A Florida nurse faces first-degree murder charges after allegedly luring his married ex-colleague and secret lover to a romantic birthday rendezvous, only to savagely beat her to death and abandon her body on a roadside. Rene Perez, 38, was arrested in Miami on March 10, 2026, nearly 18 months after the October 28, 2024, homicide of 35-year-old Linda Campitelli, a fellow registered nurse and mother of two. The case, detailed in a 25-page probable cause affidavit from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, reveals a two-year extramarital affair that ended in gruesome violence.

Perez and Campitelli met while working together at Wellington Regional Medical Center in Palm Beach County. Both were married to other partners at the time, yet they began a clandestine relationship that lasted approximately two years. Communication flowed daily via WhatsApp, with messages showing affection, planning meetups, and promises of intimacy. On the day of the murder, Campitelli left home dressed for what she believed would be a celebratory encounter to mark her birthday. Texts from Perez reportedly included lines like “I can be romantic,” setting expectations for a loving reunion.

Instead, authorities allege Perez attacked her inside her Chevrolet Tahoe. Campitelli suffered severe blunt force trauma, including multiple skull fractures and broken ribs, before succumbing to her injuries. Her body was found unresponsive on the southbound shoulder of Lyons Road in Lake Worth around 11:15 p.m., lying in a pool of blood outside the vehicle. Evidence suggests Perez dragged her with the SUV, wearing down her heels completely before dumping her in the busy area near Wellington and Lake Worth Beach. She was pronounced dead at the scene, and the medical examiner ruled the death a homicide caused by blunt force trauma to the head and body.

The investigation stalled for over a year until recent breakthroughs linked Perez through digital evidence, surveillance footage, and witness statements from Campitelli’s friends who knew about the affair. Detectives uncovered the romantic messages and rendezvous plans, painting a picture of betrayal that escalated to lethal violence. No clear motive appears in public records, but the affidavit points to the affair’s complexity—jealousy, fear of exposure, or a sudden rupture—as potential factors. Perez also faces charges of tampering with physical evidence, suggesting efforts to cover his tracks.

Perez, from Hialeah, was taken into custody without bond and made his first court appearance shortly after arrest. If convicted of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon, he could face life imprisonment or the death penalty under Florida law. The case has shocked the local nursing community and beyond, highlighting the dangers that can lurk within workplace relationships and hidden affairs.

Campitelli, a University of Miami graduate and Miami Southridge Senior High alumna, was remembered as a dedicated professional and devoted mother to her two daughters. Friends and colleagues described her as kind and hardworking, making the brutality of her death all the more devastating. Her family has not issued public statements yet, but the loss of a young mother in such violent circumstances has left a profound impact on those who knew her.

The arrest brings long-awaited closure to an investigation that began with deputies discovering Campitelli’s body on that fateful October night. Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office officials praised the persistence of detectives who followed digital trails and physical evidence to identify the suspect. The case underscores the role of forensic analysis and electronic records in solving cold or delayed homicides, especially those involving personal relationships.

As details continue to emerge from court proceedings, the story serves as a grim reminder of how passion can twist into peril. What began as forbidden romance at a hospital workplace ended in tragedy on a Florida roadside, leaving two families shattered and questions about trust, secrecy, and violence unanswered. Perez remains in custody, with the legal process poised to reveal more about the final moments of Linda Campitelli’s life.