to those from his workplace. A photo recovered from Campitelli’s phone captured this setup, adding a macabre layer to the premeditated encounter.

What began as an anticipated intimate rendezvous turned deadly. Authorities allege Perez savagely beat Campitelli inside the vehicle, inflicting fatal blunt force trauma to her head and body, including severe skull and rib fractures. Her body showed signs of being dragged—road rash and worn-down heels indicating she was pulled behind the Tahoe after death. The scene was gruesome: Campitelli lay in a pool of blood outside her vehicle, pronounced dead at the scene. The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide.

Investigators pieced together the timeline through digital evidence and surveillance. WhatsApp exchanges the day before showed excitement about the meetup, with Perez assuring her it was safe. However, when initially questioned, Perez denied meeting her that night, claiming he never left his job at Delray Medical Center. Surveillance footage contradicted this: his vehicle was seen leaving around 6:30 p.m., his phone left behind, and returning hours later—with him in different shoes.

Blood evidence in Campitelli’s SUV and inconsistencies in his story sealed the case. Perez now faces charges of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon and tampering with physical evidence. He appeared in court shortly after arrest, held without bond, and could face life imprisonment or the death penalty if convicted.

This tragedy highlights the dark side of workplace relationships gone wrong, leaving Campitelli’s family devastated and the nursing community reeling. The long investigation underscores law enforcement’s persistence in seeking justice for a victim who trusted the wrong person on what should have been a celebratory night.