New revelations have emerged regarding the tragic death of Florida nurse Linda Campitelli, who was brutally killed with a tire iron during what was supposed to be a birthday celebration. Her mother, Edina Russo, expressed her disbelief, stating, “What kind of human does that? Animals don’t even do that,” in an interview with The Daily Mail.
Campitelli was discovered deceased a mere 50 feet from her husband’s vehicle in October 2024. Accusations have been made against Rene Perez, a married former colleague allegedly involved in an affair with Campitelli, who is suspected of orchestrating her murder during a private birthday event he organized.
According to court documents, Campitelli suffered severe blunt force injuries to her head and torso, including four scalp lacerations and a deadly accumulation of blood in her skull. Russo painfully recounted that her daughter was “beat to death with a tire iron.”
Russo confessed she was unaware of her daughter’s affair with her husband Jon Campitelli at the time of the incident. She mentioned that although the couple was facing marital challenges, Jon cherished their two daughters and was dedicated to resolving their issues through marriage counseling.
“My daughter was a difficult person to get along with, but her husband adored her,” Russo reflected. She continued, “What she did was awful…but my daughter didn’t kill anyone.”
Perez was apprehended on March 10 and charged with first-degree murder, use of a deadly weapon, and tampering with evidence, as reported by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
The day before their alleged meeting, Campitelli expressed her apprehensions about the encounter in a WhatsApp message to Perez, saying, “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,” according to the court documents.
Perez replied, “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.”
Campitelli informed Jon she was going out with friends when she left home that evening, as per the affidavit.
Her body was later discovered near Jon’s Chevy Tahoe SUV, which Perez allegedly transformed into a romantic setting for their encounter, according to court documents. Bloodstains led from the passenger door to where Campitelli’s body was found, suggesting she might have been dragged across the parking area. Blood was also present on the driver’s door handle, and her blood-soaked Apple Watch was left on the center console.
Perez remains in custody at the Palm Beach County Jail without the possibility of bail.
