Edina Russo, the grieving mother of murdered Florida nurse Linda Campitelli, has spoken out for the first time about the brutal killing that shocked Palm Beach County — disclosing that her daughter was savagely beaten to death with a tire iron during what prosecutors say was a romantic birthday celebration arranged by her alleged lover.

“What kind of human does that? Animals don’t even do that,” Russo told The Daily Mail in an exclusive interview, her voice filled with disbelief and anguish.

Campitelli, a dedicated nurse and mother of two, was discovered dead on October 2024, just 50 feet from her husband’s Chevy Tahoe SUV in a parking lot. Authorities allege that Rene Perez — her married former co-worker with whom she was having a secret affair — lured her to the location under the guise of a special birthday surprise, only to allegedly bludgeon her to death.

Court documents paint a chilling picture of the crime. Campitelli suffered devastating blunt-force trauma to her head and torso, four deep lacerations to her scalp, and a fatal buildup of blood inside her skull. Russo confirmed the weapon: “My daughter was beat to death with a tire iron.”

Russo admitted she had no inkling of her daughter’s infidelity at the time of the murder. She revealed that Linda and her husband, Jon Campitelli, had been struggling in their marriage and were attending counseling sessions in an effort to repair their relationship. Yet Russo insisted Jon remained deeply committed to the family.

“My daughter was a difficult person to get along with, but her husband adored her,” Russo said. “He adored their two daughters and was fully committed to working through their issues.”

She added with quiet resolve: “What she did was awful… but my daughter didn’t kill anyone.”

Perez, arrested on March 10, now faces first-degree murder charges, along with counts of using a deadly weapon and tampering with evidence, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

The day before the fatal rendezvous, Campitelli exchanged anxious messages with Perez on WhatsApp, expressing nervousness about the planned meeting.

“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,” she wrote, according to court filings.

Perez replied casually: “LOL, IT’S 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.”

That evening, Campitelli left her home telling Jon she was simply going out to dinner with friends. Hours later, her body was found near the very SUV her husband owned — the same vehicle Perez had allegedly transformed into a private “love nest” for their illicit date, court papers state.

The gruesome scene revealed large pools of blood leading from the passenger-side door across the parking lot to where Campitelli’s body lay, suggesting she may have been dragged after the attack. Bloodstains were also found on the driver’s-side door handle, and her blood-soaked Apple Watch was left abandoned on the center console inside the vehicle.

The case has stunned the local community, raising painful questions about betrayal, hidden affairs, and the sudden eruption of violence in what was supposed to be a celebratory night. Russo’s raw account underscores the unimaginable horror of losing a daughter in such a savage manner — and the lingering heartbreak for a family that had no idea the danger lurking behind a seemingly innocent dinner outing.

As the investigation continues and Perez awaits trial, Campitelli’s mother hopes the truth will bring some measure of justice for her daughter, even as she grapples with the devastating choices that led to this tragic end.